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Draft  | State Preview  | 5/23/2013

MLB Draft Preview: Rhode Island

Frankie Piliere     
Photo: Rhode Island
In the weeks leading up to the draft, Perfect Game will be providing a detailed overview of each state in the U.S., including the District of Columbia, as well as Canada and Puerto Rico. These overviews will list the state's strengths, weaknesses and the players with the best tools, as well as providing scouting reports on all Group 1 and 2 players as ranked in Perfect Game's state-by-state scouting lists.  Please visit this page for all of the links to Perfect Game's 2013 Draft Preview content.


Rhode Island State-by-State List

Coming into the spring, it appeared that Rhode Island would have to rely entirely on the University of Rhode Island for its draft crop, as limited as that talent pool may be. But, as it turns out, the state’s top talent appears to come out of the high ranks, in the person of Nick Zammarelli.

If Zammarelli is indeed the first player taken out of Rhode Island this year, he will be the first high school player to take that title since Ryan Westmoreland was taken by the Red Sox in the fifth round in 2009. Other than Westmoreland, the state has been mostly dominated by talent from Bryant, Brown, and Rhode Island. Outfielder Jeff Roy at Rhode Island could still make a case for going in the top 15 rounds, but his bat has not been quite as impressive as scouts had hoped coming into the year. But, his plus-plus speed and 30 steals in 30 attempts this spring still make for a compelling argument. The Bryant Bulldogs also bring good depth to the table, and had a strong spring, but it’s not a top heavy roster full of early round talent.


STRENGTH: Bryant
WEAKNESS: High School depth
OVERALL RATING (1-to-5 scale): 2

BEST COLLEGE TEAM: Bryant
BEST HIGH SCHOOL TEAM: Bishop Hendricken

Best Out-of-State Prospect, Rhode Island Connection: Thomas Pannone, lhp/of, Southern Nevada (attended Bishop Hendricken)
Top 2014 Prospect: Kevin McAvoy, rhp, Bryant University

HIGHEST DRAFT PICKS

Draft History: Bill Almon, ss, Brown University (1974, Padres/1st round, 1st pick)
2008 Draft: Ryan Westmoreland, of, Portsmouth HS (Red Sox/5th round)
2009 Draft: Eric Smith, rhp, University of Rhode Island (Diamondbacks/2nd round)
2010 Draft: Jeff Vigurs, c, Bryant University (Cubs/22nd round)
2011 Draft: Matt Colantonio, c, Brown University (Padres/22nd round)
2012 Draft: Chris Pickering, lhp, University of Rhode Island (Giants/32nd round)

2012 DRAFT OVERVIEW

College Players Drafted/Signed: 1/0
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: 0/0
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 2/1

PROSPECT TO WATCH

NICK ZAMMARELLI, 3b, Lincoln Senior HS
A left-handed hitting third baseman, Zammarelli has made a move up some draft boards this spring and has established himself as the best prospect in Rhode Island. He shows a fluid swing from the left side, as well as some raw power. He’s performed well this spring, and now has seems mentioning his name in the 10-15 round range. At 6-foot-2, 195-pounds, he also has an athletic enough body type to likely remain at third base. The arm strength is somewhat of a question mark but he shows good hands and actions. Zammarelli is committed to play at Elon.
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