2014 MLB Draft: An Early Look

[ace3113]

You guys have to subscribe Steve Fiorindo on youtube. He's always got new vids on the top upcoming draft prospects. He also includes a velocity tracker on the top left hand corner of the screen for pitchers.

 

Touki Toussaint

 

 

Justus Sheffield

 

[ace3113]

Grant Holmes

 

 

Dylan Cease

 

[ace3113]

Another reason to love Perfect Game! They've just posted the complete 2013 Perfect Game All-American Classic on Youtube. For those who don't know what that is, it's basically an All-Star game with all of the top prospects for next year's draft. The game took place in early August.

 

[theblujay]

Toussaint's curve looks good, but he was all over the place in the vid.

 

Sheffield looks like he's throwing really easy and he's sitting at 92-93 as a lefty. Pretty good.

[theblujay]

Holmes looks pretty good, nice delivery.

 

Cease looks like the ball just flies out of his hand. He had nice movement on his curve but it was all over the place.

[ace3113]

Holmes looks pretty good, nice delivery.

 

Cease looks like the ball just flies out of his hand. He had nice movement on his curve but it was all over the place.

 

Holmes looks really good. They compared him to Bundy in that broadcast but he kind of reminds me of Fernandez with his combination of stuff and polish at a young age.

 

Cease looks like he's playing catch with the catcher, just free and easy. The lack of a consistent breaking pitch holds him back though.

 

I really liked what I saw from Aiken. That bender from the left side is ridonkulous. If he can gain some velo on that fastball (he's big and projectable) he could be a premium arm. Right now he relies mostly on polish and command though.

[ace3113]

Toussaint's curve looks good, but he was all over the place in the vid.

 

Sheffield looks like he's throwing really easy and he's sitting at 92-93 as a lefty. Pretty good.

 

That has been Touki's reputation this summer: poor command, nasty stuff.

 

Sheffield reminds me so much of Ricky. Small lefty with good velocity, 3 pitches.

[Laika]

Holmes looks really good. They compared him to Bundy in that broadcast but he kind of reminds me of Fernandez with his combination of stuff and polish at a young age.

 

He reminds be a bit of Drabek. And I mean the version of Drabek that we've seen in the majors, as in, the 17 year old Grant Holmes looks basically as polished and talented as the 22-25 year old former top prospect in Drabek.

 

It's just that big running fastball and hammer breaking ball. Also the stature and mechanics.

[MLBDraft]

TTFB's Draft Board looks like this:

 

 

TTFB 8/13 Carlos Rodon Trea Turner Tyler Beede Jacob Gatewood Jeff Hoffman Tyler Kolek

Baseball Draft Report 6/10 Touki Toussaint Michael Cederoth Trea Turner Carlos Rodon Alex Jackson Jacob Gatewood

My MLB Draft N/A Carlos Rodon Tyler Beede Trea Turner Michael Cederoth Touki Toussaint Alex Jackson

MLB Draft Prospects N/A Carlos Rodon Tyler Beede Justin Bellinger Trea Turner Liam Sabino Touki Toussaint

Scout.Com 8/21 Carlos Rodon Jeff Hoffman Tyler Kolek Trea Turner Alex Jackson Derek Fisher

Minor League Ball 7/27 Carlos Rodon Jeff Hoffman Tyler Kolek Braxton Davidson Tyler Beede Gregory Deichmann

Minor League Rundown 6/9 Carlos Rodon Trea Turner Alex Jackson Tyler Beede Michael Cederoth Aaron Nola

Cubs Den 7/17 Trea Turner Mike Conforto Matt Chapman Kyle Schwarber Austin Cousino Tyler Beede

[GD]

TTFB's Draft Board looks like this:

 

Could you make that a little harder to read please

[ace3113]

Here are a few reviews and reports from the summer showcase circuits. (I've only included the draft eligible names)

 

Cape Cod League Top 30 Prospects

 

1. Jeff Hoffman, rhp, Hyannis (Jr., East Carolina): Hoffman made a name for himself last summer in the Cape, touching 95 mph in the all-star game and ranking seventh on this list. He showed flashes of brilliance during an uneven sophomore spring at ECU, then firmly established himself as a strong candidate to be drafted inside the top five overall picks in 2014 with a strong four-start tour through the Cape this summer.

 

Hoffman is still filling out his gangly 6-foot-4, 183-pound frame, but at his best he works in the 94-97 mph range and touches 98, though some scouts have seen him top out around 94 in other outings. He lacks pinpoint command of his fastball but is capable of working both sides of the plate, usually with good downhill plane. Hoffman’s 12-to-6 curveball can be a wipeout pitch at 79-84 mph, earning some plus-plus grades from scouts. His mid-80s slider can be a little flat at times, but it is another major weapon when it’s on. He also flashes an average changeup with fade and bottom.

 

“When he locates his fastball, it’s pretty tough,” Hyannis coach Chad Gassman said. “He’ll be sitting 96-97 in the sixth, seventh inning—it’s almost like his velocity jumps later in the game. The thing about him is he’s made to be a starter. It’s free and easy, hardly any effort in there, and he really has an idea of how to be efficient when he needs to be.”

 

4. Bradley Zimmer, of, Cotuit (Jr., San Francisco): Zimmer is lean, athletic and projectable just like his older brother Kyle, a former USF star righty who was the No. 5 overall pick in 2012. He came to Cotuit after a stint with USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team.

 

Zimmer’s true five-tool potential is rare in this draft class, but most of his tools need refinement. He’s a slightly above-average runner who covers plenty of ground in right field and can fill in in center, and his arm is above-average. His swing has some length, and he needs to get stronger in order to unlock his power potential. Some scouts consider his swing plane too flat to project more than average power down the line, but his work ethic earns him the benefit of the doubt for others.

 

“He’s tough as nails, and he loves to play the game,” Cotuit coach Mike Roberts said. “He’s got it all, except right now power. That’s the tool they’re not seeing; you’ve got to project that, and it will come. He’s a gap guy now, but he’ll learn to turn on the ball and hit 20 in the big leagues.”

 

5. Derek Fisher, of, Harwich (Jr., Virginia): After two strong seasons at Virginia and a good summer in the Cape, Fisher heads into his junior year as one of the best bats in the 2014 draft class. He showed off a mature plate approach this summer, hitting .333 with more walks (25) than strikeouts (19). He has a balanced, simple lefthanded swing that produces frequent hard line-drive contact to all fields, but particularly from gap to gap. His pitch recognition is good, and he hangs in admirably against lefties. He projects as a plus hitter, and most scouts think he’ll hit for solid-average to plus power even though he did not hit any home runs this summer.

Fisher is a below-average defender with a below-average arm, thanks in part to poor throwing mechanics. He spent the bulk of his sophomore season serving as a DH, and he’ll be confined to left field in pro ball. He flashes slightly above-average speed but doesn’t always show it, and he figures to be a fringy runner as he matures physically.

 

6. Erick Fedde, rhp, Yarmouth-Dennis (Jr., Nevada-Las Vegas): Fedde followed up his second straight solid season for UNLV by going 3-1, 2.35 with 26 strikeouts and eight walks in 31 innings for Y-D, before joining Team USA for a pair of outings. Fedde stood out for his combination of stuff, command and size. His heavy fastball sits comfortably in the 90-93 mph range, touches the mid-90s, and could even get a bit firmer as he fills out his 6-foot-4, 175-pound frame.

 

He aggressively attacks the zone with his heater and a power slider, which can reach the mid-80s. He can overthrow his slider at times, causing it to flatten out, but it shows good tilt when it’s on. He also has the makings of a solid changeup.

“He comes in with intent,” an AL crosschecker said. “He’s definitely a guy that kind of separated himself from some of those other guys.”

 

7. Kyle Freeland, lhp, Hyannis (Jr., Evansville): Freeland had an uneven sophomore year at Evansville, but he dominated during an all-star summer in the Cape League, going 3-2, 2.25 with 48 strikeouts and four walks in 40 innings. His quick arm and loose 6-foot-3, 170-pound frame suggest he has projection remaining, and he already works at 89-93 mph and touches 94. Freeland does have some effort in his delivery, but scouts think he has a decent chance to stick as a starter in pro ball because of his promising three-pitch mix.

Freeland’s slider eats up lefthanded hitters, rating as a solid-average to plus offering when it’s on. He also can back-foot the pitch effectively to righties, and his fringy changeup is inconsistent but should become another weapon against righties in time. Freeland needs some refinement, but loose, athletic lefties with his combination of arm strength and stuff are always in demand.

 

8. Max Pentecost, c, Bourne (Jr., Kennesaw State): Pentecost’s athleticism and bat potential got him drafted in the seventh round by the Rangers out of high school, but he had Tommy John surgery in April of his senior year and wound up at Kennesaw State, where he has been a solid performer in two seasons as an everyday regular. He elevated his stock this summer by hitting .346/.424/.538 with six homers and 29 RBIs to capture Cape League MVP honors.

 

“I thought he was a great hitter—his hands fly through the zone,” Falmouth coach Jeff Trundy said. “He can make those adjustments because his hands are so doggone good.”

 

Pentecost has a wiry-strong 6-foot-1, 190-pound build and a smooth line-drive swing from the right side. He projects as a 55 hitter with a chance for average power, and he also runs very well for a catcher, with 50 to 55 speed. Pentecost’s bat is his calling card, but he has a chance to become an adequate defensive catcher in time. He flashes average arm strength but sometimes produces below-average pop times. One scout describes him as “a little hyper behind the plate,” suggesting he needs to calm down to make his actions smoother.

 

9. Sean Newcomb, lhp, Wareham (Jr., Hartford): A bout with mononucleosis sidelined Newcomb for a chunk of the summer and caused his velocity to fluctuate upon his return, but he flashed tantalizing ability. At his best, he works at 90-94 mph and touches 95-96 with solid control.

 

“He’ll be up into the mid-90s, and he’s 6-5, 240 with a good delivery, and can pitch,” an AL area scout said. “He’s a four-pitch lefty with size, velocity and secondary stuff, and he’s got upside.”

Newcomb’s secondary stuff is a work in progress, but he has the makings of three average offspeed pitches. His curveball is usually below-average now, but occasionally he stays on top of it and flashes a good one. His circle changeup and slider are similarly inconsistent, and he flies open in his delivery at times, but it’s easy to dream on him.

 

12. J.D. Davis, 1b/3b/rhp, Chatham (Jr., Cal State Fullerton): An unsigned fifth-round pick by the Rays out of high school, Davis has made steady progress as a hitter and a pitcher over his first two seasons at Fullerton. He posted a 2.74 ERA as a setup man and an .843 OPS in the middle of the Titans’ order as a sophomore, and his offensive numbers were similar in the Cape (.849 OPS). He has plus raw power from the right side and is learning to harness it.

 

Davis can drive the ball to all fields and has a chance to be an average or slightly better hitter if he can continue to improve his contact ability. He lacks speed and will be tied to an infield corner defensively; he has a chance to play third base, where his arm is an asset, but he’s a safer bet at first. Davis pitched sparingly for Chatham but showed power stuff, working at 92-94 with a tight slider that touched 84-85. His arm gives him a fallback option in case his bat doesn’t pan out, but scouts prefer him as a position player for now.

 

13. Dylan Davis, of/rhp, Falmouth (Jr., Oregon State): Like J.D. Davis, Dylan Davis has loud tools as a hitter and a pitcher. His bazooka arm produces 95-97 heat with heavy sink off the mound, though he he has logged limited innings at Oregon State and in the Cape League. He also has a promising power slurve with good depth, but his command of both pitches is inconsistent. Davis is more advanced as a hitter, as evidenced by his .317/.388/.567 line this summer, with six homers and 34 RBIs.

 

“Roy Hobbs—that’s what we started to call him,” Trundy said. “Obviously the tools are off the charts.”

 

Davis packs mammoth raw righthanded power into his strong 6-foot, 210-pound frame. He has a balanced swing and a decent approach, although sometimes his stroke gets too uphill and pull-happy. He isn’t great against sliders away, causing some scouts to question his hit tool somewhat, but he showed the ability to make adjustments and drive balls up the middle and to right field as the summer progressed. Davis is a fringy runner who plays average defense at either outfield corner spot, where his huge arm is a big asset.

 

14. Alex Blandino, 3b, Yarmouth-Dennis (Jr., Stanford): Blandino bounced back from a mediocre sophomore year by earning Cape League all-star honors for the second straight summer, hitting .308/.363/.454 with two homers, 11 doubles and 17 RBIs. Y-D coach Scott Pickler said Blandino showed a much better offensive approach in his second year in the Cape, using his hands better and not overswinging as much. He has good strength in his compact 6-foot, 190-pound frame, translating to excellent bat speed. He uses the middle of the field well but can hit hard line drives all over the field.

 

Blandino projects as a solid-average hitter with average power. He also has an average arm on the left side of the infield, and he has the instincts and actions to be an average to plus defender at the hot corner, or fill in adequately at shortstop. If his power does not develop, he could also profile at second base.

[ace3113]

More reports.

Tournament of Stars: Promising Power Outlook For 2014

 

At the typically pitching-dominated Tournament Of Stars, power is in short supply–unless you’re discussing team Dixie this year. The squad of sluggers swatted six of the eight home runs during the tournament, and Braxton Davidson and Greg Deichmann each hit towering shots on Sunday to finish the event on a high note.

 

Deichmann’s TOS actually began on a sour note, however. Through the first two games, the lefthanded hitter was 0-for-7 with six strikeouts, four of those coming against lefthanders. Deichmann, who attends Brother Martin High in Metairie, La., and plays travel ball for Marucci Elite, has committed to Louisiana State.

 

“The first two days I faced a lot of lefthanders, and I haven’t faced a lot of lefties,” Deichmann said. “It was difficult.

“After struggling the first two days, I talked with my baseball instructor. He has really helped me with the mental aspect of the game, and I realized I just have to try to stay within myself.”

 

Deichmann, 18, had a reprieve from game action for Friday’s evaluation day, when players ran through drills and no games were played. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound infielder showed well in every facet of the evaluations, especially his raw power. He hit frozen ropes to the gaps and hit a few towering home runs in batting practice.

 

“I had a great workout that pushed me forward,” Deichmann said. “I came out after that and just had a different mindset.”

In his first plate appearance on Saturday against American Legion, Deichmann laced a screaming line drive directly at the third baseman, and then he walked in his next. In the sixth inning, he drove an 89 mph, belt-high fastball off the right-field scoreboard for a grand slam. With his second home run in as many days on Sunday against NABF, Deichmann matched the entire home run total for all 144 players during last year’s TOS. (It should be noted that Davidson, whom we featured earlier in the event, finished with three home runs, a TOS record according to USA Baseball.)

 

“I was watching the players before me and I picked up on the pitcher’s tendencies,” Deichmann said. “I was looking for a fastball on the first pitch and he left one up. I kept my hands up and got down through the ball.”

 

Excelling on the final two days of TOS has added importance. For many players, it’s the first time they have played five consecutive days in their lives. Scouts want to see how a player competes and performs while he is tired at the end of the tournament because this setting is most similar to the everyday grind of pro ball.

 

Added to his performance a week earlier at the Perfect Game National Showcase, where Deichmann had the two hardest-hit balls of the entire event, he has put himself among the top high school hitting prospects for next year’s draft. At PG, he hit a missile off the wall in dead center field for a triple that narrowly missed being a home run. He later crushed a ball into the Metrodome upper deck that sailed a few feet to the right of the foul pole.

 

Power may be Deichmann’s loudest tool, but he has a well-rounded skill set. With fluid actions and good range, he has improved his glove at shortstop. He ran a 6.72-second 60-yard-dash on the turf at PG National and was just a tick slower on grass at TOS, showing that he has above-average straight-line speed.

 

Look, Up On The Mound . . .

 

With a mild-mannered demeanor, dark hair and wide-framed black glasses, Babe Ruth lefthander Quinn Brodey could be mistaken for Clark Kent. And before toeing the rubber Saturday, Brodey transformed into Superman, striking out five in two perfect innings against RBI.

 

Pitching for the second time in the Tournament of Stars, Brodey’s secondary stuff was sharp. His changeup showed the makings of an above-average pitch, with more armside fade than vertical movement. He showed good arm speed and a strong feel for the pitch, throwing it more than half the time, including first-pitch changeups to the first two hitters in his second inning.

 

“I was feeling my changeup a lot in that second inning and Devon (Fisher) was calling it,” Brodey said. “I love going to my changeup and I was spotting it up.”

 

Brodey’s other strong secondary offering is a mid-70s curveball with 1-to-7 action and depth. He deploys it to get ahead in the count and as a strikeout pitch.His fastball sat 87-89 mph and touched 90 on Saturday, after falling into the mid-80s in his third inning of work on Wednesday. During the outing, coach Seth Etherton, a 1998 first-round pick out of Southern California who made 23 starts in the major leagues, noticed Brodey’s weight on his back leg was leaking forward in his delivery, costing him power and causing his arm to be late in his delivery.

 

“I talked with coach Etherton about my mechanics the other day, and he has been awesome helping me out,” Brodey said. “We tweaked a few little things. He was helping me stay back and keep my weight on my back side, which gives my arm time to get through.”

Brodey, who attends Loyola High in Los Angeles and plays travel ball for Garciaparra Baseball Group’s GBG Marucci team, sustained his velocity better and sharpened his control after the tweak, and 82 percent of his pitches were strikes. He has a smooth, athletic delivery and gets over his front leg well, which allows him to get good downward plane on his pitches. Brodey has a clean arm action and throws from a high three-quarters slot. He pitches at a good pace.

 

He also has potential as a two-way player and would likely play both ways if he follows through on his commitment to Stanford. (He’s also a strong student with a 4.2 GPA.) He shows power with the bat and has hit batting practice home runs during PG National and TOS. He has a levered swing from a low hand set, conducive to power to his pull side.

 

“Moving forward at the higher levels, (my pull-oriented approach) is something they will be able to attack on me,” Brodey said. “So I want to develop that same power to the left side and up the middle that I have to my pull side.”

Brodey is 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, with strong, trim legs and a narrow waist. With a wide back, sloped shoulders and strength through his chest, Brodey has a developed, powerful upper body. He has deceptive speed and ran a 6.66-second 60-yard-dash on grass during evaluation day.

 

TOS Tidbits

 

Versatile Jakson Reetz stood out in many facets of the game. During Friday’s evaluations, he showed one of the strongest arms of any catcher and quick feet behind the plate. Then he made a tough play in right field on Saturday by chasing down a long fly ball to the warning track. The Nebraska commit sat 88-90 mph on the mound, touching 91. Yet Reetz, who attends Norris High in Hickman, Neb., saved his loudest performance for the plate. The 6-foot-1, 195-pounder took quality at-bats and made consistent, hard contact. He smacked a triple in the seventh inning.

 

UCLA commit Griffin Canning, a righthander from Santa Margarita High in Coto De Caza, Calif., struck out five in three scoreless innings. The 6-foot-2, 165-pound Canning has a three-pitch mix and a deceptive delivery. He showed feel for a changeup with vertical drop and a slider. His fastball sat in the upper 80s and touched 90 mph. Canning has a lean frame that offers projection.

 

Shortstop Jacob Gatewood made his anticipated summer showcase circuit debut on Friday’s evaluation day. The 6-foot-5, 190-pounder put on a show during batting practice, crushing five pull-side home runs. Then in Saturday’s pregame batting practice, the Clovis (Calif.) High product showed plus raw power, hitting balls 30 feet high into the batter’s eye. The Southern California commit produced home-to-first times between 4.2-4.4 seconds and showed a strong arm.

 

James Torres, an uncommitted 5-foot-11, 170-pound righthander from Bloomfield (N.J.) High, provided much-needed innings for a pitching-depleted RBI squad. Using a classic full windup, the athletic and live-armed Torres hit 91 mph with his fastball and sat 88-90. He also threw a curveball, slider and changeup.

 

Jonah Patten, a 6-foot-3, 195-pound righthander from Norwell High in Ossian, Ind., sat 90-91 mph in his first inning of work. Patten comes from a low three-quarters arm slot and has slingy arm action. He threw different two breaking balls, a 75-77 mph curveball and 81-82 mph slider. The Arkansas commit struck out four in his three and one-third innings.

 

Max George, a scrappy middle infielder from Regis Jesuit High in Parker, Colo., hit just the second home run by a righthanded hitter at TOS, pulling the ball to left. The Oregon State commit is 5-foot-10, 168 pounds and is an average runner.

 

As part of evaluation day on Friday, all position players ran the 60-yard-dash. These were the top times:

 

PLAYER TIME

 

Derek Hill, of 6.34

Jeren Kendall, of 6.47

Isaiah Pasteur, of 6.51

Denz’l Chapman, of 6.55

Joe Gillette, inf 6.58

Shane Mardirosian, of 6.60

Lane Thomas, of 6.60

Monte Harrison, of 6.62

Adam Haseley, of 6.63

Kyle Dean, of 6.63

Jack Flaherty, inf 6.65

Ronnie Williams, of 6.65

Brodey Quinn, of 6.66

Travis Jones, of 6.67

Caleb Potter, of 6.67

Scott Hurst, of 6.69

Kyle Molnar, of 6.69

Chase Pinder, of 6.69

Chandler Avant, inf 6.71

Jack Gerstenmaier, inf 6.71

Khalil Macklin, of 6.74

Keenan Eaton, of 6.74

Matthew Railey, of 6.75

Griffin Helms, c 6.75

Nick Shumpert, inf 6.79

Stone Garrett, of 6.79

Chad Smith, of 6.79

Dazon Cole, of 6.82

Brandon Vicens, of 6.83

Charlie Cody, inf 6.84

Alex Verdugo, of 6.85

Greg Deichmann, ss 6.89

[ace3113]

Brady Aiken Leads U.S. To 18U World Championship

 

USA Baseball’s 18-and-under national team defeated Japan 3-2 on Sunday in Taichung, Taiwan, to win the 18U World Cup. Last year’s gold medal was the first for the U.S. at the 18U level since 1999, and now the Americans have won back-to-back 18U world championships for the first time since 1988-89.

 

Lefthander Brady Aiken (Cathedral Catholic High, San Diego), one of the top prep pitchers in the 2014 draft class, turned in his second straight strong start in the championship victory. He allowed five hits and one run in seven innings, walking just two while striking out 10. He’d beaten Korea in his first start.

 

“To have the coaches and my teammates have the faith in me to go out and start this game means everything,” Aiken said. “It was such an honor. Winning this championship means everything.”

 

Japan had scored the most runs and allowed the fewest runs in the tournament and entered Saturday’s action undefeated in the tournament. The Americans beat Japan on consecutive days though, winning 10-4 Saturday to end the second round, then winning the title game. In two games against Japan, Team USA scored more than twice as many runs (13) as Japan allowed in its first seven games of the tournament (six).

 

Japan scored the first run of the game in the top of the fifth inning when center fielder Ryuma Mori was hit by a pitch, advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a single by left fielder Takahiro Kumagai.

 

Team USA answered with a run in the bottom half of the frame that started with a Cole Tucker (Mountain Pointe High, Phoenix) single through the left side of the infield, the first hit of the day for U.S.. Catcher Michael Rivera (Venice, Fla., High) singled to right-center field and Tucker advanced to third base before scoring on a fielder’s choice off the bat of left fielder Adam Haseley (The First Academy, Windermere, Fla.).

 

An inning later Team USA took the lead when right fielder Jakson Reetz (Norris High, Hickman, Neb.) doubled on a line drive down the left-field line, his fourth two-bagger of the tournament, with two outs and scored on a Bryson Brigman Valley Christian High, San Jose) single to center field.

 

First baseman Keaton McKinney, who attends Ankeny (Iowa) High, singled to score Trace Loehr (Putnam High, Milwaukie, Ore.) in the seventh to give USA a two-run lead.

 

Sanger (Calif.) High righthander Luis Ortiz, who struck out eight without allowing a walk in four previous outings, entered in the eighth inning. Japan scored a run in the inning to shave the U.S. lead to one, but Ortiz struck out the side in the ninth to secure the victory. Ortiz was named the World Cup MVP for saving three games with 11 strikeouts against one walk in 8 1/3 innings. He appeared in five games and allowed three runs.

 

“I’m not sure I can totally describe this feeling,” 18U national team manager Rob Cooper (Penn State) said. “What I do want to say is how proud I am to be associated with these 20 young men: what they’ve gone through, how they came together and how they stayed together. In this tournament you saw 20 guys come together for something far more important than themselves and play for the letter on their chest.”

 

Haseley was the leading hitter of the event with a .484 average (.484/.515/1.128) and hit three doubles, two triples and an inside-the-park home run to go with a steal. He and Rivera were both named to the World Cup all-star team.

 

Individual Awards XXVI 18U Baseball World Cup

 

MVP: Luis Ortiz (USA)

Leading Hitter: Adam Haseley (USA)

Pitcher with best ERA: Tomohiro Anraku (Japan)

Outstanding defensive player: Moises Esquerre (Cuba)

 

All Star Team XXVI 18U Baseball World Cup

 

Starting Pitcher: Tomohiro Anraku (Japan)

Relief Pitcher: Taisuke Yamaoke (Japan)

Catcher: Tomoya Mori (Japan)

First Baseman: Byeong Wuk Lim (Korea)

Second Baseman: Li Lin (Taiwan)

Third Baseman: Michael Rivera (USA)

Shortstop: Moises Esquerre (Cuba)

Outfielder: Adam Haseley (USA)

Outfielder: Tzu-Hao Chen (Taiwan)

Outfielder: Tyler O’Neill (Canada)

DH: Cheng-Tang Wang (Taiwan)

[TwistedLogic]

I stopped following the Jays for the past few months, finally got fed up with it. I see that they still can't do a single f***ing thing right, and just like I told my friends two months ago, as soon as they're mathematically eliminated from contention, they're going to start winning the most useless f***ing games just so that they can make sure they get back to the middle of the pack and eliminate their chances of a good draft pick. That's why this team hasn't made the f***ing playoffs in so many years, because not only do they NEVER play good enough to make it at the end of the season, they NEVER play bad enough to get some good draft picks. It's so f***ing annoying.

[GD]

^Dude, you're alive? Christ, you gotta start posting more lol.

[ace3113]

Baseball America on the Blue Jays' hosted Canadian prospect tournament.

Jays Host Tournament 12 For Canadian Amateurs

 

The Toronto Blue Jays will host the Tournament 12, an innovative, first-of-its-kind showcase tournament, at the Rogers Centre from September 20-24. The Tournament 12, presented by New Era, will showcase the best Canadian amateur talent with college eligibility, with representation from the 2014-2017 high school classes and a handful of the top college players in Canada.

 

“The creation of Tournament 12 is a first for amateur baseball in Canada,” Blue Jays senior vice president of business operations Stephen Brooks said. “It is an opportunity to showcase the elite baseball talent that exists in our country.”

 

Scouts find that laying eyes on all the top Canadians is a tough task due to the large geographic footprint of the country and the travel schedule of Canadian National Team. But the Tournament 12 will have 99 of the top 100 high school players in the country, according to a scout.

 

The Blue Jays Baseball Academy collaborated with the Blue Jays scouting department, Baseball Canada and the Major League Baseball Scouting Bureau to select the players for the event.

 

Ten of the teams will represent Canadian provinces. Ontario, which produced 2010 National League MVP Joey Votto, Hall of Fame righthander Fergie Jerkins and Russell Martin, will have three teams. Quebec, where Phillippe Aumont and Eric Gagne came from, will have two. Three provinces, British Columbia–which produced Larry Walker, Justin Morneau and Brett Lawrie–Alberta and Atlantic Canada, will have a team. Manitoba and Saskatchewan will combine to form a team. The Major League Scouting Bureau will have a team with players from many provinces.

 

The event is named the Tournament 12 to honor Blue Jays special assistant Roberto Alomar, who wore the number 12 during his Hall of Fame career, during which he won 10 Gold Gloves. Alomar will serve as the commissioner of the event and will be aided by his father, Sandy Alomar Sr. At least seven former big leaguers will serve as coaches for the event, in addition to former Canadian National Team members, including Adam Stern and Scott Thorman.

 

The first day of the event will be an evaluation day and will include the 60-yard dash, batting practice, infield/outfield and the vertical leap. Six games will be played daily for the next three days. The final day will have a playoff of the top teams to determine a tournament champion. Every team is guaranteed at least four games in the Rogers Centre.

 

The 2014 and 2015 Canadian classes look strong. Six-foot-4, 210-pound outfielder Gareth Morgan headlines the 2014 class. Morgan, who has a large frame with strength throughout, is a physical specimen with a pro body as a 17-year-old. He is the youngest player to ever attend the Under Armour All-America game, doing so at 15. Morgan has plus raw power and can put on a show in batting practice. Six-foot-4, 185-pound lefthander Kurtis Horne, a member of Team Canada with a long, lean and projectable build, pitched in Florida during the team’s spring schedule earlier this year, showing a mid-80s fastball that touched 87 and feel for a changeup.

 

2015 could be one of the best draft classes Canada has had in years. Lefthanded-hitting first baseman Josh Naylor showed precocious feel to hit during the trip to Florida last spring. As a 15-year-old sophomore against minor league pitchers, Naylor, a line-drive hitting machine, squared up velocity and made more consistent hard contact than any other player. Just as impressive, Naylor rarely swung and missed against competition four and five years his senior. Naylor hit a total of 15 home runs, including a 453-foot shot with aluminum, over three rounds at Marlins Park to win the 2012 Underclassmen Power Showcase. The 5-foot-10, 205-pound Naylor has a strong, durable build.

 

Toolsy outfielder Demi Orimoloye is the type of player scouts dream on. Orimoloye has a high ceiling with a big 6-foot-4, 214-pound frame, above-average speed and rare athleticism.

 

Those are the headlining players, but other players will emerge and put themselves on the prospect map and follow lists.

 

With such a high concentration of talent in one place, the event is expected to be well attended within the scouting community. Most major league teams are expected to have a presence at the event and dozens of college programs will also attend.

[TwistedLogic]

^Dude, you're alive? Christ, you gotta start posting more lol.

 

For the first time ever, I'm getting sick of this team.

[GD]

For the first time ever, I'm getting sick of this team.

 

I think we all are. The GDTs are dying out. But we gotta persevere.

[ace3113]

For the first time ever, I'm getting sick of this team.

 

Join the club man. Why do you think most of us just congregate in the prospects sub forum.

[ace3113]

http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/summer-showcase-wrapup-show/

[RIPEXPOS]

So as far as I can tell we'll be picking in the 7-10 range, as well as have the #11 pick.

 

I think it's important for this franchise to hit home runs with both of those picks. No more Deck McGuires over Chris Sales.

[jays_fever]

So as far as I can tell we'll be picking in the 7-10 range, as well as have the #11 pick.

 

I think it's important for this franchise to hit home runs with both of those picks. No more Deck McGuires over Chris Sales.

 

You think it's important for an mlb franchise to take an all star type player over a organizational filler?

[RIPEXPOS]

No, I think it's an important draft to swing for top talent up top, as opposed to going the safe route. Both Jenkins and McGuire were "safe" picks.

[Boxcar]

You think it's important for an mlb franchise to take an all star type player over a organizational filler?

 

I feel like I just learned the Caramilk secret.

[ace3113]

BA's 2014 Draft Top 50

After a below-average 2013 draft, the 2014 class has potential to be the best class since 2011’s banner crop.

 

The two headliners of the class are both college pitchers in North Carolina. N.C. State lefthander Carlos Rodon, who had a strong summer with USA Baseball’s Collegiate National Team, gives the class a clear No. 1 prospect, combining size, plus stuff, good makeup and a strong track record of success. Jeff Hoffman was the top prospect in the Cape Cod League, solidifying his status as the draft’s No. 2 prospect, with a fastball up to 97, an out-pitch curveball and changeup that flashes plus. Hoffman stacks up well with any college pitcher in the last two classes at this point in the draft calendar.

 

Rodon and Hoffman typify the power arms from both the college and high school classes that should be the strength of the 2014 draft. Last year, for example, at the Perfect Game All-American Classic in San Diego, one pitcher touched 94 mph: eventual No. 4 pick Kohl Stewart. This year, nine high school hurlers hit 95 or better, with the top velocity belonging to Tyler Kolek, who hit 99 mph and is the top high school player in the class.

 

The high school pitching class is as deep as it has been in years and is replete with big velocity arms that could go in the first 50 picks. The high school hitters did not fare well against top pitching this summer, as many of the top hitters offer loud tools but struggled to hit in games.

 

There is a fairly deep supply of college power hitters in the class, but as usual the college ranks are light on up-the-middle players, as many of the top hitters in the class likely profile in left field or at first base. Shortstop Trea Turner and catcher Max Pentecost have the athleticism and tools to stay at their respective positions; they are the only two college position players with a better than even chance to stay up in the middle in the Top 50.

 

The 2013 crop of high school catchers had depth, but the 2014 class is light behind the plate, as only one catcher, Jakson Reetz, appears in the Top 50.

 

1. Carlos Rodon, lhp, N.C. State: Could have ranked No. 1 in previous two draft classes with a 93-95 mph fastball and premium slider.

 

2. Jeff Hoffman, rhp, East Carolina: His stuff isn’t far off from Rodon’s, but he hasn’t performed to a comparable level (6.8 K/9 in two seasons).

 

3. Tyler Kolek, rhp, Shepherd (Texas) HS: Six-foot-6, 250-pounder has touched 99 mph and fits the Texas fireballer description.

 

4. Trea Turner, ss, North Carolina State: Ankle issue hampered him in 2013, but he offers bat speed, athleticism and top-of-the-scale speed when healthy.

 

5. Jacob Gatewood, ss/3b, Clovis (Calif.) HS: Long, lean and toolsy athlete with a plus arm and arguably the best power potential in the class.

 

6. Alex Jackson, c/of, Rancho Bernardo HS, San Diego: Pairs plus power and arm strength with athleticism and a chance to stay behind the plate.

 

7. Tyler Beede, rhp, Vanderbilt: Unsigned 2011 first-round pick has three above-average or better pitches, but command has become an issue for him.

 

8. Touki Toussaint, rhp, Coral Springs (Fla.) Christian HS: Like Beede, Toussaint shows premium stuff (mid-90s fastball, curve) but struggles to throw strikes at times.

 

9. Brady Aiken, lhp, Cathedral Catholic HS, San Diego: Projectable lefty with an ideal pitcher’s body has a chance for three plus offerings with command.

 

10. Aaron Nola, rhp, Louisiana State: Smallish, athletic college ace has excellent life on a low-90s fastball and plus changeup.

 

11. Nick Gordon, ss/rhp, Olympia HS, Orlando, Fla.: The son of former big leaguer Tom and brother of Dodgers infielder Dee has a chance to stick at short with a plus arm, good actions and a solid lefthanded swing.

 

12. Bradley Zimmer, of, San Francisco: The rare college bat with projection as well as strong present tools; scouts are divided on his power potential.

 

13. Michael Gettys, of/rhp, Gainesville (Ga.) HS: Plus speed and power and one of best arms in the class, but he struggled to hit this summer.

 

14. Luis Ortiz, rhp, Sanger (Calif.) HS: Strong-bodied power pitcher with an easy delivery was MVP of 18U World Cup with fastball up to 95 mph and a plus slider

 

15. Mac Marshall, lhp, Parkview HS, LiLburn, Ga.: Athletic lefthander with a low-90s fastball that touches 94 mph, a plus changeup and emerging curveball.

 

16. Derek Fisher, of, Virginia: Powerful lefthanded swing makes him a potential first-rounder, though his defense and all-around tools are more in question.

 

17. Kyle Schwarber, c/1b, Indiana: Physical lefthanded swing helps him hit for power and average; his best position is clearly the batter’s box.

 

18. Michael Conforto, of, Oregon State: More swing and miss than scouts would like mitigate a physical, powerful corner profile.

 

19. Sean Newcomb, lhp, Hartford: Breakout Cape Cod League performer has a durable 6-foot-5, 240-pound frame, and he flashes a four-pitch mix with mid-90s heat.

 

20. Kyle Freeland, lhp, Evansville: Projectable Colorado prep product flashes excellent velocity from the left side, up to 93-95 mph.

 

21. Michael Cederoth, rhp, San Diego State: Physical 6-foot-6, 210-pounder rivals Aztecs great Stephen Strasburg in velocity with 94-98 mph fastball.

 

22. Cobi Johnson, rhp, Mitchell HS, Holiday, Fla.: Son of Blue Jays pitching instructor Dane offers athleticism, projection and command of a fastball that touches 93 mph and a potentially plus curveball.

 

23. Brandon Finnegan, lhp, Texas Christian: Smallish lefty holds upper-90s velocity deep into games and developed a plus slider during his time with Team USA.

 

24. Grant Holmes, rhp, Conway (S.C.) HS: Powerfully built but undersized, the 6-foot Holmes has a fastball that reaches 96 mph with power and depth to his curveball.

 

25. Matt Chapman, 3b/rhp, Cal State Fullerton: His easy premium arm could push him to the mound if his bat doesn’t fit third-base profile.

 

26. Erick Fedde, rhp, Nevada-Las Vegas: He has room to fill out his 6-foot-4 frame and add velocity to a fastball that he throws in the low 90s with good command.

 

27. Nick Burdi, rhp, Louisville: The biggest pure arm in the draft class with a 100 mph fastball and low-90s slider; strictly a reliever.

 

28. Max Pentecost, c, Kennesaw State: Athletic for the position if he can stick there, and coming off a boffo summer when he won Cape Cod League MVP.

 

29. Braxton Davidson, 1b/of, Roberson HS, Asheville, N.C.: Young for the class, Davidson provides a powerful lefthanded bat with pop and a feel to hit.

 

30. Kodi Medeiros, lhp, Waiakea HS, Hilo, Hawaii: With a lively fastball up to 95 mph and a power slider, Medeiros pairs electric stuff with an unconventional low slot.

 

31. Sean Reid-Foley, rhp, Sandalwood HS, Jacksonville: Athletic righthander with a fastball up to 95 mph, above-average slider and average changeup with good control.

 

32. Luke Weaver, rhp, Florida State: He draws Tim Hudson comparisons for the body and live arm that pumps fastballs up to 96 mph.

 

33. Derek Hill, of, Elk Grove (Calif.) HS: A plus-plus runner, Hill is a premium defensive center fielder who has shown a feel for hitting in games.

 

34. Alex Verdugo, lhp/of, Sahuaro HS, Tucson, Ariz.: He’s a legitimate prospect both ways thanks to his feel for hitting, and a smooth delivery with a fastball up to 93 mph on the mound.

 

35. Dylan Cease, rhp, Milton (Ga.) HS: Athletic pitcher who produces easy velocity, with a fastball up to 97 mph; inconsistent breaking ball and command are knocks.

 

36. J.D. Davis, 1b/3b/rhp, Cal State Fullerton: Unsigned Rays fifth-rounder out of high school in 2011 offers power on the mound and at the plate.

 

37. Dylan Davis, of/rhp, Oregon State: Similar to J.D. (no relation) with power both ways, he’s more advanced as a hitter and has more velocity on the mound.

 

38. Justus Sheffield, lhp, Tullahoma (Tenn.) HS: He offers a fastball up to 95 mph, above-average breaking ball/changeup combo and the ability to throw strikes.

 

39. Taiwuan Forbes, ss, Columbia (Miss.) HS: Young and spindly, the three-sport Forbes is a premium athlete and plus runner who will need time to develop with the bat.

 

40. Cameron Varga, rhp, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy, Loveland, Ohio: Nagging injuries sidelined Varga this summer, but the 19-year-old has touched 95 mph with his fastball in the past with a plus curveball, and he has an athletic build.

 

41. Monte’ Harrison, of, Lee’s Summit West (Mo.) HS: Coveted wide receiver also has one of the best arms in the class as well as plus speed, and he has developed as a hitter.

 

42. Michael Chavis, 3b, Sprayberry HS, Marietta, Ga.: Five-foot-11 gamer offers all-around skills with plus bat speed, contact ability and above-average raw power to go with above-average wheels and arm.

 

43. Keaton McKinney, rhp, Ankeny (Iowa) HS: Six-foot-5, 223-pounder has a low-90s fastball that has touched 94 and one of the better changeups in the class.

 

44. Alex Blandino, 3b, Stanford: Two-time Cape Cod League all-star struggled last spring but has the bat speed and athleticism to stay on the infield.

 

45. Jack Flaherty, 3b/ss /rhp, Harvard-Westlake HS, Burbank, Calif.: With a big frame at 6-foot-3, 217 pounds, Flaherty has above-average speed and arm with a feel for the barrel and improving power.

 

46. Joey Gatto, rhp, St. Augustine Prep, Hammonton, N.J.: Gatto offers athleticism, projection and a fastball up to 94 mph from a big 6-foot-3, 204-pound frame.

 

47. Lukas Schiraldi, rhp, Texas: Son of former big leaguer Calvin, he shined this summer while flashing a plus fastball and solid secondary repertoire.

 

48. Joey Pankake, ss/3b/rhp, South Carolina: Powerfully built infielder controls the strike zone and has plus raw power to fit the profile at third base.

 

49. Jackson Reetz, c/of/rhp, Hickman (Neb.) HS: An offensive star of the 18U USA Baseball squad that won a gold medal this summer, Reetz has shown the ability to hit in games, as well as the tools and athleticism to stick behind the plate.

 

50. Taylor Sparks, 3b/1b, UC Irvine: An unconventional, upper-body swing didn’t keep him from leading the college national team in batting; he also offers plus raw power.

[GD]

Hill at #33 and Morgan not on it, interesting.

 

I have a good feeling about this draft, there's a lot to like. Two picks is awesome. At least Alex can draft.

[z3r0s]

I think we should draft J.D. Davis... just cuz it would be mildly humorous

[ace3113]

Hill at #33 and Morgan not on it, interesting.

 

I have a good feeling about this draft, there's a lot to like. Two picks is awesome. At least Alex can draft.

 

This draft is crazy deep. Some of the names not even in the top 50 are pretty good.

 

Gareth Morgan, OF

Mark Zagunis, C

Chase Vallot, C

Trenton Kemp, OF

Turner Larkins, RHP

Chris Ellis, RHP

Marcus Wilson, OF

Kel Johnson, OF

Carl Chester, OF

Matt Imhof, LHP

Trevor Megill, RHP

Karsten Whitson, RHP

Mike Papi, OF

Brandon Murray, RHP

Michael Kopech, RHP

Sam Blewett, RHP

Jake Godfrey, RHP

Alex Lange, LHP

Carson Sands, LHP

Foster Griffin, LHP

Greg Deichmann, SS/2B

Josh Morgan, SS/3B

Stone Garrett, OF

Zach Shannon, 3B/RHP

Justin Smith, OF

Blake Wiggins, 3B

Justin Bellinger, 1B/OF

[GD]

Karsten Whitson eh? Still can't believe he turned down the Padres' money 3 years ago.

[ace3113]

Tom (San Francisco, CA)

 

Keith, what are the chances the Blue Jays are in the position to draft Gareth Morgan next year?

 

Klaw

(1:13 PM)

 

A hundred percent since he's not that good of a prospect and every team should get a couple of shots to draft him. Note, however, that, contrary to popular belief, the Blue Jays do not receive bonus runs for employing Canadian players.