MLB Draft Schedule:

2010 MLB Draft: Round One...
June 7th at 7 pm ET

2010 MLB Draft: Rounds 2-30...
June 8th at noon ET

2010 MLB Draft: Rounds 31-50...
June 9th at noon ET 

MLB Draft News  

6/8/10... Keith Law with another insider tweet... this time involving the Red Sox.  Talk about it here.

6/7/10... Listen live- TONIGHT, June 7th, at 5pm, as DA's Greg Pappas goes on-air with Brian Sinkoff at ESPN Radio's '104.5 The Team' in Albany, NY! Talk about it here.

6/7/10... The latest top industry mocks are up within our Mock Drafts page. Talk about it here.

6/7/10... Baseball America shares their final Top 50 prospects. Talk about it here.

6/7/10... Mark Newman of MLB.com shares that the 'Stage is set for ever-evolving draft'. Talk about it here.

6/7/10... Chuck Finder of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette believes the Pirates are now leaning Machado.

6/6/10... Kevin Goldstein tweeted that Zack Cox is "looking for Alvarez money"... implying he could slide down.

6/6/10... Jonathan Mayo tweeted that Grandal does NOT have a pre-draft deal in place with KC.

6/5/10... Jim Callis tweeted... "I believe Grandal is frontrunner for KC at No. 4. But adviser Greg Genske says no negotiations have taken place, no deal done."

6/5/10... BaseballAmerica: Wittels extends hit streak to 56, but season comes to an end.

6/5/10... LoHud.com shares that #59 prospect -Robbie Aviles- has a partial tear of his elbow ligament.

6/4/10... Royals have an agreement in place to take Grandal? Frank Piliere of MLB.Fanhouse.com tweeted it.

6/4/10... Pirates closing in on Taillon? The Pittsburgh Post Gazette ran an enlightening article.

6/4/10... Aaron Fitt of BA shares that Drew Pomeranz lead #2 Ole Miss past #3 St. Johns.

6/4/10... Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com unveils his latest article... saying 'the focus falls on Harper'.

6/3/10... Steve Melewski of MASNsports.com shared a quality piece on Orioles Scouting Director Joe Jordan and the meeting he had with the Taillon family.

6/3/10... Bryce Harper ejected and suspended two games at the Junior College World Series.

6/2/10... Steve Melewski of MASNsports.com conducted an insightful three-part interview with BaseballAmerica.com great- Jim Callis. Find Part One here. / Find Part Two here. / Find Part Three here.

6/1/10... News from Sports Illustrated's Tom Verducci... hearing from Bryce Harper's agent- Scott Boras- that Harper should not catch in the pros.

5-31-10 / / BaseballAmerica.com provides the most recent weekly performance of the best collegiate players.

5-30-10 / / Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com gives us his latest late season draft review.

5-30-10 / / Mayo: Draft's top pitching prospects / middle infielders / corner infielders / catchers / outfielders.

5-3010 / / Dave Perkin of BA ran a piece on the slide of prep right-hander Dylan Covey.

5-30-10 / / Mayo is back, reviewing a revitalized Ole Miss lefty- Drew Pomeranz.

5-30-10 / / John Manuel is back with another update from the NJCAA World Series.

5-29-10 / / Jonathan Mayo reviews Miami prep SS Manny Machado, and the A-Rod comps.

5-29-10 / / Conor Glassey reports on the latest great effort by prep hurler Karsten Whitson.

5-28-10 / / Jonathan Mayo of MLB.com talked draft with Arkansas 3B'man Zack Cox.

5-28-10 / / Jon Manuel of BA has the latest scoop on some late risers, as well as the history of the Top 200.

Our MLB Draft Staff:

Michael Seff- Publisher
Email: Michaelseff@DraftAmerica.com

Adam Wolff- Writer
Email: AdamWolff@DraftAmerica.com

Mike Klein- Writer
Email: MikeKlein@DraftAmerica.com

Rob Evans- Writer
Email: RobEvans@DraftAmerica.com 

Our favorite sites:

BaseballAmerica.com

PerfectGame.org

PGcrosschecker.com

OriolesHangout.com

Metszilla.com

PnRscouting.com

5ToolTalk.com

TheCollegeBaseballBlog.com

ProjectProspect.com

MLBBonusBaby.com

Brewerfan.net

Harper may be among the best baseball prospects ever. This is not hyperbole... it is consensus scouting. Considered by some a once-in-a-generation talent, the 17-year old Harper seems to be a scout's living dream.  Harper has every tool, he hits for both average and power -prodigious power at that- he has a great arm, is a good defender behind the plate and is quick on the bases. Yet it's that unseen tool- passion for the game- that pushes his accolades to the loftiest of heights. Compared to former #1 overall draft picks and superstars Justin Upton, Alex Rodriguez and Ken Griffey Jr. -for overall talent- Harper is earning such praise at a younger age than any of them... so yes, he may just be that special.

After a lengthy season, he performed poorly in his last all-star effort, but many would agree that he was likely worn out, and is still a tremendous prospect. The hoopla surrounding Harper may not be fair for a youngster to endure, but stardom has a price. Making a choice to get his GED and play the coming 2010 season at a junior college (College of Southern Nevada) seems a preemptive attempt to skirt upcoming changes in the draft rules- where the draft slots are fitted with pre-determined bonus's... something his 'adviser' Scott Boras wants no part of. There is talk that Harper can be a bit aloof and arrogant, but one hopes he quells such discussion at CSN. 

Harper will be 17 throughout the season at CSN, and scouts expect that he'll be thoroughly tested.  His play this coming campaign should go a long way toward finalizing scouts views on his considerable talents, and his place in draft lore. 

Update 5/13/10...  Though he has not necessarily shaken concerns about his defensive future behind the plate, nor personality issues, he has been everything CSN could hope for with a bat in his hands. Harper, after a slow start, has simply brutalized the wood bat collegiate league, crushing a ridiculous 23 bombs in merely 180 AB's, while raking to the tune of a 1.436 OPS (On-base percentage + Slugging percentage). Harper has also stolen 16 bases in 20 attempts, and shows the athleticism to switch off of catcher if so required. The young man has every reason to be proud of his efforts, as the great weight of skipping his junior and senior years, and the pressure of being The Next Big Thing were added to his broad shoulders. He has carried these well, and should reap the reward of being selected #1 overall this June by the Washington Nationals.  Again, all at 17-years old.

Update 5/24/10...  I AM LEGEND! An astounding, almost herculean effort by the phenomenal Harper- propelled CSN into the JC World Series. Harper, one day after hitting for the cycle, crushed four HR's and knocked in 10 runs while finishing 6-6 at the plate! While the wind was blowing out quite strongly, no one matched Harper's efforts. Not only has he firmly entrenched himself as the clear-cut #1 prospect in the draft, but will go down as among the greatest amateur prospects ever.

Update 6/1/10...  According to SI's Tom Verducci,, Scott Boras -Harper's agent- says that Harper will NOT catch in the pros. In the meantime, Harper continues to excel, leading CSN closer to a JC World Series.

Update 6/3/10... Harper ejected and then suspended at the JC World Series. See here.

--Greg Pappas

2010 Stats: 215 AB's, .442 AVG, .524 OBP, .986 SLG, 1.510 OPS, 22 2B, 4 3B, 29 HR, 89 RBI, 35 BB, 39 K, 18-22 SB

#2 Jameson Taillon
Right-handed Pitcher, The Woodlands (HS) in Texas 
Born November 18, 1991 > Draft Day Age=18.6
Ht/Wt...  6-6/220,   Bats Right / Throws Right

Composite Review...

To -somewhat- clear up pronunciation matters, Jim Ecker of Perfect Game interviewed Taillon in July of 2009, and therein shared the following...

You can call him Jameson (jay-mi-sen), his given first name, or simply Jamo, his often-used nickname. “Honestly, either one works,” he said. “I don’t really care.”
And then there’s his surname, which gets trickier. You can pronounce it "TAY-own," which is the proper French-Canadian version, or you can simply go with "Tallen," which is OK, too. “Tallen is a lot easier,” Jamo said. “It’s the American version.” His father, Michael, goes by the American version in the business world, but the family acknowledges that TAY-own is formally correct, tracing to their French-Canadian roots.

Taillon has vaulted to the top of the prep hurlers list, after exciting scouts with his performances during his junior year, and throughout the summer/early fall. He was outstanding  in August at the Aflac All-American game in San Diego and broke Scott Kazmir's record for Team USA, by striking out 16 Cubans in the Pan Am (18 and under) gold medal game early October. He has already drawn comparisons to such pitchers as Stephen Strasburg and John Lackey, for his exceptional skill-set.

Standing 6 feet 6 inches and weighing in at 220 pounds, as an 17-year old, is quite impressive, but it's the demeanor in which he carries himself, coupled with a dynamite fastball that sits 93-95 (that touches 96), a very good low-80's curve with late life, a solid slider, and the makings of a solid-average change that has scouts looking at a potentially dominant starting pitching prospect. Dave Perkin of Baseball America referred to Taillon as  "...a near perfect pitching prospect." When we asked Taillon's HS Coach -Ronald Eastman- about his young starter's arsenal, he replied, "Fastball , curveball, but has been working on a change and slider that both look pretty good."

With an expected huge senior season, most agree that "Jamo" will be a top five talent, and quite possibly taken in the top few picks of the 2010 draft.

--Greg Pappas

UPDATE  6/2/10... An outstanding senior season has solidified Taillon as the top prep pitcher in the draft. With two great pitches -in his mid-upper 90's fastball and power curve- and developing a slider and change, Taillon is arguably among the best high school pitching prospects in recent memory. Some comparisons go so far as to debate "Jamo" vs. Josh Beckett. Taillon is expected to be taken within the first three picks and may challenge the record signings of prep pitchers before him. Dominant #1 starter arms like Taillon's are few and far between, and pending health, he could very well ascend to stardom.

#3 Manny Machado
Shortstop, Brito HS (FL)
Born July 6, 1992>  Draft Day Age=17.9
Ht/Wt...  6-2/185,  Bats Right / Throws Right

Composite Preseason Review...

Manny Machado is a lean and athletic shortstop, hailing from Brito High School in Miami. Defensively Machado is somewhat like collegian Christian Colon, in that neither project to have great range as pro's... but both have very good instincts, are graceful in their footwork and mechanics, employ soft hands and good arms, and should be able to stick and be successful big league shortstops.

Offensively, Machado has no problem hitting a good fastball, and making strong consistent contact. He uses an open-stance and while he 'wraps' his bat, he has good bat speed and leverage, with some lift in his swing. Many scouts feel he'll have solid to above-average power, and coupled with outstanding defensive abilities at a prime position, Machado could vault into the Top 10 of the coming draft.  

--Greg Pappas

UPDATE  6/2/10... All Machado has done this year is fulfill all expectations of him, by- well, everyone. At just three months older than Bryce Harper, the youngster has been compared -somewhat unfairly- to another former mega-prospect, and fellow South Florida prep star shortstop-- Alex Rodriguez.  Machado has truly grown, both physically, defensively and at bat. He'll most likely be taken as high as pick two, and no later than pick four. Some scouts have concerns that Machado will outgrow short and slide to third, but may not have the prototypical power for the position. Regardless, he projects as a well-above-average hitter and he'll await the wise team that calls his name come draft day.

#4 Drew Pomeranz
Pitcher, Mississippi 
Born Nov. 22, 1988>  Draft Day Age=21.5
Ht/Wt...  6-5/231,   Bats Right / Throws Left

Composite Review...

Coming into the 2010 season, big lefty Drew Pomeranz has valid aspirations to be a top five overall draft choice.  The University of Mississippi's ace starter features a 90-94 fastball and 12-6 curve, sitting at 78-80, and a solid change that sits about 80. Pomeranz starred for Team USA, and broke the Team USA strike-out record in a game, by fanning 17 batters in six innings versus Guatemala.

Pomeranz does have a high arm-slot, and takes a bit to get to his release, meaning he could struggle with stolen bases, especially at the pro level. Regardless, Pomeranz would seem to have the ability to pitch very effectively in the majors... and lefty starters with his tools aren't easy to find. Barring any setbacks, he should go early to mid round one. 

#5 Zack Cox
Third Baseman, Arkansas
Born: May 9th, 1989>  Draft Day Age=21.1
Ht/Wt...  6-0/215,  Bats Left / Throws Right

Composite Review...

Despite just playing one year of college baseball, Zack Cox is racking up awards, getting the Cape Cod League All-Star Game MVP award plus being a freshman All-American by Louisville Slugger and Louisville Slugger. Cox will be eligible for the MLB Draft after his sophomore year. In his first year with Arkansas, Cox hit .266 with 13 home runs and 39 RBIs, including 15 doubles.  Although he projects as a third baseman in the pros, he was also used as a relief pitcher for the Razorbacks, going 5-1 with a 4.82 ERA in 18.1 innings with a 15-3 K-BB ratio plus a save.

The Kentucky native is known mainly for his hitting, getting .344 in the Cape Cod League in 2009, and has improved his extra-base hitting ability. His consistency and defense will come into question, but Cox is a solid overall prospect that should go in the top-15 of the draft. 

#6 Deck McGuire
Pitcher, Georgia Tech 
Born June 23, 1989>   Draft Day Age=20.96
Ht/Wt...  6-6/225,   Bats Right / Throws Right

Composite Review...

McGuire is an impressive young pitcher, winning the 2009 ACC Pitcher of the Year as a sophomore for Georgia Tech. In just his first year as a weekend starter, he went 11-2 with a 3.50 ERA in 16 starts, striking out 118 while walking 41 in 100.1 innings, not losing a game in the regular season.

The Richmond native is armed with an array of pitches, including a low to mid-90s fastball, a tight slider, quality changeup, and solid curveball.  Due to some problems in postseason play in 2009, there is some speculation as to whether he can handle tough situations, but many believe McGuire will be a big-time starting pitcher someday. The coming junior campaign could land McGuire in the top half of round one, if not top five overall. 

2010 Stats: 99 IP, 2.83 ERA, 83 Hits, 27 BB's, 105 K's

#7 Karsten Whitson
Pitcher, Chipley High School (FL) 
Born Aug. 25, 1991>  Draft Day Age=18.8
Ht/Wt...  6-4/190,   Bats Right / Throws Right
 
Composite Pre-season Review...

Whitson is an athletic and projectable right-hander with solid mechanics and easy arm action, allowing him to pump sinking-action fastballs up to 92-94 mph. He has solid command of his fastball, but is still developing his at-times good off-speed stuff; a late-biting low 80's slider and 79-80 change. Starting against Columbia for U-18 Team USA, he threw five scoreless innings with nine strikeouts, three hits, and four walks in the win. Baseball is in his blood; as he is a relative of Ed Whitson, who pitched 15 seasons in the major leagues.

A top ten talent coming into the 2010 season, Whitson could accelerate upwards with improved secondary pitch development/command.

Update: 5/21/10... Whitson has been tremendous, and will be in the mix to be the second prep pitcher selected, behind Taillon. Could be a true ace if he stays healthy and continues developing as hoped.

2010 Stats: NA

#8 Christian Colon
Shortstop, Cal State Fullerton
Born May 14, 1989>  Draft Day Age=21.1
Ht/Wt...  6-0/185,   Bats Right / Throws Right

Composite Review...

Colon is the top shortstop prospect coming into the 2010 season, finally adding a solid bat to an outstanding defensive package. While not fleet-footed, Colon has average range and remarkable hand-eye coordination, gliding almost effortlessly about on the diamond. He will be a fine defender at the pro level, but it's his bat that will determine how far his career goes. A move to second base could be possible.

Colon uses good bat-speed and muscular arms to make consistent strong contact. He profiles as an average/above-average ML SS/2B, depending on the bat. His recovery from a broken leg suffered while playing for Team USA this past summer will be an important factor to follow during his junior campaign, but Colon is expected to to return to full strength and confirm his standing as the top middle-infield prospect in the draft.

--Greg Pappas

2010 Stats: 217 AB's, .350 AVG, 14 2B, 2 3B, 14 HR, 55 RBI, 12 SB  

#9 Josh Sale
Outfielder, Bishop Blanchet HS (WA)
Born: July 5th, 1991>  Draft Day Age=18.9
Ht/Wt...  6-0/205,  Bats Left / Throws Right

Composite Review...

Sale (pronounced 'Sull-ee'), a stocky left-handed hitting prep outfielder, has climbed up draft boards on the strength of his prodigious power, which some rate as second only to Bryce Harper's in the draft. His strength is not surprising, as he comes from a family of power-lifters.

Sale generates loft with a smooth swing, quick hands and excellent bat speed, and proved that the lower level of local competition was not at the root of his numbers. Sale has always been a good prospect, but not until his impressive showing at the Area Code Games in '08 where he hitting for the cycle, has Sale opened the eyes of national scouts. Another impressive showing on the national circuit cemented his place among the top prep bats available.

He currently employs a strong arm and work ethic to man a corner outfield spot, though a lack of speed could eventually find a team looking to move him to 1B, where one publication mentioned a Willie Stargell comp.

With his senior season set to begin soon, scouts are keeping a close watch on Sale, and most expect his name will be called sometime in round one.

2010 Stats: NA  

#10 Yasmani Grandal
Catcher, Miami
Born July 18, 1989>  Draft Day Age=20.9
Ht/Wt...  6-2/210,   Bats Switch / Throws Right

Composite Review...

Grandal's value is automatically high because of three magic words: Switch-hitting catcher. The youngster from Miami has good raw power, another facet of his game that will aide his rising stock. He has more of it from the left side, but there are questions about his mechanics. From the right side, there are concerns about his bat speed and follow-through.

Defensively, he is solid if not spectacular. He is hardly regarded as a fast runner, but his quick feet will allow him to make necessary movements behind the plate. His skills will continue to improve, a necessity given the fact that he is expected to move through the minor leagues quickly. But make no mistake – it is his hitting that has scouts excited, and his hitting that will tell how much success he has in the pros.

--Michael Seff 

2010 Stats: 187 AB's, .428 AVG, 21 2B, 1 3B, 13 HR, 54 RBI, 0 SB 

#11 Dylan Covey
Pitcher, Maranatha HS (CA)
Born: August 14, 1991>  Draft Day Age=18.8
Ht/Wt...  6-2/200,  Bats Right, Throws Right

Composite Review...

Dylan Covey has been opening eyes all around Southern California with his dominant pitching performances.  Last year for Maranatha high school he went 11-2 with a 1.23 ERA as a starter including seven complete games.  He had 127 strikeouts to only 42 walks with nine games with at least nine strikeouts.  He led his high school to the division championship over (23-6) Woodcrest Christian with a 13-strikeout complete game.  Going back to his sophomore year in '08, and quite impressively, Covey was dominant at the World Wood Bat Association Championships in Jupiter, FL, firing 94mph fastballs throughout all of his seven frames versus the KC Royals Scout team, while mixing in a 78-80 hammer curve to decimate the Royals to the tune of 1-hit and 17-K's.

His delivery is normally between ¾ and full overhead, but he has gone to full overhead on some pitches.  He is armed with a low-to-mid 90s fastball, a low to mid- 80's slider and a sharp 78-82 curveball.  He lacks a solid changeup, but Covey realizes it's a work in progress, and an important pitch to use as a starter.  Another important factor in Covey's favor is his mound presence. He doesn't get rattled easily, and instills confidence in his teammates.

He is verbally committed to San Diego, but Covey appears well on his way to a first-round draft slot, and may well shoot up the board to the top half of the round.

2010 Stats: 58 IP, 0.24 ERA, 24 Hits, 16 BB's, 112 K's

#12 Chris Sale
Pitcher,  Florida Gulf Coast U.
Born March 30, 1989>  Draft Day Age=21.2
Ht/Wt...  6-6/180,   Bats Left / Throws Left

Composite Review...

Sale was the MVP of the prestigious Cape Cod League, a collegiate wood bat-based league for top prospects. The lefty was outstanding for Yarmouth-Dennis, tossing 57 innings, striking out 57 while walking  just 9 batters... all while posting a 1.47 ERA. While tall and lanky, Sale throws from a Randy Johnson-like 3/4 arm slot and while getting good movement and control over his fastball, Keith Law of ESPN feels he could struggle against righties without making an adjustment, and has a below average curve. Despite the critique, most scouts agree that Sale has the makings of a being a very good starter in the majors, pumping low to mid-nineties fastballs and featuring  an at-times plus slider and solid change. He fanned 104 in 89.1 innings in his sophomore year at Florida Gulf Coast, which was his first year as a full-time starter... finishing 7-4 with a 2.72 ERA. 

He may need to put on more muscle before getting into the majors, and Sale certainly has adjustments to make, but if he pitches as well as expected (or better) this coming junior campaign, look for a top ten showing come draft day. 

2010 Stats: 96 IP, 1.97 ERA, 77 Hits, 12 BB's, 135 K's

#13 Kaleb Cowart
Pitcher/Third Baseman, Cook County HS (GA) 
Born: June 2, 1992>  Draft Day Age=18.0
Ht/Wt...  6-3/195,  Bats Switch, Throws Right

Composite Review...

Whoever drafts Cowart will have a tough decision; whether to bring him up as a batter or a pitcher.  Scouts and the Florida State coaching staff alike- say he can be a major factor either way. Cowart appears to be a likable and respectful young man  and is not only a team leader, but academically is typically in the Top 10 at school. It's evident he employs those smarts in the field and on the mound. 

As a position player -which Cowart has said he likes better than pitching- he is an all-around threat as a switch hitter, batting .542 with 16 home runs and 20 stolen bases in his junior year at Cook County. He is considered a good defender as well, showing good quickness, soft hands and naturally- a great arm.  Cowart mans shortstop, but most agree he'll be a 3B'man as a pro. During our chat with Cowart's high school coach, Bob Owsley, he expressed to us that Cowart has excellent fielding mechanics as well as a great arm.

As a pitcher, which some scouts believe he has a better chance as, he throws a hard ¾ delivery, sporting a 91-94 fastball that can touch a bit higher, a developing splitter, plus a couple of offspeed pitches- including a curve and changeup.  His sophomore and junior seasons saw him sport a 0.60 ERA each. And as you may have guessed, Cowart's a very good fielding pitcher to boot. What's not to like?

Jim Ecker of Perfect Game USA said -quoting other sources- that if Cowart does not get drafted in the first round that he will attend Florida State.  Barring something unforeseen, look for Cowart's his all-around abilities to impress many teams into looking to grab him with their first round selection. 

Dave Vatz & Greg Pappas

2010 Stats: 92 AB's, .652 AVG, 14 2B, 5 3B, 10 HR, 55 RBI, 32 SB  ///  59 IP, 0.59 ERA, 27 Hits, 19 BB's, 96 K's

#14 Stetson Allie
Pitcher/Third Baseman,  St. Edward HS, (OH)
Born March 13, 1991>  Draft Day Age=19.2
Ht/Wt...  6-3/225,   Bats Right/ Throws Right

Composite Review...

Known to hit triple digits, Allie sits mid-to-upper 90's with his fastball, and has an outstanding and fresh arm with room for projection. Typical of a high school arm, Allie is in need of better command, and the development of better secondary offerings. If he can harness his control via focusing on pitching a great deal more this coming senior year, Allie could easily project as a closer, albeit one with just a great fastball- but any secondary development could find a team looking to make him a starter and go from there.  He baffles scouts at times, because he has shown a very good slider, but never consistently. A very good hitter and defender as well, Allie signed on with UNC to play both third and pitch, but the Tar Heels program may never get to see him in Carolina blue if he is taken (as expected) in the early to mid-first round.

While the thick-trunked Allie has a great arm, he is still somewhat of a project.  It's cliché, but Allie really has scouts drooling over what could be. 

2010 Stats: 40 IP, 1.05 ERA, 12 Hits, 10 BB's, 91 K's

#15 Michael Choice
Corner Outfielder,  Texas-Arlington
Born Nov. 10, 1989 >  Draft Day Age=20.6 
Ht/Wt...  6-1/215,   Bats Right/ Throws Right

Composite Review... 5/30/10

This small-school standout is not a flashy player, but rather an all-around good one. Coming into his junior year off an impressive showing with Team USA, Choice shined yet again at Texas-Arlington. Possessing very good power with a quirky swing, and coupled with the ability to make good contact -albeit somewhat inconsistent- Choice put up big numbers. In 196 at bats, he hit .383 with 16 HR, 59 RBI, and stole 12 bases in 16 tries. He walked 76 times compared to 54 strikeouts, while posting a line of .383/.568/.704/1.272.  

Choice may be a player that goes a bit earlier on draft day than his ranking, as he is a pretty polished collegian. The one knock on Choice is his swing, which has a  hitch to it. Some scouts question whether or not that swing will play at the big league level. So while Choice is perhaps as good a collegiate hitter as there is, his swing could need refining.

The Arlington native’s other skills are also at least average. He won’t likely be a stolen base threat in the majors, but he run pretty well and exhibits good instincts on the bases. Defensively, Choice has just enough arm to play right-field, but may fit better in left. He has only average range, but shows solid enough reads in getting to the ball. It would surprise almost no one to hear Choice's name called as high as the Top 10.

2010 Stats: 196 AB's, .383 AVG, 1.272 OPS, 11 2B, 2 3B, 16 HR, 59 RBI, 76 BB, 54 K's, 12-16 SB

#16 A.J. Cole
Pitcher, Oviedo HS (FL),
Born Jan. 5, 1992 > Draft Day Age=18.4
Ht/Wt...  6-5/190,   Bats Right / Throws Right

Composite Review...

The catcher turned fire-baller is one of the highly touted prospects of the 2010 high school class, and may yet challenge for the designation as the top hurler taken overall. Using his athletic frame and sound three-quarters delivery to the plate, Cole punished opponents in his junior year with a 1.45 ERA with 70 strikeouts in 48.1 innings.  He sits low to mid-90’s, and has been seen as high as 98. He has a  curve that shows true plus ability, and a shaky change, but it’s the development of these off-speed pitches that will go a long way toward determining Cole’s draft position. He could be a top ten pick, based on his physical projection, and as with every other prospect, his spring effort will solidify the scouts view on his potential.

If Cole can harness his talents, he could draw comparisons to Rick Porcello and hear his name called very early in round one. Then again, a failure to show improvement in command/secondary pitches could find Cole falling out of the top 10 on draft day. 

2010 Stats: 60 IP, 0.93 ERA, 39 Hits, 8 BB's, 84 K's

#17 Nick Castellanos
Third Baseman,  Archbishop McCarthy HS (FL)
Born March 4, 1992>  Draft Day Age=18.3
Ht/Wt...  6-4/185,   Bats Right/ Throws Right

Composite Review...

Castellanos showcases easy right-handed power,  incorporating the ability to square-up the ball consistently while having surprisingly good speed... making him one of the top all-around talents in the draft.  He was made an Under Armour All-American and represented team USA in the Pan American games, leading the squad to a gold medal with 14 RBI.  As is often the case with high school players, Castellanos' frame should add weight as he matures, and if he continues to improve his defense at third base he'll potentially profile as a star-caliber ML third baseman.

He is currently committed to the University of Miami, but look for Castellanos to challenge for an early-round-one slot.

2010 Stats: 72 AB's, .542 AVG, 8 2B, 3 3B, 6 HR, 41 RBI, 22 SB

#18 Brandon Workman
Pitcher,  Texas
Born Aug. 13, 1988> Draft Day Age=21.8
Ht/Wt...  6-5/220,   Bats Right/ Throws Right

Composite Review...

Workman chose to attend Texas instead of going pro after being drafted in the third round by Philadelphia in 2007, and it looks like it will pay off with a first round selection in 2010.  He is a power pitcher that relies on deadly heaters to overwhelm batters, with a consistent low to mid-90s fastball and a two-seamer in the high 80s. He also has some off-speed pitches, including a hard curve, but they are not as effective.  He had a good overall year with the Longhorns, going 3-5 with a 3.48 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 75 innings, including a 96-pitch no-hitter against Penn State in March, however he did not earn a win after March 14th.

Workman could project as a starter or a closer for teams. He has a great pitching frame and lot of raw talent but will be a project for a team that drafts him. 

2010 Stats: 88 IP, 3.67 ERA, 84 Hits, 19 BB's, 87 K's

#19 Anthony Ranaudo
Pitcher, Louisiana State  
Born Sept. 9, 1989 > Draft Day Age=20.7
Ht/Wt...  6-7/235,   Bats Right / Throws Right

Composite Review...

Ranaudo has come on like gang-busters after passing up signing with the Rangers after the ’07 Draft (11th round), and the LSU Tigers are thankful that he did, as he led them to their sixth national championship. he also led his team to a national title at just 19-years old… simply outstanding.

The New Jersey native throws on a downhill plane, and takes full advantage of his 6' 7" frame. It helped him finish with a stellar 3.04 ERA, while tossing 124.1 innings, striking-out 159, walking 50, and holding opponents to a .209 batting average.

Ranaudo has solid command of three pitches -a 90-93 fastball, curve and change- and exudes confidence and poise that belies his age.  Ranaudo will be taken on draft day a bit younger than most of the other four-year collegians and he just may add another tick or two to his fastball -- just more icing on this sizable cake.

Ranaudo currently projects as a front-of-the-rotation workhorse starter and potential star, and barring the unforeseen, should be taken in the first five picks of the upcoming draft.

Update March 21, 2010: After an injury sidelined Ranaudo for a bit, he's been pretty awful since his return. His draft status has taken a hit, and teams past the top 15 picks may have a steal on their hands if Ranaudo returns to form.

2010 Stats: 35 IP, 8.49 ERA, 45 Hits, 19 BB's, 34 K's

#20 Matt Harvey
Pitcher,  North Carolina
Born March 27, 1989 >  Draft Day Age=21.2 
Ht/Wt...  6-4/225,   Bats Right / Throws Right

Composite Review...

2010 Stats: 90 IP, 3.10 ERA, 76 Hits, 32 BB's, 93 K's

#21 Alex Wimmers
Pitcher, Ohio State
Born Nov. 1, 1988>  Draft Day Age=21.6
Ht/Wt... 6-2/195,   Bats Left / Throws Right

Composite Review...

Wimmers was one of college baseball’s best starting pitchers as a sophomore, getting a 9-2 record with a 3.27 ERA, including four complete games and 136 strikeouts in 104.1 innings, which earned him Co-Big Ten Pitcher of the Year. He made headlines in May when he threw the first complete game no-hitter in Ohio State history against arch-rival Michigan. He is mainly a three-pitch pitcher, having a low-90s fastball and curveball most of his life and recently developed a changeup in summer ball. He is a dominating pitcher with a ¾ delivery that has been solid throughout his baseball career, from high school to college to summer play.

Wimmers may need to work on some control issues, throwing 13 wild pitches and 55 walks in 2009, but if he can have a great junior year at OSU then Wimmers is sure to be a high pick in the draft. 

2010 Stats: 73 IP, 1.60 ERA, 58 Hits, 23 BB's, 86 K's

#22 Bryce Brentz
Outfielder, Middle Tennessee State
Born Dec. 30, 1988>  Draft Day Age=21.4
Ht/Wt...  6-0/195,   Bats Right / Throws Right

Composite Review...

Brentz is simply the class of the four-year collegiate hitting ranks. The star of the Team USA squad is just a smooth and strong hitter,  good defender in the outfield with a big arm to boot.

Brentz makes consistently good contact, and his Team USA showing proved that his destruction of the Sun Belt Conference was the real deal.  Check out his sophomore campaign... he hit .465 with a .535 OBP, .930 SLG% and 1.465 OPS, while tallying 28 homers, 73 RBI, walking 32 times and striking out only 33... all in 230 at-bats!

While also a fine pitcher, Brentz's future is as an outfielder, and quite possibly as a Top 10 pick in the 2010 Draft.

Update: 3/31/10...  Brentz will be out two-three weeks with a hairline fracture to his right ankle.

2010 Stats: 174 AB's, .362 AVG, 8 2B, 0 3B, 15 HR, 49 RBI, 4 SB 

#23 Austin Wilson
Right Fielder, Harvard-Westlake HS (CA)
Born: February 8, 1992>  Draft Day Age=18.3
Ht/Wt… 6-4/215, Bats Right, Throws Right

Composite Review...

Wilson is a right field prospect with a lot of raw power and a good frame.  He impressed a number of scouts in the Under Armour All-American Game in August when with a wood bat he hit a home run off Karsten Whitson to left-center in Wrigley Field.  In his junior year at Harvard-Westlake he hit .526 with six home runs and nine doubles as well as 12 stolen bases.  He has a even stance with a solid swing for power.  

A few things will hurt his draft status, including his shaky athleticism and that he is not a unique player, but he could project as a power-hitting right fielder in the future.  At 6-4/215, he is muscular and some feel he’ll add plenty of weight by the time he makes the majors, sapping his already questionable speed, but adding to his power. He is currently committed to Stanford due to his high grades, which might also affect his decision to go pro.

2010 Stats: 90 AB's, .500 AVG, 13 2B, 3 3B, 5 HR, 20 RBI, 24 SB  

#24 Asher Wojciechowski
Pitcher, The Citadel
Born: Dec. 21, 1988> Draft Day Age=21.5
Ht/Wt... 6’4”/235, Bats Right, Throws Right

Composite Review...

Asher Wojciechowski (pronounced Wo-ja-cow-ski) has the prototypical body that MLB scouts love. Big, strong, and durable, Wojciechowski is a promising pitcher with an impressive fastball that maintains velocity (92-94mph) even into the late innings. While some scouts question his command, his slider improved considerably over the course of this season. He also does a lot of the little things right, like holding runners to the bag.

Although Wojciechowski played for Team USA, few people see him as an elite college pitcher. The knock on him has been the lack of quality opponents in the Southern Conference. While Wojciechowski has been dominant, some feel that his ability to overpower hitters would be less impressive in a stronger conference.

He could profile better as a closer or power reliever, but look for Wojciechowski to be tabbed as early as mid-round-one.

--Rob Evans

2010 Stats: 103 IP, 3.23 ERA, 84 Hits, 29 BB's, 128 K's

#25 Gary Brown
Outfielder, Cal State Fullerton
Born: Sept. 28 1988> Draft Day Age=21.7
Ht/Wt... 6-0/185, Bats Right / Throws Right

Composite Review…

After playing nearly every defensive position on the diamond, Gary Brown has settled nicely into center field. He plays the position with a polish not often seen in the college game, and with blazing speed and a good arm, he's considered the best defensive center-fielder in the draft. Combine that with his solid ability to get the bat on the ball, and Brown may move up the board in the eyes of teams looking for a high-quality lead-off hitter. While Brown's athleticism and game-breaking speed are unquestioned, his ability to take a walk is a concern, with just nine walks on the season, Then again, he has only struck out 12 times... an impressive feat.

There is one tool in serious question, and Brown’s power is it. Brown may never hit for anything better than a dozen home runs, so teams looking to add a big gun to their lineup will most likely pass. Those who pass may eventually regret doing so, as a team that values speed and defense will swoop in and grab a potential future big-league starter, and perhaps even a star.

Brown, a leading candidate for the national Player of the Year Award, recently (May 17) broke the middle finger on his left/non throwing hand. While the injury will sideline him for a few weeks, it will not require surgery or pins and should have no long term effects.  At the time of the injury, Brown led the Big West Conference in seven major categories, including  batting (.438), runs (62), hits(92), and stolen bases (31).

--Rob Evans 

2010 Stats: 210 AB's, .438 AVG, 1.180 OPS, 20 2B, 8 3B, 6 HR, 41 RBI, 9 BB's, 12 K's, 31 SB

#26 Brett Eibner
Pitcher/OF, Arkansas
Born: Dec. 21, 1988> Draft Day Age=21.5
Ht/Wt... 6”4’/210, Bats Right, Throws Right

Composite  Review...

Brett Eibner is a tremendous two-way player, spending time both on the moundas a starter and in centerfield. While hitting is what the Arkansas junior prefers, it’s much more likely that he will be drafted as a pitcher.

Eibner has solid mechanics and utilizes three pitches, including a sinking fastball clocked in the low-to-mid nineties, a Major League-ready slider, and a workable change-up. While he has good power and contact skills, he is just slightly behind as a pro prospect while at bat. Once focused strictly on pitching or hitting, Eibner has a chance at a solid big league career. Look for Eibner to go as early as the middle of round one or as late as early round two.

--Rob Evans

2010 Stats: 188 AB's, .335 AVG, 15 2B, 0 3B, 18 HR, 61 RBI, 3 SB  ///  54 IP, 4.47 ERA, 64 Hits, 9 BB's, 52 K's

#27 Jesse Hahn
Pitcher,  Virginia Tech
Born July 30, 1989>  Draft Day Age=20.9
Ht/Wt...  6-5/190,   Bats Right/ Throws Right

Composite Review...

Jesse Hahn has all that teams would want in a closer, a low to mid-90s fastball that has clocked as high as 97 MPH, plus he is developing his offspeed pitches, especially his curveball.  He was a huge high school talent, having sub 0.50 ERA in each of his final two years as a starter including a no-hitter.  Since then he has been made a reliever at Virginia Tech though some teams still may want him as a starter.  He had good success in the Cape Cod League in 2009 with the Chatham Anglers until a finger problem caused him problems down the stretch, but he still struck out 17 and allowed just 14 runners in 15.1 innings. 

His frame and powerful fastball should grab attention at the first round, but his lack of overall success on the stat sheet may worry some teams. As with many other draft hopefuls, the 2010 season looms large. 

2010 Stats: 66 IP, 3.55 ERA, 62 Hits, 19 BB's, 68 K's

#28 Justin O'Conner
Shortstop/Catcher, Cowan HS (IN)
Born: March 31, 1992>  Draft Day Age=18.2
Ht/Wt… 6-1/190, Bats Right, Throws Right

Composite Review...

O'Conner has drawn strong consideration as a future front-like pick due to his potential as both a hitter and a pitcher. The feeling at this point is that O'Conner does not have the raw power to be a pure home run hitter, but his compact swing and good bat speed leave the door open to develop as a long-ball threat. That was clearly on display during his 2009 season at Cowan, when he hit a whopping .521 with 19 dingers and 61 RBI. His post-contact extension and easy follow-through has many comparing his swing to that of Manny Ramirez, and scouts like his mature upper-body build. He is athletic, but quick body twitches have many feeling that he could still afford to add some muscle to his frame. Some scouts feel he might be better suited to second base down the road depending on how his power develops.

Defensively, he is solid if not spectacular. His pitching arm translates into his defense, where his quick release gives him a considerable edge. He is adept as positioning himself for tough hops, but some feel he lacks some aggressiveness in attacking ground balls. But his quick feet provide him with solid range, which is why he is still suited for shortstop at this point. Several baseball people have wondered if he could even do some catching at the pro level.

Though not his likely future, pitching is a strong suit for young O'Conner. He recently reached the low 90's with his fastball, which he delivers from a ¾ motion featuring a high leg kick. His bane is a lack of command as a product of his shoulders flying open upon his delivery. His overall mechanics need considerable fine-tuning if he has to have any future pitching, because there is risk of injury.

He has the option to polish his skills at the University of Arkansas, where he recently committed, though the odds are he'll turn pro. Regardless of his decision, his future looks bright indeed.

--Michael Seff 

2010 Stats: 66 AB's, .470 AVG, 13 2B, 1 3B, 8 HR, 40 RBI, 15 SB

#29 James Paxton
Pitcher,  Grand Prairie (Independent)
Born Nov. 8, 1988>  Draft Day Age=21.6
Ht/Wt...  6-4/215,   Bats Left/ Throws Left

Composite Review...

Canadian native (Ladner, B.C.) James Paxton was a big name in last year’s MLB Draft, but decided not to sign after being drafted 37th overall by the Blue Jays.  Despite a high ERA of 5.83 his junior year at Kentucky, he had a 5-3 record.  In 78.1 innings he struck out 115 and walked only 20.

The hard throwing southpaw relies on a mid-90s heater plus a solid low 80s slider, but lacks a solid third pitch.  He is a starter for the Wildcats, but with his current stuff he could be an effective closer someday.  One of his big issues is his command; he threw 12 wild pitches and allowed 11 home runs in 2009.

Paxton can be a big project with a lot of upside due to his fastball and the fact he’s a lefty, but he will need work to break it into the majors.

2010 Stats: 9 IP, 3.00 ERA, 4 Hits, 5 BB's, 8 K's

#30 Kolbrin Vitek
2B/OF/RHP, Ball State
Born: April 1st, 1989> Draft Day Age=21.2
Ht/Wt... 6’3”/195, Bats Right, Throws Right

Composite Review...

Kolbrin Vitek is a quality two-way player who will most likely be drafted for his bat rather than his arm. While he is a quality pitcher with a mid nineties fastball, Vitek prefers to be a positional player, and has spent time in the outfield, as well as second and third base.

Putting the bat on the ball with authority hasn’t been an issue for Vitek (.368 avg with a .713 slg) but finding a good defensive fit for him has. While he has played pretty well in the infield, mostly at second base, most scouts feel he doesn’t quite fit there. He has solid power in his bat (16 HR’s), and is an above-average runner as well. There is talk that he could be tried in center field as a pro.

Vitek is about as advanced a hitter in the collegiate ranks as you'll find this season, and there is talk he could vault as high as the Top Ten. Look for Vitek to hear his name called somewhere in round one.

--Rob Evans

2010 Stats: 220 AB's, .368 AVG, 20 2B, 3 3B, 17 HR, 68 RBI, 15 SB   

#31 Aaron Sanchez 
RHP, Barstow HS (CA) 
Born July1, 1992> Draft Day Age=17.11   
Ht/Wt... 6-3/175, Bats Right, Throws Right  
 
Composite Review...

At a time when many prep pitchers seem to be falling on draft boards, Aaron Sanchez is holding his ground. Tall and lanky, Sanchez is one of the most projectable prep pitchers on the board, with present stuff that is already well above average. His rise from Barstow has already been well documented, as the desert town is not known as a baseball hotbed (see the Dave Perkin write-up linked below). Sanchez also has one of the later birthdays of all draft-eligible prospects (non-Bryce Harper division), as he’ll still be 17 years old on draft day. The helps those thinking that he might be even more projectable than most, with his thin upper half leading to speculation that he can gain more than the tick or two on his fastball that many high school arms are expected to achieve.

As is, his fastball is currently his best pitch, sitting at 90-93 and sometimes reaching 95 mph. The pitch has sinking movement when he commands it well. Sanchez also gets great break on his curveball, a pitch that needs to be more consistent but looks like a plus pitch going forward. Sanchez has also shown a nice changeup, although he has only thrown it infrequently thus far. Sanchez also impresses with his athleticism and mechanics, which both suggest that he will be easy for pro teams to tweak as they see fit and reap the full potential that many scouts see in his arm. His athleticism was further proven with his exploits as a hitter in high school, as he hit .550 with 14 homers and 36 RBIs as a senior at Barstow. Aaron Sanchez has the type of profile than many scouting directors look for when not drafting at the top of the first round. Look for his name to be called on day one of the draft, possibly as high as the middle of the first round.

--Ryan Wagman 

 2010 Stats: 50.2 IP, 0.69 ERA, 19 Hits, 15 BB’s, 95 K’s

2010 Stats: 54 IP, 2.33 ERA, 34 Hits, 18 BB's, 96 K's

#33 Yordy Cabrera
Shortstop/Third Baseman
Born Sept. 30, 1990>  Draft Day Age=19.7
Ht/Wt...  6-3/195,   Bats Right/ Throws Right
 
Composite Review...

Cabrera is one of the most versatile players in the draft with a great combination of power and speed. He is long-limbed with big hands and broad shoulders, giving scouts an indication that  his size may eventually push him to third base or even right field. Many scouts also like his intangibles, including his high grades in school and his workouts with the Gulf Coast Tigers, managed by his father. Physically, some see a young Miguel Cabrera… 

In his junior year at Lakeland he hit .462 with four home runs and stole 19 bases in 20 attempts. His power was demonstrated in August when he won the AFLAC Home Run Derby in San Diego, hitting five home runs, which beat Bryce Harper by two. He is a pull hitter and has had trouble differentiating pitches, but that can be helped by coaching. He also has some potential talents as a pitcher, being able to throw a low to mid-90s fastball and mid to high-70s off-speed pitches, but his peak value is in the infield. He is verbally committed to the University of Miami, but likely he will not attend if he gets drafted in the first round. Of note, Cabrera is roughly a year older than most of his HS competition.  

#34 Barret Loux
Pitcher, Texas A&M
Born: June 6, 1989> Draft Day Age=21.0
Ht/Wt... 6-5/220  Bats Right, Throws Right

Composite Review...

Barret Loux has a lot of the attributes Major League teams look for in a young pitcher: size, command, and quality mechanics, not to mention a four pitch mix with a fastball in the 92-94 range. Loux’s curveball has been described as powerful -though inconsistent, and mixes well with his potentially plus-changeup and fringe slider.

Loux went 10-2 with a 2.53 ERA in 2010, and threw an impressive 126 strikeouts. The biggest concern about the college junior is that he tends to throw a lot of pitches per game.  His 12 K’s per nine innings is comparable to Drew Pomeranz, who has 13, but walks more batters.

Though he had bone chips removed from his elbow just last year, Loux appears to be 100%, and that prototypical workhorse starter. He profiles as a solid #3-4 starter that will -with pro coaching and improvement- log a bunch of innings and keep his team in the game. At worst he should be a quality back-of-the-bullpen reliever. Look for Loux as early as the late first round and no later than round two.

--Rob Evans

2010 Stats: 89 IP, 2.53 ERA, 63 Hits, 32 BB's, 119 K's 

#35 Kevin Gausman
Pitcher, Grandview HS (CO)
Born: January 6, 1991>  Draft Day Age=19.4
Ht/Wt… 6-4/185, Bats Left, Throws Right

Composite Review...

Gausman's biggest asset right now is his fastball, but scouts believe the complementary pitches, while a work in progress, will make or break him. Some other concerns lie in his delivery, which is more of a sidearm one. His fastball can reach the mid-90's and can feature a sinking action when down in the zone. There's a feeling that the long-limbed righty's curve ball is more of a slurve at this point and needs to develop more break to it. Gausman went 7-2 with a 2.23 ERA in 57 innings with 60 strikeouts and complete games in all seven of his starts in 2009. His coach at Grandview, Dean Adams, said of his young hurler: “His strength is throwing the ball as hard as he does. He's been working extremely hard on his curve ball, which has come a long way. And he throws a splitter which has come a long way as well.” Gausman is a bit older than most of the prepsters, coming into draft day at 19.4 years of age.

Pending his draft position, Gausman may look to harness his mechanics and secondary pitches at LSU next year.

--Michael Seff

2010 Stats: 44 IP, 3.66 ERA, 45 Hits, 9 BB's, 65 K's

2010 Stats: 6-1 50 IP, 0.32 ERA, 80 K's

#37 Jedd Gyorko

 2010 Stats: 236 AB's, .381 AVG, 28 2B, 1 3B, 19 HR, 57 RBI, 1 SB

#39 Zach Lee
Pitcher, McKinney HS (TX)
Born May 13, 1991 > Draft Day Age=19.1
Ht./Wt... 6-4/195, Bats Right, Throws Right

Composite Review...

A two-sport star, committed to LSU to play both football (as a QB) and baseball, Lee is surprisingly polished, and his skill-set would typically find him taken in the Top 20. Keyword: typically. Lee's draft status is that teams are wary of selecting him too high, as he's considered a tough sign.

Featuring a low-90's fastball that touches 95, and potential plus slider and change, Lee entices scouts with what could be a special package. While having movement on his pitches is a big plus, Lee struggles to maintain his consistency and velocity deep into games. Some are not concerned, as Lee has exceeded expectations as he has split his time between two sports. With a focus on baseball alone, Lee could be lights-out.

Is Lee signable? How far will he fall? Tune in to the draft to get the answers.

--Greg Pappas

#40 Chad Bettis
Pitcher, Texas Tech
Born April 26, 1989 > Draft Day Age= 21.1
Ht/Wt...  6-1/211,   Bats Right / Throws Right

Composite Review...

Despite coming equipped with a live arm and a boatload of potential, scouts feel that Bettis' long-term plight is as a reliever. The logic in that lies in the fact that while he possesses a mid-90's fastball and a plus slider, his changeup is a work in progress at best. Some will argue his fastball also carries a bit of sinking action, but the general consensus is that his stuff is too flat to thrive in a starting role. The Houston Astros saw enough potential in Bettis to take him in the 8th round in 2007, and solace can be taken in Bettis' improvement in ERA of more than three runs from his 2008 and 2009 seasons. 

His stuff may not be electric enough to project him as a future closer, but he could develop into a dependable set-up man down the road. 

2010 Stats: 78 IP, 4.71 ERA, 90 Hits, 33 BB's, 92 K's

#41 Seth Blair 
Pitcher, Arizona State
Born March 3, 1989> Draft Day Age=21.3   
Ht/Wt...  6-2/190, Bats Right, Throws Right 
 
Composite Review...

Like many of the top draft eligible players from the college ranks, Seth Blair is already viewed as one who got away, having been drafted by the Oakland Athletics in the 47th round of the 2007 draft, out of high school in Rock Falls, Illinois. Fortunately for Blair, Arizona State, and another MLB team to-be-determined very soon, he did not then sign. IN his Junior season, Blair proved a worthy successor to former teammate and current Cincinnati Red Mike Leake, with an unbeaten record heading into the NCAA tournament earning him the PAC-10 Pitcher of the Year award.  After a challenging freshman season, Blair improved to join Leake and Josh Spence as a fearsome top three for ASU as a Sophomore last season. From there, his move to ace-status was natural and fitting, especially after he impressed pitching in the Cape Cod League last summer.

From a scouting perspective, Blair is what he is. He does not project for future growth, so his stuff should remain around what it is now. Which is pretty good. Blair had previously thrown his fastball in the low to mid-90’s, but this year has shown the ability to crank it up to as much as 98mph. He also throws both a hard slider and a curve with 12-6 break. His changeup is still a work in progress, showing potential on occasion, but not yet the consistency you would want from a frontline starting pitcher. While the pitches are there, Blair is not a strike-out artist as he throws more sinkers, generating a healthy rate of groundballs. Like his old teammate, Leake, Blair’s success is also helped by his solid command, as his BB/9 rate has dropped in each of his three college years, from 3.64/9, to 3.51/9 to this year’s stellar 2.2BB/9. Blair should be a fast riser for the team that picks him this year, possibly by the end of the supplemental 1st round on day one.

--Ryan Wagman

 2010 Stats: 90 IP, 3.20 ERA, 93 Hits, 22 BB's, 90 K's

#42 Christian Yelich 
1B-OF, Westlake HS (CA)
Born Dec. 5, 1991> Draft Day Age=18.6   
Ht/Wt... 6-4/190, Bats Left, Throws Right  
 
Composite Review...

Many scouts will tell you that for a young first baseman to be a true elite prospect, he has to be able to absolutely mash. In that sense, Christian Yelich is not an elite 1B prospect. If anything, he is more in the mold of hitter similar to last year’s #2 overall choice, Dustin Ackley, if not nearly so polished. If not for a below average throwing arm (his one below average tool), Yelich has the athleticism to play in a more demanding spot on the diamond. In fact, there are those that believe that even minimal improvements to his throwing motion could see him shifted to CF as a pro. 

Yelich features a very good hit tool, with the ability to pepper line drives all around the outfield. He should be able to hit doubles all day, and once he fills out his tall, rangy frame, should be able to produce 15-20 HR per year with wooden bats. His speed is a plus right now, and presuming he doesn’t fill out too much, should remain a plus for Yelich down the road, as he has been a very successful base thief in his high school career (28/30 as a senior). While not the prototype 1B prospect, Yelich has enough natural ability and high end potential to grade out as a potential starter at the MLB level, either at 1B, or LF, with CF not out of the realm of possibility. There have been a few links to Yelich as a day 1 prospect, and he should go no lower than early in day 2, if there are no questions about his signability away from a late commitment to Miami (FA).

--Ryan Wagman 

2010 Stats: 82 AB’s, .451 AVG, 14 2B, 2 3B, 9 HR, 25 RBI, 28 SB 

#43 Kellin Deglan 
Catcher, R.E. Mountain SS (BC)
Born May 16, 1992> Draft Day Age=18.1   
Ht/Wt...  6-2/200, Bats Left, Throws Right  
 
Composite Review...

Another contender to be the top non-Bryce Harper catcher selected in this year’s draft, or even the top catcher period, if Harper is taken as an outfielder as Scott Boras wants, Kellin Deglan is also a leading candidate to be the first Canadian selected, along with independent leaguer and former University of Kentucky standout, James Paxton. Deglan comes from the same Langley program that gave us Brewers top prospect Brett Lawrie two years ago. Similar to Lawrie, Deglan profiles as a solid hitter with plus athleticism. Unlike Lawrie, Deglan should remain a catcher as a professional. 

Even before he suits up, Deglan passes the scouting eyeball test for catching prospects, as he has a nearly ideal catcher’s build, with much greater athleticism than most catchers. Behind the plate, he has shown highly improved defensive aptitude in his draft year with good hands, agility and flexibility. He’s impressed in his ability to block balls in the dirt, frame pitches and with his above average arm. His excellent work ethic lends credence to the idea that he will improve on any perceived areas of weakness as he moves up the professional ladder. Offensively, Deglan currently profiles as more of a doubles than a home run hitter, but to grow into more power with more frequent in-game experience, as he does have more than enough natural strength. His swing is short and quick and shows enough lift that suggests future power is a distinct possibility. His numbers, while not overly impressive on the surface, need to taken with more than a few grains of salt, as his competition has generally been against older players from either the US Junior College ranks or young professionals in extended Spring Training. While he had been rumoured to be a candidate for the second half of the first round, the current consensus seems to be that he will be selected in the supplemental first round.

--Ryan Wagman 

2010 Stats: 40 AB’s, .400 AVG, 5 2B, 1 3B, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 4 SB

( With the Langley Blaze traveling team and mostly against extended spring training squads)

 2010 Stats: 232 AB’s, .392 AVG, 13 2B, 3 3B, 9 HR, 55 RBI, 7 SB

#51 DeAndre Smelter
Pitcher,  Tattnall Square Academy (GA)
Born December 3, 1991> Draft Day Age=18.5
Ht/Wt...  6-3/210,   Bats Right/ Throws Right

Composite Review...

Outstanding pitcher and outstanding person. That fits DeAndre Smelter to a tee. A humble and hard-working young man, Smelter combines excellent strength, athleticism and baseball instincts with great makeup- to forge one mighty fine pitcher. Smelter has been a standout in three sports for years, but though he stepped away from a promising football career and still plays basketball, his first love and best skill-set falls with baseball.

At 6’ 3-210, Smelter uses a low ¾ arm slot to fire low to mid-90’s bullets (touching 97), and uses a roughly 83-mph splitter as his change. He has a deceptive delivery where he turns his back away from the batter for a split-second, and then comes at time seemingly side arm. Smelter was simply brilliant, albeit in one inning, at the AFLAC game, striking out the side, including Bryce Harper, Krey Bratsen, and Austin Wilson!

Having a tremendous former major league pitcher as your pitching coach doesn’t hurt. Kevin Brown, he of the 211 career wins, raves about Smelter’s potential and truly believes that Smelter has the tools to be a successful big leaguer. Head Coach Joey Hiller, a former minor leaguer himself, echoes Brown’s sentiments and told me an overlooked aspect of Smelter’s game is his tremendous defense. Coach Hiller explained to me in a brief chat that Smelter has picked up a slider and has shown a real good feel for it. He also told me that Smelter has really improved his command after making that a focal point of his off-season.

Look for a dominant senior year and you may just find Smelter challenging for a top ten (or higher) selection in the draft.

--Greg Pappas

2010 Stats: 69.67 IP, 1.00 ERA, 31 Hits, 30 BB's, 123 K's, OppAvg .111

#56 Kris Bryant
3B/1B, Bonanza HS (NV)
Born January 4, 1992> Draft Day Age=18.4
Ht/Wt...  6-5/208,  Bats Right / Throws Right

Composite Review...

Highlighted by a 580 foot blast with an aluminum bat, Bryant has one of the most powerful bat in the draft class. Bryant is a solid athlete and has good hands with a cannon arm, and even played his junior campaign at shortstop, where theAFLAC All-American hit .486 including 14 home runs and 12 stolen bases... but scouts see him manning a corner infield spot as a pro, and most likely at first base.  Scouts also like his intangibles, including his stellar grades and his genes, as his father played in the Red Sox minor league system.  He's said to be a good kid with a solid work ethic as well.

His swing will need work, as some believe right now it is too slow to be effective against major league pitching, but his frame and raw power will make him a high pick in the draft.   He is verbally committed to San Diego.

An odd note: Bryant's school home field directional alignment is the opposite of the standard north-facing, and the wind adversely affects home run power there. Even more impressive that Bryant can still hit it out with consistency.

--Dave Vatz/Greg Pappas

#60 LeVon Washington
CF/2B, Chipola JC (FL) 
Born February 12, 1991>  Draft Day Age=19.3
Ht/Wt...  5-10/170,   Bats Left/ Throws Right

Composite Review...

After an outstanding year as a HS senior, Washington ran into rough summer; failing to sign with the Tampa Bay Rays after being chosen in the first round (30th overall). He is available for this draft and with a fantastic showing, should find himself chosen again in round one, and perhaps even higher than his previous slot. A center fielder that can also play second base, Washington tallied a .400 batting average, hitting seven home runs, driving in nineteen runs and stealing fourteen bases in his senior year. Washington has appeared to overcome an '08 shoulder injury, though injuries are always a concern, and some worry about his judgment after turning down a million dollar bonus from the Rays. His defense is a real question mark, as he has had trouble reading the ball and taking the appropriate route to the ball, but Washington shows a strong arm and should become at least an average defender in CF with pro instruction. Offensively- Washington is an electric player, exciting fans and scouts alike with his special speed (he's been timed at 6.21 seconds in the 60-yard dash) and contact skills. He has a very quick bat and solid line drive power, although he doesn't profile as a true home run threat.

An impressive showing at Chipola JC could very well entice a team to select him mid-first round or earlier- with visions of a dynamic lead-off man dancing in their heads. 

#89 Stefan Sabol
Catcher, Aliso Niguel HS (CA)
Born: February 2, 1992>  Draft Day Age=18.3
Ht/Wt… 6-2/205, Bats Right, Throws Right

Composite Review...

Stefan Sabol doesn't figure to blow anyone away with his physical prowess and may have a limited ceiling, but his Major League prospects look bright nonetheless. Many feel that he has physically reached his peak, so developing a power bat doesn't seem likely. He is a catcher and outfielder now but his defensive skills, specifically behind the plate, are unpolished, leading scouts to believe infielder might be a more likely landing spot.

What Sabol does bring to the table is good speed, a line drive swing, and smarts. While some have labeled his projection as that of a utility player, he is a heady player who plays the game aggressively and the Aflac All-American certainly won his fair share of votes with a remarkable performance last summer at SPARQ testing. Sabol was tops among 159 tested in overall score, 60-yard dash, 30-yard dash, and vertical jump.

Sabol is committed to Oregon.

#100 Kyle Blair
Pitcher,  San Diego
Born September 27, 1988>  Draft Day Age=21.7
Ht/Wt...  6-3/200,   Bats Right/ Throws Right

Composite Review...

Kyle Blair was disappointed about getting drafted in the fifth round by the Dodgers in 2007, but he is looking like a first rounder in 2010.  The three-quarters righty throws simple but dominant pitches.  His money pitch is a hard low-to-mid-70s curveball that has a sharp break.  He also has a low-90s heater, a good changeup, and a developing slider. 

In 2009 he had a shortened season at San Diego due to minor shoulder problems, but he shined in the Cape with the Brewster Whitecaps, going 3-1 with a 1.42 ERA in eight starts, including 51 strikeouts.  One big question with Blair is his control, as he walked 30 in the Cape last year.  Blair might have fallen in the draft in 2007, but this year he is expected to be the second San Diego pitcher drafted in the first round in the last three years after Brian Matusz went to the Orioles in 2008.

2010 Stats: 82 IP, 3.17 ERA, 65 Hits, 28 BB's, 105 K's

The Next Big Saga- has begun!