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Draft  | State Preview  | 5/21/2014

State Snapshots: Great Lakes

Patrick Ebert     
Photo: Evansville

2014 Perfect Game draft preview content

New England
– CT, ME, MA, NH, RI, VT
Mid-Atlantic – DE, DC, MD, NJ, NY, PA, VA, WV
South Atlantic – FL, GA, NC, SC
Southeast – AL, KY, MS, TN
South Central – AR, LA, OK, TX
Great Lakes – IL, IN, MI, MN, OH, WI
Great Plains – IA, KS, MO, NE, ND, SD
Mountain – AZ, CO, ID, MT, NV, NM, UT, WY
Pacific – AK, CA, HI, OR, WA
Canada and Puerto Rico



Illinois

Illinois State-by-State List

STRENGTH:
Depth of power arms, prep catchers
WEAKNESS: Impact bats
OVERALL RATING (1-to-5 scale): 4

BEST COLLEGE TEAM:
Illinois State
BEST JUNIOR-COLLEGE TEAM: Wabash Valley
BEST HIGH SCHOOL TEAM: St. Rita HS, Chicago

PROSPECT ON THE RISE:
Jeremy Rhoades, rhp, Illinois State University
WILD CARD: Jake Godfrey, rhp, Providence Catholic HS, New Lenox

Best Out-of-State Prospect, Illinois Connection:
Nick Burdi, rhp, University of Louisville (attended high school in Downers Grove)
Top 2015 Prospect: Nick Dalesandro, c, Joliet Catholic Academy, Plainfield
Top 2016 Prospect: Anthony Holubecki, rhp, Kaneland HS, Elburn

HIGHEST DRAFT PICKS

Draft History:
Danny Goodwin, c, Central HS, Peoria (1971, White Sox/1st round, 1st pick)
2009 Draft: Tyler Kehrer, lhp, Eastern Illinois U. (Angels/1st round, 48th pick)
2010 Draft: Mike Foltyniewicz, rhp, Minooka Community HS (Astros/1st round/19th pick)
2011 Draft: Charlie Tilson, of, New Trier HS, Winnetka (Cardinals/2nd round)
2012 Draft: Chris Serritella, 1b, U. Southern Illinois University (Phillies/4th round)
2013 Draft: Daniel Lietz, lhp, Heartland CC (Blue Jays/5th round)

2013 DRAFT OVERVIEW

College Players Drafted/Signed:
16/15
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: 5/5
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 8/2

PROSPECTS IN THE TOP 500:

Jeremy Rhoades, rhp, Illinois State University (93)
Evan Skoug, c, Libertyville HS (105)
Sam Coonrod, rhp, Southern Illinois University (119)
Jake Godfrey, rhp, Providence Catholic HS, New Lenox (124)
Simeon Lucas, c, Grant Community HS, Fox Lake (167)
Tyler Willman, rhp, Western Illinois University (233)
Darius Day, of, Simeon Academy, Chicago (244)
Mitch Trees, c, Sacred Heart Griffin HS, Springfield (301)
Max Murphy, of, Bradley University (327)
Jake Latz, lhp, Lemont HS (363)
Brad Bass, rhp, Lincoln-Way Central HS, New Lenox (408)
Tanner Houck, Collinsville HS (458)
Mike Papierski, c, Lemont HS (485)



Indiana

Indiana State-by-State List

STRENGTH:
Impact college talent, high school arms
WEAKNESS: High school position players
OVERALL RATING (1-to-5 scale): 4

BEST COLLEGE TEAM:
Indiana
BEST JUNIOR-COLLEGE TEAM: Vincennes
BEST HIGH SCHOOL TEAM: Indianapolis Cathedral

PROSPECT ON THE RISE:
Kyle Freeland, lhp, University of Evansville
WILD CARD: Pat Connaughton, rhp, University of Notre Dame

Best Out-of-State Prospect, Indiana Connection:
Dillon Peters, lhp, University of Texas (attended high school in Fishers)
Top 2015 Prospect: Bryan Hoeing, rhp, Batesville HS
Top 2016 Prospect: T.J. Collett, c, North Vigo HS, Terre Haute

HIGHEST DRAFT PICKS

Draft History:
 Andy Benes, rhp, University of Evansville (1988, Padres/1st round, 1st pick); Bryan Bullington, rhp, Ball State University (2002, Pirates/1st round, 1st pick)
2009 Draft: A.J. Pollock, of, University of Notre Dame (Diamondbacks/1st round, 17th pick)
2010 Draft: Kolbrin Vitek, 2b/rhp, Ball State University (Red Sox/1st round/20th pick)
2011 Draft: Alex Dickerson, 1b/of, University of Indiana (Pirates/3rd round)
2012 Draft: Kevin Plawecki, c, Purdue University (Mets/1st round, 35th pick)
2013 Draft: Trey Ball, lhp, New Castle HS (Red Sox/1st round, 7th pick)

2013 DRAFT OVERVIEW

College Players Drafted/Signed:
11/9
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: None
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 6/3

PROSPECTS IN THE TOP 500:

Kyle Freeland, lhp, University of Evansville (10)
Kyle Schwarber, c/1b, University of Indiana (17)
Sam Travis, of/1b, University of Indiana (66)
Pat Connaughton, rhp, University of Notre Dame (113)
Dustin DeMuth, 3b, University of Indiana (179)
Brandon Murray, rhp, Hobart HS (260)
Jonah Patten, rhp, Norwell HS, Ossian (310)
Logan Sowers, of, McCutcheon HS, Lafayette (406)
Jordan Minch, lhp, Purdue University (450)
Sean Godfrey, of, Ball State University (454)



Michigan

Michigan State-by-State List

STRENGTH:
Pitching depth at all levels
WEAKNESS: Impact talent
OVERALL RATING (1-to-5 scale): 3

BEST COLLEGE TEAM:
Michigan State
BEST JUNIOR-COLLEGE TEAM: Kellogg
BEST HIGH SCHOOL TEAM: Brother Rice HS, Bloomfield Hills

PROSPECT ON THE RISE: Matt Ruppenthal, rhp, Brother Rice HS, Bloomfield Hills
WILD CARD: Keegan Baar, lhp, Hudsonville HS

Best Out-of-State Prospect, Michigan Connection:
Zach Fish, of, Oklahoma State University (attended high school in Kalamazoo)
Top 2015 Prospect: Evan Hill, lhp, University of Michigan
Top 2016 Prospect: Dion Henderson, lhp, Divine Child HS, Dearborn

HIGHEST DRAFT PICKS

Draft History:
 Mark Mulder, lhp, Michigan State University (1998, Athletics/1st round, 2nd pick)
2009 Draft: Daniel Fields, ss, University of Detroit Jesuit HS (Tigers/6th round)
2010 Draft: Ryan LaMarre, of, University of Michigan (Reds/2nd round)
2011 Draft: Trent Howard, lhp, Central Michigan University (Orioles/7th round)
2012 Draft: Torsten Boss, 3b/of, Michigan State (Orioles/8th round)
2013 Draft: Michael O'Neill, of, University of Michigan (Yankees/3rd round)

2013 DRAFT OVERVIEW

College Players Drafted/Signed:
5/4
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: 2/2
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 5/0

PROSPECTS IN THE TOP 500:

Jordan Foley, rhp, Central Michigan University (108)
Matt Ruppenthal, rhp, Brother Rice HS, Bloomfield Hills (258)
Keegan Baar, lhp, Hudsonville HS (292)
Mick Van Vossen, rhp, Michigan State University (316)
Jimmy Pickens, of, Michigan State University (341)
James Bourque, rhp, University of Michigan (482)



Minnesota

Minnesota State-by-State List

STRENGTH:
Sam Hentges
WEAKNESS: Impact talent
OVERALL RATING (1-to-5 scale): 1

BEST COLLEGE TEAM:
Minnesota State-Mankata
BEST JUNIOR-COLLEGE TEAM: Century
BEST HIGH SCHOOL TEAM: Lakeville North

PROSPECT ON THE RISE:
Sam Hentges, lhp, Mounds View HS, Shoreview
WILD CARD: Sam Hentges

Best Out-of-State Prospect, Minnesota Connection:
Max Murphy, of, Bradley University (attended high school in Robbinsdale)
Top 2015 Prospect: Ty Buck, 3b/rhp, Red Wing HS
Top 2016 Prospect: Toby Anderson, rhp, University of Minnesota

HIGHEST DRAFT PICKS

Draft History:
 Joe Mauer, c, Cretin-Derham Hall, St. Paul (2001, Twins/1st round, 1st pick)
2009 Draft: Derek McCallum, 2b, University of Minnesota (Twins/4th round)
2010 Draft: Mike Kvasnicka, c/3b, University of Minnesota (Astros/1st round, 33rd pick)
2011 Draft: Jordan Smith, of, St. Cloud State University (Indians/9th round)
2012 Draft: Mitchell Brown, rhp, Century HS (Indians/2nd round)
2013 Draft: Tom Windle, lhp, University of Minnesota (Dodgers/2nd round)

2013 DRAFT OVERVIEW

College Players Drafted/Signed:
4/3
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: 1/1
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 5/0

PROSPECTS IN THE TOP 500:

Sam Hentges, lhp, Mounds View HS, Shoreview (321)



Ohio

Ohio State-by-State List

STRENGTH:
Impact high school talent, college depth
WEAKNESS: Impact college players
OVERALL RATING (1-to-5 scale): 3

BEST COLLEGE TEAM:
Ohio State
BEST JUNIOR-COLLEGE TEAM: Sinclair
BEST HIGH SCHOOL TEAM: Moeller HS, Cincinnati

PROSPECT ON THE RISE:
Cameron Varga, rhp, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, Loveland
WILD CARD: Zack Shannon, rhp/of, Anderson HS, Cincinnati

Best Out-of-State Prospect, Ohio Connection:
Kyle Schwarber, c/1b, University of Indiana (attended high school in Middletown)
Top 2015 Prospect: Ian Happ, of/2b, University of Cincinnati
Top 2016 Prospect: Chris Machamer, ss/rhp, Washington HS, Massilon

HIGHEST DRAFT PICKS

Draft History:
Tim Belcher, rhp, Mount Vernon Nazarene College (1983, Twins/1st round, 1st pick); Ken Griffey Jr., of, Moeller HS, Cincinnati (1987, Mariners/1st round, 1st pick)
2009 Draft: Marc Krauss, of, Ohio University (Diamondbacks/2nd round)
2010 Draft: Alex Wimmers, lhp, Ohio State University (Twins/1st round, 21st pick)
2011 Draft: Andrew Chafin, lhp, Kent State University (Diamondbacks/1st round, 43rd pick)
2012 Draft: Matt Smoral, lhp, Solon HS (Blue Jays/1st round, 50th pick)
2013 Draft: David Ledbetter, rhp, Cedarville University (Rangers/3rd round)

2013 DRAFT OVERVIEW

College Players Drafted/Signed:
13/12
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: 2/1
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 3/0

PROSPECTS IN THE TOP 500:

Cameron Varga, rhp, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, Loveland (57)
Zack Shannon, rhp/1b, Anderson HS, Cincinnati (205)
Brian Clark, lhp, Kent State University (284)
Connor Walsh, rhp, University of Cincinnati (291)
Jayce Vancena, rhp, Lake HS, Milbury (344)
Jack Schaaf, of, Springboro HS (423)



Wisconsin

Wisconsin State-by-State List

STRENGTH:
Early round talent
WEAKNESS: Depth
OVERALL RATING (1-to-5 scale): 3

BEST COLLEGE TEAM:
Wisconsin-Whitewater
BEST JUNIOR-COLLEGE TEAM: Madison College
BEST HIGH SCHOOL TEAM: Sun Prairie

PROSPECT ON THE RISE:
Jeren Kendall, of, Holmen HS
WILD CARD: Jeren Kendall

Best Out-of-State Prospect, Wisconsin Connection:
Tyler Willman, rhp, Western Illinois University (attended high school in Oshkosh)
Top 2015 Prospect: Bryant Jordan, rhp, home-schooled, Hubertus
Top 2016 Prospect: Gavin Lux, ss, Indian Trial Academy, Kenosha

HIGHEST DRAFT PICKS

Draft History:
 Kevin Brandt, of, Nekoosa HS (1979, Twins/1st round, 11th pick)
2009 Draft: Kevin James, lhp, Whitefish Bay HS, Milwaukee (Rays/9th round)
2010 Draft: Tyler Jones, rhp, Madison College (White Sox/21st round)
2011 Draft: Cody Koback, of, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (Red Sox/10th round)
2012 Draft: Nathan Mikolas, of, Kenosha Bradford HS (Yankees/3rd round)
2013 Draft: Josh Uhen, rhp, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (Brewers/5th round)

2013 DRAFT OVERVIEW

College Players Drafted/Signed:
2/2
Junior College Players Drafted/Signed: None
High School Players Drafted/Signed: 1/1

PROSPECTS IN THE TOP 500:

Jeren Kendall, of, Holmen HS (92)
J.P. Feyereisen, rhp, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point (412)