September 2009 ~ Summer Ball

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Fall Focus: James Ramsey

Posted by Andrew on 2:02 PM

From Florida State University
by FSU Sports Information Student Assistant, Jon Lowell
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - With the first week of fall practice in the books, the Seminole baseball team continues to work in preparation for the Garnet and Gold game on October 22 and 23.

In week two, Seminoles.com student assistant Jon Lowell sat down with a pair of raising sophomores in Sherman Johnson and James Ramsey who had an outstanding summer in their respective summer leagues. Read the rest of this entry here.

Honkers Hire Dreier as Field Manager

Posted by Andrew on 1:37 PM

From the Rochester Honkers
(NWL-Rochester, MN)—The Rochester Honkers Baseball Club announced today that Thom Dreier (pronounced Dryer), Assistant Coach at Paradise Valley Community College (Mesa, AZ) as their Field Manager for the 2010 season. Dreier brings both professional playing experience and summer collegiate coaching experience to the Honkers coaching staff this summer. He replaces Rusty McNamara who led the Honkers to their 5th Northwoods League Championship in 2009 and becomes the 9th field manager in Honker history.

“I sincerely appreciate the chance to coach the Rochester Honkers,” said Dreier. “Their strong tradition coupled with the outstanding reputation of the Northwoods League makes this a great opportunity. Everything I've heard about the organization makes me extremely pleased to work with the Honkers.” Read the rest of this entry here.

Former Logger Victor Black Tabbed as a NY Penn League Top Prospect

Posted by Andrew on 1:20 PM

From the La Crosse Loggers
Former Logger hurler Victor Black (Dallas Baptist) has been tabbed as the #6 prospect in the New York Penn League, according to Baseball America's post-season prospect rankings that came out today. Read the rest of this entry here.

Kemp Takes Reins in Florence

Posted by Andrew on 8:12 AM

From the Coastal Plain League
The Florence RedWolves are pleased to announce that Chris Kemp, an assistant coach from Spartanburg Methodist College, will be the head coach for the 2010 season. Kemp served as an assistant to former RedWolves assistant coach Jeff Wicker on the coaching staff of the Outer Banks Daredevils in 2009. Read the rest of this entry here.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Former Red Raider Makes It To The Show

Posted by Andrew on 3:12 PM

Former Texas Tech lefty, Dustin Richardson recently made his MLB debut with Boston Red Sox. He pitched 1.1 shutout innings against the Blue Jays. You can read about his debut here.

Nicholls Baseball Fall Practice Report: Week 2

Posted by Andrew on 1:45 PM

From Nicholls State University
THIBODAUX - Rain and thunderstorms dampened Thibodaux most of last week. As a result, the Nicholls State University baseball team's efforts were dampened. However, according to head coach Chip Durham, who is entering his fifth season at the helm of the Nicholls program, that didn't stop the Colonels from getting their work in. Read the rest of this entry here.

Buckeye Baseball: A Fall Ball Update

Posted by Andrew on 9:05 AM

From Summer Ball News Source
COLUMBUS, Ohio - Two weeks ago, coach Bob Todd stressed how the fall practice sessions were an opportunity to stress fundamentals and teach technique. Now nearing the midpoint of the fall sessions, the team is indeed getting its fill of both fundamental and technique work. And that is not so much out of necessity. The team, after all, returns an experienced, veteran unit with 19 seniors and juniors, and nine-of-10 every day starters from last year intact. Read the rest of this entry here.

Photo is courtesy of OhioStateBuckeyes.com.

Top Prospect in the Coastal Plain League

Posted by Andrew on 8:43 AM

I have been very fortunate to be able to work with Allan Simpson and the fine folks over at Perfect Game/PG Crosschecker. Perfect Game is the #1 high school baseball recruiting site on the web, and their knowledge and coverage of college baseball prospects is arguably the best around. Allan and his staff are in the process of ranking the top 25 prospects from all the major college summer leagues. You will need to become a subscriber to Perfect Game to view the list, but I have been give permission to publish the entire top 25 lists from the Alaska Baseball League, Great Lakes League and the NYCBL. I have also been given permission to publish the remaining leagues intro's and their leagues top prospect. (To become a subscriber to Perfect Game, please visit this link.)

Coastal Plain League

COMPILED BY ALLAN SIMPSON

In Association with League Managers and Scouts

Official League Website: http://www.coastalplain.com/

The story of the Coastal Plain League in 2009 was the fairytale-like season enjoyed by the Forest City Owls, who set numerous club and individual records on their way to winning 51 games, most of any summer team, while capturing a league title. To make their remarkable story complete, they were recognized by PG Crosschecker as the nation’s No. 1 team.

The Owls got prolific seasons from starting pitchers Ryan Arrowood and Spencer Patton, who went 23-0 between them during the regular season and playoffs, and closer Robbie Andrews, who didn’t give up a run or walk while saving 12 saves during the regular season.

None of the three, though, is considered a blue-chip prospect. Patton and Andrews were eligible for the 2009 draft as college juniors, yet were passed over. Patton, in particular, may have benefited from his exceptional summer performance and should be a factor in the middle rounds, at worst, in 2010, if he can pitch close to his summer form next spring at SIU Edwardsville.

Forest City’s trio of arms was so dominant that it overshadowed the solid, all-around team the Owls fielded this summer. First baseman Konstantine Diamaduros led the CPL in hitting, while lefthanded-hitting third baseman Pratt Maynard provided the Owls with a second big bat in the middle of the lineup. Maynard struggled in the field, at times, but scouts believe he has the highest upside of any player on the Forest City roster and could begin realizing his intriguing potential once he goes back behind the plate. He played there sporadically as a freshman at North Carolina State.

Outfielders Will Lamb of Peninsula and Stewart Ijames of Thomasville, meanwhile, were judged to have the highest upside of any players in the CPL this summer. Neither performed at the same, consistent high level that the Forest City players noted above did, though—and certainly not like last year’s No. 1 prospect, Georgia Tech righthander Deck McGuire did. Like Lamb, the 6-foot-7 McGuire, a projected 2010 first-rounder, played for Peninsula, near his home in the Tidewater area in eastern Virginia.

Ijames shared the league lead in home runs, though still has improvements to make in his game overall after sitting out the 2009 college season at Louisville, while Lamb struggled at the plate, hitting just .236 with one home run. Both players are also prospects as pitchers, a sign of their all-around ability.

FAST FACTS

Year League Established: 1997.

States Represented in League: North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia.

Level of Competition (1-to-4 Scale, 1 being highest): 2.

No. of Teams in League: 14.

Regular-Season Champion (best overall record): Forest City Owls.

Post-Season Champion: Forest City Owls.

Teams, PG Crosschecker Summer 25/Final Ranking: No. 1 Forest City Owls, No. 19 Peninsula Pilots.

No. 1 Prospect, 2008 (per PG Crosschecker: Deck McGuire, rhp, Peninsula Pilots (Georgia Tech; did not play this summer)

First 2008 Player Selected, 2009 Draft: Brett Nommensen, of, Edenton Steamers (Eastern Illinois; Devil Rays/8th round).

Player of the Year: Phil Cerreto, 3b, Martinsville Mustangs.

Co-Pitchers of the Year: Spencer Patton, rhp, Forest City Owls; Ryan Arrowood, rhp, Forest City Owls.

Top Prospect (as selected by league): None selected.

BATTING LEADERS

Batting Average: Konstantine Diamaduros, 1b, Forest City Owls (.376).

Slugging Percentage: Chris Epps, of, Thomasville Hi-Toms (.656).

On-Base Average: Dylan Petrich, of, Outer Banks Daredevils (.477).

Home Runs: Stewart Ijames, of, Thomasville Hi-Toms; Jake Magner, 1b, Edenton Steamers (12).

RBIs: Josh Whitaker, 1b, Outer Banks Daredevils (47).

Stolen Bases: Craige Lyerly, of, Asheboro Copperheads (41).

PITCHING LEADERS

Wins: Ryan Arrowood, rhp, Forest City Owls (10).

ERA: Trent Howard, lhp, Wilson Tobs (1.01).

Saves: Jason Sullivan, rhp, Wilson Tobs; Lee Zerrusen, rhp, Fayetteville Swampdogs (15).

Strikeouts: Spencer Patton, rhp, Forest City Owls (110).

Opponent Batting Average: Stephen McCray, rhp, Florence Redwolves (.169).

BEST TOOLS

Best Athlete: Will Lamb, of-lhp, Peninsula Pilots.

Best Hitter: Chris Epps, of, Thomasville Hi-Toms.

Best Power: Stewart Ijames, of, Thomasville Hi-Toms.

Fastest Base Runner: Craige Lyerly, of-3b, Asheboro Copperheads.

Best Defensive Player: Will Lamb, of, Peninsula Pilots.

Best Velocity: John Cornley, rhp, Outer Banks Daredevils.

Best Breaking Ball: Robbie Andrews, rhp, Forest City Owls.

Best Command: Spencer Patton, rhp, Forest City Owls.

Top 30 Prospects

PLAYER POS. TEAM B-T HT WT YR 2010 SCHOOL

1. Will Lamb OF/LHP Peninsula Pilots L-L 6-4 170 So. Clemson

SCOUTING REPORT: With his long, lean and very projectable body, Lamb has electric potential. Scouts, though, are divided whether his upside is higher as a pitcher or position player. Lamb didn’t particularly distinguish himself on the mound (1-3, 6.23, 30 IP, 10 BB/32 SO) or as a center fielder (.236-1-12, 26 SB) for Peninsula this summer, but it didn’t take a scout’s trained eye to see that his raw tools are special. He had significant arm strength (91-92 mph on his fastball) and impressive speed (6.6 seconds in the 60), and it’s readily apparent that his power, his only missing tool, will emerge as he gets bigger and stronger, and fine tunes his offensive approach. Most of his best swings this summer were to the opposite field, and he struck out 30 times in 127 at-bats as above-average fastballs often ate him up. Lamb, who elected to play close to his Virginia home this summer, is still raw in his approach on the mound, as well, but already has the makings of a solid slider, and could well add 2-3 mph in velocity to his fastball over the next year or two. Lamb was at his best this summer in Peninsula’s six post-season games as he hit .409 with five extra-base hits (one shy of his regular-season total), including a home run. He was thrown out on all three stolen-base attempts, though, after being nailed trying to steal only three times in 29 regular-season attempts. Had Peninsula extended its best-of-3 championship series against champion Forest City to a third game, Pilots skipper Hank Morgan indicated Lamb would have gotten the ball. Though Lamb didn’t display the kind of success as a pitcher or hitter this summer to warrant steadier work at Clemson as a sophomore after he got just 56 at-bats (.268-0-6, 4 SB) and 22 innings (0-0, 4.15, 22 IP, 8 BB/15 SO) as a freshman, it will be difficult holding back a player again with Lamb’s obvious raw talent.

To view the rest of the top 25 list, become a subscriber click here.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Baseball Unveils 2010 Schedule

Posted by Andrew on 2:42 PM

From the University of Virginia
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. - Coming off the program's first appearance in the College World Series as well as an ACC Championship, the Virginia baseball team will face a challenging slate for the 2010 season, with 27 games against 2009 NCAA Tournament teams. The schedule for 2010 was announced today by Virginia head coach Brian O'Connor. Read the rest of this entry here.

Photo is courtesy of Virginia Sports.com

Baseball scrimmage offers first look at team on new turf

Posted by Andrew on 1:21 PM

From Clint Harden at the Sunflower Online
The crowd was a little confused when they caught sight of Eck Stadium's new turf at Wichita State's opening intra-squad scrimmage Saturday afternoon.

The green turf looked like grass but the brown turf caused some confusion.

The field, which was completely replaced this summer, consists of a new type of artificial turf, even the “dirt."

Outfielders dive for catches and get up with no grass stains, infielders dive for stops on the infield without dirtying their uniforms and base runners slide into home and rise with clean pants.

The concept is hard to grasp for some fans.

Read the rest of this entry here.

Former Gamecock Justin Smoak Earns MVP Honors As Team USA Wins 2009 World Cup

Posted by Andrew on 8:13 AM

From the University of South Carolina
Columbia, S.C. - Former South Carolina first baseman Justin Smoak (2006-07-08) earned Most Valuable Player honors at the 2009 International Baseball Federation (IBAF) World Cup as Team USA defended its title and earned a gold medal with a 10-6 victory over Cuba on Sunday afternoon in Nettuno, Italy. The Red, White & Blue finished 14-1 in the World Cup with Smoak setting a Team USA record with nine home runs. Read the rest of this entry here.

Mrozek, Express Honored by NWL

Posted by Andrew on 7:47 AM

From the Northwoods League
(ROCHESTER, MN) The Northwoods League announced that Kyle Mrozek, General Manager of the Mankato MoonDogs, has been named 2009 NWL Executive of the Year. The award, which was decided by a vote of team officials at the League's annual fall meetings this week in Battle Creek, MI, is given annually to the League's outstanding executive. In another vote, the Eau Claire Express became the first league affiliate awarded the Organization of the Year award.

Mrozek recently completed his seventh year as the GM of the MoonDogs. Under his direction the MoonDogs have increased attendance every season, again hitting a new high with 41,786 fans in 2009, an average of 1,266 per game. Those numbers ranked Mankato 7th in the Northwoods League in attendance, their highest ranking in franchise history. The MoonDogs are also coming off their second consecutive playoff appearance. Read the rest of this entry here.

Former RedWolf, Colvin, Debuts with Cubs

Posted by Andrew on 7:39 AM

From the Coastal Plain League
Former Clemson and Florence RedWolves star Tyler Colvin (photo courtesy of Steve Green and the Chicago Cubs) earned a call up to Chicago earlier this week, making his Major League debut with the Cubs in their 10-2 win over the Milwaukee Brewers Monday night.

That night, Colvin went 1-for-3 with a walk and an RBI, and has since added another hit, a run scored and another walk to his still-new MLB resume. Read the rest of this entry here.

Friday, September 25, 2009

Players To Watch For In 2010

Posted by Andrew on 10:36 AM

"Players to Watch for in 2010"

The following is my list of players that I believe will have either good season's in 2010 or have a breakout year. I am in no way a scout. So please don't take this list as a scouting tool. I am a stat man, and many of the following players had outstanding summers.

Reedy Berg (Gonzaga)

Tyler Bersano (The Master's College)

Tony Bucciferro (Michigan State)

Alan Denman (Campbell)

Sam Eberle (Jacksonville State)

Richie Erath (Florida Gulf Coast)

Ryan Ferguson (Temple)

James Foster (Wofford)

Mike Guadango (William Patterson)

Justin Guidry (Mid. Tenn. State)

Eddie Hsieh (Cal)

Trevor Knight (James Madison)

Russell LaFluer (Missouri)

Ryan LaPointe (George Washington)

Tony LePore (SIU)

Quentin Luquette (Lamar)

Sean McKeown (Marist)

Taylor Miller (Appalachian State)

Tucker Nathans (Fairfield)

Steven Neff (South Carolina)

Nick Nolan (Kean)

Anthony Ottrando (Eastern Kentucky)

John Pedrotty (Holy Cross)

Ronnie Schaeffer (UC Irvine)

Joe Schmidtbauer (Mesa State)

Phil Schreiber (Iowa)

Robbie Seldon (Cal Lutheran)

Bryce Shafer (Valparaiso)

T.J. Swank (Coastal Carolina)

Russell Tischler (Franklin and Marshall)

Dave Van Ostrand (Cal Poly SLO)

Baseball Announces 2010 Schedule

Posted by Andrew on 8:18 AM

From Summer Ball News Source
OXFORD, Ohio - Highlighted by 23 home games and contests against four 2009 NCAA Tournament participants, head coach Dan Simonds has released Miami University's 2010 baseball schedule. Miami will play its first 15 games away from Oxford before hosting Northern Kentucky March 17.

The RedHawks open their 2010 campaign at Clemson Feb. 19, facing a Tiger team that made the NCAA Super Regionals a year ago and finished 14th in the nation. It will be Miami's first meeting with Clemson since 1965 - the only other time the 'Hawks have played the Tigers. While in South Carolina, Miami will also face Furman Feb. 20 -- having traveled to Greenville, S.C. in 2006 as well -- and Michigan State Feb. 21 in a neutral-site game in Greenville. The RedHawks last faced the Spartans in 1979 when they fell in the NCAA Mideast Regional. Read the rest of this entry here.

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Frogs Look At Possible New Stadium

Posted by Andrew on 2:31 PM

From Paul Srubas and the Green Bay Press Gazette
Green Bay Bullfrogs owner Jeff Royle received a one-year planning option today for a $15.7 million baseball and multi-use stadium that he hopes to build on the west bank of the Fox River.

The planning option means Royle and his partner, Smet Construction, have one year to explore whether they can obtain the financing to build the facility on a 13.3-acre piece of land they would either buy or lease from the city of Green Bay. The city’s Redevelopment Authority unanimously granted the planning option this afternoon after telling Royle to submit quarterly progress reports. The land is on South Broadway, just north of the Don A. Tilleman Bridge. Read the rest of this entry here.

Wilmington Sharks Name Summer College Veteran Tom Fleenor Head Coach

Posted by Andrew on 10:58 AM

From the Coastal Plain League
The Wilmington Sharks have hired Tom Fleenor as head coach for the 2010 Coastal Plain League season. Fleenor, an accomplished summer collegiate coach, led the Batttle Creek Bombers of the Northwoods League to a 37-30 record in 2009. He is currently the Head Coach at the University of South Carolina-Sumter. He directed the FireAnts to a 52-11 record and the Region X Title in the only the program’s second year of existence. Throughout Fleenor’s career, he has coached over 70 players that have gone on to sign professionally. This includes two first-round draft picks and seven players that have reached the Major Leagues.

“We are proud to bring an experienced and proven head coach to Wilmington,” Owner/ Director of Operations Conor Caloia said. “We are committed to winning and continuing to provide a great show for our fans at the “Shark Tank.” Tom is the perfect fit to bring us a winner on the field as we continue to provide affordable, family fun to the greater Wilmington community.”

“I am extremely excited to join the Wilmington Sharks family and the CPL,” Fleenor said. “I was ready for a new challenge and I am thankful for the opportunity to do that in Wilmington.”

Fleenor was an assistant baseball coach for seven years at USC-Upstate before taking the top job at USC-Sumter. Prior to his time in the Palmetto State he spent two seasons as an assistant at Rollins College (Florida) and four seasons as a volunteer assistant at the University of Mississippi. During his time at Ole Miss, the Rebels set a school record with 40 wins and played in a regional. Fleenor also served as the third base coach in his final two seasons in Oxford.

Fleenor has spent nine seasons as a summer collegiate Head Coach including seven in the Northwoods League and two in what is now the New York Collegiate Baseball League. Fleenor ranks second in career wins (265) in the Northwoods League after stints with the Rochester Honkers, St. Cloud RiverBats and Battle Creek Bombers. The only person with more Northwoods League wins is Sharks owner and Fayetteville SwampDogs Head Coach, Darrell Handelsman (300). Fleenor led the Rochester Honkers to the Northwoods League Championship in 1999 and guided his team to the playoffs in five of seven seasons in the NWL.

“We are very excited to bring Tom aboard as the manager for the 2009 season,” Handelsman said. “The CPL’s South division just got much more competitive. He brings a wealth of summer collegiate experience to the Sharks as well as a winning track record. We have no doubt he will put a highly competitive team on the field that the Wilmington community can be proud of”.

Fleenor graduated from Tennessee Wesleyan in 1993. During his playing days, he was a three-time All-Conference and two-time All-District performer. Fleenor helped his team win two consecutive league championships in 1992 and 1993.

Fleenor and his wife, Laura, have two children, Bradley and Anna Grayce.

The Coastal Plain League is the nation’s hottest summer collegiate baseball league, now heading into its 14th season. Featuring 14 teams playing in North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia, the CPL gives college players the chance to refine their skills with wooden bats during the summer months. Players are housed with local host families for the summer and past experiences have been very positive for both players and hosts. For more information on the Coastal Plain League, please visit the league website at http://www.coastalplain.com.

Fall Baseball Q & A

Posted by Andrew on 10:26 AM

From Florida State University

by FSU Sports Information Student Assistant, Ultima Rogers

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - With the fall baseball season in full swing, Seminoles.com took some time out this week to visit with a few of the returning players to find out how their summer went and to get their perspective on the upcoming year.

In part two of this week's player feature, FSU Sports Information Student Assistant Ultima Rogers sat down with junior third baseman Stuart Tapley (Orlando, FL) to get his thoughts on the summer and how fall practice has played out so far. Here is what Stuart had to say:

Read the rest of this entry here.

Birdballers Face Minor Adjustment

Posted by Andrew on 9:13 AM

Ryan Murphy from BCHeights.com just posted a neat article about the four Boston College Eagle baseball players that were drafted this June. Tony Sanchez (Pirates), Michael Belfiore (D'Backs), James McDonald (Astros), and Barry Butera (Astros) all found success this summer, while playing in the minor leagues.

You can read Ryan's full article here.

Cal Baseball's 2009 Recruiting Class Ranked 24th in Collegiate Baseball

Posted by Andrew on 8:31 AM

From Summer Ball News Source
The University of California baseball program's 2009 recruiting class has been selected the 24th best in the nation, and third-best in the Pac-10, by Collegiate Baseball newspaper. The national publication selected the Golden Bears' 15 newcomers among the conference's top three, behind only 2008 College World Series participant Arizona State (2nd) and Bay Area rival Stanford (10th), and ahead of Oregon State (25th), Oregon (26th) and UCLA (33rd). Read the rest of this entry here.

Top Prospect in the Texas Collegiate League

Posted by Andrew on 8:14 AM

I have been very fortunate to be able to work with Allan Simpson and the fine folks over at Perfect Game/PG Crosschecker. Perfect Game is the #1 high school baseball recruiting site on the web, and their knowledge and coverage of college baseball prospects is arguably the best around. Allan and his staff are in the process of ranking the top 25 prospects from all the major college summer leagues. You will need to become a subscriber to Perfect Game to view the list, but I have been give permission to publish the entire top 25 lists from the Alaska Baseball League, Great Lakes League and the NYCBL. I have also been given permission to publish the remaining leagues intro's and their leagues top prospect. (To become a subscriber to Perfect Game, please visit this link.)

Texas Collegiate League

COMPILED BY ALLAN SIMPSON; WRITTEN BY DAVID RAWNSLEY

In Association with League Managers and Scouts

Official League Website: http://www.texascollegiateleague.com/

The Coppell Copperheads defeated the Victoria Generals 13-11 to sweep the Texas Collegiate League championship series, 2-0, in a surprise finish to the 2009 season. It was Coppell’s second title in three years, with a second-place finish in 2008 sandwiched in-between.

But this championship was a little more unexpected as the Generals had dominated the TCL regular season, going 30-14. They were ranked No. 22 in the final PGCrosschecker.com summer rankings despite their surprising loss in the playoffs. Included in the record was a nearly-perfect 11-1 regular-season mark against the Copperheads.

After a very slow start to the 2009 season that had them in last place (and therefore out of the playoffs in the 5-team league) with two weeks left in the season, the Copperheads rallied around a half-dozen key second-half additions to their roster to not only finish in third place but to sweep through the playoffs easily. The presence of the league’s top two pitching prospects, righthanders Nathan Karns (4-0, 1.20) and Rett Varner (4-2, 1.17) keyed the Coppell staff while the late-season addition of league veteran first baseman Matt Curry solidified the lineup.

Karns was named the TCL’s top prospect and Varner won the Most Outstanding Pitcher award. Generals outfielder Mark Hudson (.386-1-27) was named Player of the Year. In addition to his league-leading batting average, the somewhat unheralded Hudson led the TCL in doubles (15), triples (4), slugging percentage (.591) and on-base percentage (.419).

The off-the-field news continued to be promising for the TCL, as well. The league, which almost folded in 2007 due to financial problems and was reduced to four teams in 2008, added a fifth franchise (Victoria) this past summer and is looking to add a sixth team (tentatively in Weimar) for 2010. The league seems to have no problem attracting talented players from Texas and neighboring states and scouts were especially impressed with the quality of arms around the league this summer.

FAST FACTS

Year League Established: 2004.

States Represented in League: Texas.

Level of Competition (1-to-4 Scale, 1 being highest): 2.

No. of Teams in League: 5

Regular-Season Champion: Victoria Generals.

Post-Season Champion: Coppell Copperheads.

Teams, PG Crosschecker Summer 25/Final Ranking: Victoria Generals (No. 22).

No. 1 Prospect, 2008 (per PG Crosschecker): Del Howell, lhp, McKinney Marshalls (Alabama; Brewers ’09/15th round).

First 2008 Player Selected, 2009 Draft: Dustin Dickerson, 1b, Brazos Valley Bombers (Baylor; Marlins/6th round).

Player of the Year: Mark Hudson, of, Victoria Generals.

Most Outstanding Pitcher: Rett Varner, rhp, Coppell Copperheads.

Top Prospect (as selected by league): None selected.

BATTING LEADERS

Batting Average: Mark Hudson, of, Victoria Generals (.386).

Slugging Percentage: Mark Hudson, of, Victoria Generals (.590).

On-Base Average: Mark Hudson, of, Victoria Generals (.419).

Home Runs: (tie) Matt Juengel, 3b, East Texas Pump Jacks; Joaquin Hinojosa, of/rhp, Brazos Valley Bombers (4).

RBIs: Brett Nicholas, c, East Texas Pump Jacks (32).

Stolen Bases: James Foster, of, Coppell Copperheads (17).

PITCHING LEADERS

Wins: Blake Payne, rhp, Victoria Generals (6).

ERA: Rett Varner, rhp, Coppell Copperheads (1.17).

Saves: Stephen Tromblee, lhp, East Texas Pump Jacks (7).

Strikeouts: David Rollins, lhp, East Texas Pump Jacks (63).

BEST TOOLS

Best Athlete: Riley Cooper, of, McKinney Marshalls.

Best Hitter: Mark Hudson, of, Victoria Generals.

Best Power: Mike Davis, 1b, Victoria Generals.

Fastest Base Runner: Riley Cooper, of, McKinney Marshalls.

Best Defensive Player: Austin Goolsby, c, Coppell Copperheads.

Best Velocity: Zach Nuding, rhp, Victoria Generals.

Best Breaking Ball: Matt Karns, rhp, Coppell Copperheads.

Best Command: Rett Varner, rhp, Coppell Copperheads.

Top 25 Prospects

PLAYER POS. TEAM B-T HT WT YR 2010 SCHOOL

1. Nathan Karns RHP Coppell Copperheads R-R 6-3 235 SIGNED/Nationals

SCOUTING REPORT: Karns had clearly the best raw stuff in the TCL, pitching in the 89-92 mph range with his fastball and touching 94-95. His hard-breaking curveball was a plus pitch at times and, more importantly, Karns showed confidence in throwing the pitch for strikes. He also showed some feel for a changeup while going 4-0, 1.20 with 47 strikeouts in 30 innings. His improved consistency and confidence this summer was the primary reason the Washington Nationals ended up offering Karns a $225.000 signing bonus as a 12th-round draft pick, an offer the big righthander accepted at the signing deadline. Karns’ ability has been well known to scouts dating back to his high-school days, when he was a 10th-round pick of the Houston Astros despite a college commitment to Texas. He never ended up pitching for the Longhorns and spent his first season at North Carolina State (3-2, 2.67) before transferring back home to Texas Tech and enduring two largely-unsuccessful seasons (3-6, 8.46 in 2008; 4-5, 5.47 last spring) while struggling with his delivery and command.

To view the rest of the top 25 list, become a subscriber click here.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Bryson LeBlanc Is Cowlitz Black Bears Head Coach

Posted by Andrew on 2:21 PM

From the West Coast League
Bryson LeBlanc is the first ever coach of the Cowlitz Black Bears. LeBlanc serves as the volunteer assistant coach for the University of Oregon, under legendary coach George Horton. "He's energetic, knows the game, and has the contacts to bring top college players to the Black Bears," said Cowlitz general manager Grant Wilson in making the announcement. A graduate of the University of Missouri with a degree in Biological Science, LeBlanc played for coach Tim Jamieson and the Tigers for two seasons. As a senior he helped Missouri reach the Super Regionals for the first time in school history.

Top Prospect in the Hawaii Collegiate Baseball League

Posted by Andrew on 1:28 PM

Lobo Baseball Signs Four to National Letters of Intents

Posted by Andrew on 1:08 PM

From Summer Ball News Source
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.-- University of New Mexico baseball coach Ray Birmingham and his staff have announced the signing of four more UNM baseball players. Freshmen Oscar Almeida, Arthur Nelson and Zak Miller and transfer Mike Lachapelle have signed National Letters of Intent to play with the University of New Mexico. All four were brought in for their abilities to touch 90 mph on the radar gun. Coach Birmingham has also brought in the top players from New Mexico and the southwest to assemble one of the best recruiting classes Lobo baseball has had in quite some time. Read the rest of this entry here.

Baseball Hawks lend helping hand through YMCA T-Ball clinics

Posted by Andrew on 10:40 AM

From Summer Ball News Source
Rome, Ga. - Collegiate and professional athletes have the unique opportunity to use their status to not only reach out to the communities in which they compete, but also have a positive impact on the lives of those who reside in those communities.

The Shorter College baseball team is making this concept a reality.

On Tuesday and Thursday evenings, the Hawks host the YMCA/Shorter Baseball T-Ball Tykes clinic at the Robert H. Ledbetter Baseball Complex located on the Shorter College campus.

The clinics feature two, 45-minute sessions each day and are designed to help 3-4 year old boys and girls learn the basic fundamentals of baseball. Read the rest of this entry here.

Perfect Game's Top Prospect in the Prospect League

Posted by Andrew on 9:14 AM

I have been very fortunate to be able to work with Allan Simpson and the fine folks over at Perfect Game/PG Crosschecker. Perfect Game is the #1 high school baseball recruiting site on the web, and their knowledge and coverage of college baseball prospects is arguably the best around. Allan and his staff are in the process of ranking the top 25 prospects from all the major college summer leagues. You will need to become a subscriber to Perfect Game to view the list, but I have been give permission to publish the entire top 25 lists from the Alaska Baseball League, Great Lakes League and the NYCBL. I have also been given permission to publish the remaining leagues intro's and their leagues top prospect. (To become a subscriber to Perfect Game, please visit this link.)

Prospect League

COMPILED BY ALLAN SIMPSON

In Association with League Managers and Scouts

Official League Website: http://www.prospectleague.com/

The Central Illinois Collegiate League made its debut in 1963, and clearly was one of the nation’s older, if not more established summer college leagues. But the CICL struggled in recent years to field a full complement of teams, and the talent level in the league dwindled in the process.

The solution was to abandon the old structure, and re-invent the CICL as the newly-named Prospect League—with an emphasis, as the name suggests, on attracting more viable prospects to the league. The new look became more than just a name change as the Prospect League more than doubled in size, from five clubs in the final year of the CICL to 11 in the new, two-division set-up with franchises as far west as Missouri and as far east as Pennsylvania.

Though the Prospect League encountered its share of growing pains in its first year, the talent level this summer was, by most accounts, stronger than what it had been in the CICL in several years. The No. 1-ranked prospect, Danville outfielder Mikie Mahtook (Louisiana State) has already been anointed as a future first-round draft pick, even as he struggled to hit just .200 in his brief tour of duty in the league.

Correspondingly, the two players who performed the best, Richmond catcher Tyler Bullock, the league’s player of the year, and North Coast lefthander Rusty Shellhorn, the league’s pitcher of the year, did not grade out as well on the accompanying list of the league’s best prospects. Simply put, it was a big and small issue. The 6-foot-4, 275-pound Bullock was deemed too big to warrant being a legitimate prospect for a majority of scouts; by contrast, the 5-foot-8, 170-pound Shellhorn was perceived as too small.

Bullock and Shellhorn both played for Eastern Division clubs, but the Western Division, which comprised the five leftover teams from the CICL, plus an expansion team in Hannibal, Mo., preserved a little sense of the CICL’s old identity by claiming the top three spots and seven of the first 10 on the list of preferred prospects. Generally, the east had the better pitching prospects, the west the better position players.

Danville, which historically had the most prospects in the waning years of the CICL, claimed eight spots alone in the top 25. But the Dans had a very young roster, even fielding several red-shirt freshmen, and never seriously challenged for a league title. Their long rivals, the Quincy Gems, stepped up and claimed one for the old guard by winning a league-high 36 games during the regular season on their way to dispatching the Chillicothe Paints in two straight games in the league’s best-of-3 championship series.

FAST FACTS

Year League Established: 2009 (previously known as Central Illinois Collegiate League; established 1963).

States Represented in League: Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, Pennsylvania.

Level of Competition (1-to-4 Scale, 1 being highest): 3.

No. of Teams in League: 11.

Regular-Season Champion (best overall record): Quincy Gems.

Post-Season Champion: Quincy Gems.

Teams, PG Crosschecker Summer 25/Final Ranking: No. 16 Quincy Gems.

No. 1 Prospect, 2008/Central Illinois Collegiate League (per PG Crosschecker): Austin Ross, rhp, Danville Dans (Louisiana State; played in Cape Cod League in 2009).

First 2008 CICL Player Selected, 2009 Draft: Dan Kazrowski, 2b, Danville Dans (Hamline, Minn.; Diamondbacks/26th round).

Player of the Year: Tyler Bullock, c, Richmond River Rats.

Pitcher of the Year: Rusty Shellhorn, lhp, North Coast Knights.

Top Prospect (as selected by league): Mikie Mahtook, of, Danville Dans.

BATTING LEADERS

Batting Average: Joseph Villegas, of, Richmond River Rats (.363).

Slugging Average: Tyler Bullock, c, Richmond River Rats (.647).

On-Base Average: Jason Nappi, 3b, Danville Dans (.435).

Home Runs: Tyler Bullock, c, Richmond River Rats (14).

RBIs: Tyler Bullock, c, Richmond River Rats (47).

Stolen Bases: Kyle Gaedele, of, Hannibal Cavemen (30).

PITCHING LEADERS

Wins: Rusty Shellhorn, lhp, North Coast Kinights (8).

ERA: Richie Derbak, rhp, Quincy Gems (1.10).

Saves: Kevin Lee, rhp, Quincy Gems (10).

Strikeouts: Rusty Shellhorn, lhp, North Coast Knights (89).

Opponent Batting Average: Kevin Lee, rhp, Quincy Gems (.127).

BEST TOOLS

Best Athlete: Mikie Mahtook, of, Danville Dans.

Best Hitter: Jason Nappi, 3b, Danville Dans.

Best Power: Tyler Bullock, c, Richmond River Rats.

Fastest Base Runner: DeMarcus Tidwell, of, Quincy Gems.

Best Defensive Player: Austin Nola, ss, Danville Dans.

Best Velocity: Brad Goldberg, rhp, North Coast Knights.

Best Breaking Ball: Rusty Shellhown, lhp, North Coast Knights.

Best Command: Bryan Roberts, rhp, DuPage Dragons.

Top 25 Prospects

PLAYER POS. TEAM B-T HT WT YR 2010 SCHOOL

1. Mike Mahtook OF Danville Dans R-R 6-1 195 So. Louisiana State

SCOUTING REPORT: The Prospect League has a new name and a fresh new look, but some things haven’t changed. Just like last year in the CICL, a Danville player attending college at Louisiana State ranks No. 1 on this list. In 2008, that player was righthander Austin Ross, who moved on to the Cape Cod League this summer. Mahtook, who played a pivotal role for LSU as a freshman as it won the 2009 College World Series, has the honor of being the new No. 1, even though he hardly played to the standard of a top prospect at Danville, batting just .200 (13-for-65) in 18 games after arriving late from Omaha. He also homered just once, drove in three runs and stole eight bases. Numbers aside, it was readily apparent that Mahtook has a chance to be something special, and could easily evolve into a true 5-tool talent. He’s a beast physically and has a tireless work ethic, so it appears to be just a matter of time until his true talent surfaces. Right now, Mahtook’s power is the only tool that is missing, and yet he routinely put on an impressive show in BP, even if he didn’t always take his impressive raw power into games. He struggled adjusting to wood initially but has an excellent back-side approach to hitting, and ended up hitting a lot of balls hard. He has above-average speed, along with excellent center-field skills and arm strength. Mahtook was a high-school football star in Louisiana and became a late-round pick of the Florida Marlins in the 2008 draft, but was determined all along to play baseball at LSU, where his late father (Mike) and uncle once played football. Mahtook recognizes he has a lot to learn to become an accomplished baseball player, but could move quickly now that he is focused solely on that sport.

To view the rest of the top 25 list, become a subscriber click here.

Perfect Game's Top Prospect in the Florida Collegiate League

Posted by Andrew on 8:12 AM

PLAYER POS. TEAM B-T HT WT YR 2010 SCHOOL

1. Taylor Wrenn SS DeLand Suns L-R 5-9 165 So. Southern California

SCOUTING REPORT: Wrenn gets the nod as the FCSL’s top prospect over teammate Jabari Blash, primarily because of his defensive ability and overall polish as a ball player. He’s simply a play-maker at shortstop, displaying good feet, soft hands, a major league-average arm and excellent transfers. Wrenn showed the ability to finish plays, both in the hole and up the middle. His approach at the plate is more of a poke-hitter, but he showed he could handle the bat and hit with discipline. He also has good speed and base-running instincts. On the summer, Wrenn hit .261-2-20 with 10 doubles and nine stolen bases. Wrenn comes by his mature approach naturally as his father Luke is an area scout for the Arizona Diamondbacks, who coincidentally drafted the younger Wrenn in the 25th round in June. Wrenn attended Manatee JC as a freshman and hit .386 with seven homers, but has transferred to Southern California for his sophomore year. He’s expected to replace departed first-rounder Grant Green at shortstop for the Trojans. While he no longer will be eligible for the 2010 draft by enrolling at a four-year school, Wrenn could easily emerge as a high-round selection in 2011.

To view the rest of the top 25 list, become a subscriber click here.

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Perfect Game's Top Prospect in the Cal Ripken Sr. League

Posted by Andrew on 2:05 PM

Memory Countdown '09: Memory #10 - Gates Walk-Off

Posted by Andrew on 1:54 PM

From the La Crosse Loggers
The La Crosse Loggers will be counting down the Top 10 memories of 2009 in the coming weeks while we anxiously await the release of the 2010 schedule. We will re-live the excitement from the 2009 season together through this countdown that will include the walk-offs, records, fans and memories from a season that was well ... memorable! Read the rest of this entry here.

Bronc Baseball Announces 2010 Schedule

Posted by Andrew on 12:06 PM

From Summer Ball News Source
With high expectations for the Broncs, The University of Texas-Pan American baseball program announced the 2010 schedule August 12 with 26 home games, which will be played at the Edinburg Baseball Stadium, versus 20 away occasions.

"The schedule is good because there are a lot of home games, and it's also exciting because it's our first season in the Great West (conference), so we get to play `conference weekends' which haven't been around the Valley in around 10 years," said second-year head coach Manny Mantrana. "This year, I made the schedule and we brought in our first recruiting class, good students, good people, and very important -good players -so we're very excited." Read the rest of this entry here.

Top 25 Prospects in the NYCBL

Posted by Andrew on 10:56 AM

I have been very fortunate to be able to work with Allan Simpson and the fine folks over at Perfect Game/PG Crosschecker. Perfect Game is the #1 high school baseball recruiting site on the web, and their knowledge and coverage of college baseball prospects is arguably the best around. Allan and his staff are in the process of ranking the top 25 prospects from all the major college summer leagues. You will need to become a subscriber to Perfect Game to view the list, but I have been give permission to publish the entire top 25 lists from the Alaska Baseball League, Great Lakes League and the NYCBL. (To become a subscriber to Perfect Game, please visit this link.)

New York Collegiate Baseball League

COMPILED BY ALLAN SIMPSON, WRITTEN BY DAVID RAWNSLEY

In Association with League Managers and Scouts

Official League Website: http://www.nycbl.com/

The Amsterdam Mohawks and Hornell Dodgers had near mirror-image 2009 seasons in the New York Collegiate League title, but in the end Amsterdam’s superior talent proved to be the difference as it won the league title.

Both teams got off to sluggish starts—Amsterdam at 9-8, Hornell at 8-8—but suddenly and coincidentally turned it on down the stretch to finish atop their respective divisions with identical 30-12 records. They also won their first four playoff games to pit one team against the other in the league’s best-of-3 championship series. That’s when the Mohawks asserted their dominance by sweeping Hornell in two straight games, winning 8-1 and 11-10.

Red-hot Amsterdam won 26 of its last 29 games, including 14 straight to end of the season, and its overall talent was unmistakable. Righthander/DH Braden Kapteyn, now a sophomore at Kentucky, was the hands-down choice for both the NYCBL’s Most Valuable Player award and No. 1 prospect, and three other Amsterdam players cracked the top 10. Kapteyn led Amsterdam from both the mound (4-1, 2.47, league-leading 72 strikeouts in 47 innings) and the batter’s box (.319-4-24), and played an instrumental role in the season’s deciding game by driving in six runs.

Kapteyn will continue to play a two-way role for Kentucky in 2010, most prominently as the team’s closer. No doubt, he’ll close the odd game next spring for former Amsterdam lefthander Jordan Darnell, who he succeeded as the NYCBL’s No. 1 prospect. Darnell, a potential second- or third-round pick in next year’s draft, spent this summer in the Alaska League.

Led by Kapteyn, Amsterdam had the three top prospects in the NYCBL. All three Mohawks outfielders, Tillman Pugh (No. 2), Mel Rojas Jr. (No. 3) and Justin Fradejas (No. 9), ranked among the loop’s top 10 prospects. All are not only legit pro-level prospects, but project as center fielders at the next level. Obviously, there wasn’t room for all in center field for the Mohawks this summer, and the trio had to divide their time in all three outfield positions.

Not only did the University of Kentucky significantly impact the accompanying list of top 25 prospects with three players, but UK head coach Gary Henderson was instrumental in Keith Griffin ending up with the coaching job at Amsterdam. Henderson recommended the former Okaloosa-Walton (Fla.) JC head coach for the position.

FAST FACTS

Year League Established: 1978.

States Represented in League: New York.

Level of Competition (1-to-4 Scale, 1 being highest): 3.

No. of Teams in League: 14.

Regular-Season Champion (best overall record): (tie) Hornell Dodgers, Amsterdam Mohawks.

Post-Season Champion: Amsterdam Mohawks.

Teams, PG Crosschecker Summer 25/Final Ranking: No. 13 Amsterdam Mohawks.

No. 1 Prospect, 2008 (per PG Crosschecker): Logan Darnell, lhp, Amsterdam Mohawks (Kentucky, 2010 draft eligible).

First 2008 Player Selected, 2009 Draft: Eric Arnett, rhp, Glens Falls Golden Eagles (Indiana; Brewers/1st round, 26th pick).

Most Valuable Player: Braden Kapteyn, rhp/1b, Amsterdam Mohawks.

Top Prospect (as selected by league): Braden Kapteyn, rhp/1b, Amsterdam Mohawks.

BATTING LEADERS

Batting Average: Kosuke Hattori, ss, Watertown Wizards (.377).

Slugging Percentage: Trey Bennett, of, Hornell Dodgers (.590).

On-Base Average: Jonathan Keppler, ss, Hornell Dodgers (.518).

Home Runs: Vincent Malzahn, 1b, Allegany County Nitros (8).

RBIs: Trey Bennett, of, Hornell Dodgers (38).

Stolen Bases: Jarred Jimenez, of, Albany Dutchmen (25).

PITCHING LEADERS

Wins: Jordan Backes, rhp, Hornell Dodgers (6).

ERA: Jordan Backes, rhp, Hornell Dodgers (1.34).

Saves: Brad Jesernig, rhp, Saratoga Phillies (9).

Strikeouts: Braden Kapteyn, rhp, Amsterdam Mohawks (72).

Opponent Batting Average: Braden Kapteyn, rhp, Amsterdam Mohawks (.142).

BEST TOOLS

Best Athlete: Tillman Pugh, of, Amsterdam Mohawks.

Best Hitter: Trey Bennett, of, Hornell Dodgers.

Best Power: Vincent Malzahn, 1b, Allegany County Nitros.

Fastest Base Runner: Justin Fradejas, of, Amsterdam Mohawks.

Best Defensive Player: Tillman Pugh, of, Amsterdam Mohawks.

Best Velocity: Braden Kapteyn, rhp, Amsterdam Mohawks.

Best Breaking Ball: Braden Kapteyn, rhp, Amsterdam Mohawks.

Best Command: Lincoln Rassi, rhp, Webster Yankees.

TOP 25 PROSPECTS

PLAYER POS. TEAM B-T HT WT YR 2010 SCHOOL

1. Braden Kapteyn RHP/1B Amsterdam Mohawks R-R 6-4 215 So. Kentucky

SCOUTING REPORT: Kapteyn so dominated the NYCBL that he would have been the choice of managers and scouts as the league’s top prospect as both a pitcher and position player. After closing as a freshman at Kentucky during the spring (5-0, 6.06, 4 SV), Kapteyn was used as a starter this summer, and went 4-1, 2.47. More impressively, he struck out 72 hitters in 47 innings and allowed just 23 hits. He noticeably tired by the end of the summer due to the work load but early in the summer was nearly unhittable. That included one start against Saratoga when he struck out the first 11 hitters of the game. Kapteyn’s fastball ranged between 89 and 94 mph, and he complemented it with a nasty hard slider that touched 88. His delivery isn’t especially smooth and his dependence on two pitches paints him as a future reliever. Kapteyn was drafted out of high school (Giants, 39th round) primarily for his hitting skills and had as much success in the spring as a DH (.319-4-27) as he did pitching. He has very good bat speed and power potential because of his obvious strength. Kapteyn worked out at third base on the side during the summer but was used mainly as a DH for Amsterdam, and posted near-identical numbers (.319-4-24) as he did in the spring. Kapteyn’s older brother Wade played college baseball at Evansville and was drafted in the 24th round this year by the Detroit Tigers,

2. Tillman Pugh OF Amsterdam Mohawks R-R 6-0 190 Jr. Sonoma State (Calif.)

SCOUTING REPORT: Pugh has led a somewhat nomadic baseball existence since his days at California’s De La Salle High, where he was better known for his football exploits. He played in eight games as a freshman at Arizona State and spent last summer in the Northwoods League. He then spent his sophomore year at Arizona’s GateWay CC before playing this summer the NYCBL. Without the grades to return to Division I baseball, Pugh will attend Division II Sonoma State in 2010 despite being a 16th-round pick of the Seattle Mariners in this year’s draft. Pugh had the best raw physical tools in the league, hands down. He has plus running speed and plays center field with instincts and athleticism, and had a special knack for making highlight-reel type catches. Pugh missed a couple weeks with hamstring issues but ended up hitting .276-4-15 in 24 starts. Like many raw hitters, Pugh has a tendency to swing-and-miss at a high rate (35 K’s in 98 at-bats), but has the bat speed and strength to hit when he learns how to recognize pitches better.

3. Mel Rojas Jr. OF Amsterdam Mohawks B-R 6-3 195 Fr. Wabash Valley (Ill.) JC

SCOUTING REPORT: The son of former major-league closer Mel Rojas reportedly turned down $200,000 as a young Dominican before coming to the United States, and was academically ineligible at Wabash Valley JC last spring. Rojas has a long and angular athletic build that has excellent projection. He is already strong, and has that impressive combination of power and speed (6.6 in the 60) that excites scouts. His switch-hitting ability is an added bonus. He’s a better hitter from the left side now but shows plus power potential from both sides. Despite not playing in the spring, he hit .314-3-19 and stole eight bases in nine attempts. He needs to work at utilizing his speed better at the plate by bunting and putting the ball on the ground. Rojas’s speed plays well in center field but his arm strength might limit him to left field in the future.

4. Greg Holle RHP Saratoga Phillies R-R 6-8 210 Jr. Texas Christian

SCOUTING REPORT: Holle’s father Gary played briefly in the big leagues, and Greg has been a high-profile prospect himself since his days at an upstate New York high school. He began the 2009 summer season in the Cape Cod League, but didn’t get out of the first inning in his only start for Yarmouth-Dennis, and promptly left that league. He quickly resurfaced in the NYCBL for Saratoga, near his New York home, but made just four starts for the Phillies (1-2, 3.92, 20 IP) before shutting it down just before the all-star game, ostensibly because of a blister problem on his pitching finger. Holle has excellent arm strength and often touched 94 mph during the spring at TCU, but he had his best stuff in only one outing this summer. More often than not, he struggled to reach even 90-91. His superior athletic ability enables him to repeat his delivery well for his size and he is capable of throwing consistent strikes. His curveball, in particular, shows very good potential, although he didn’t show consistent spin and command of it during the summer. It will be interesting to see what role Holle fills at TCU as a junior. He mostly started his first two years there (5-2, 3.98 with 15 BB/26 SO in 41 IP in 2009) but hasn’t shown the ability to pitch late into games or develop a quality third pitch. With TCU adding unsigned 2009 first-round draft pick Matthew Purke to its rotation and returning two established weekend starters, Holle’s role for 2010 is unclear.

5. Rodarrick Jones OF Glens Falls Golden Eagles R-R 6-0 190 So. New Orleans

SCOUTING REPORT: Jones is an outstanding natural athlete who was all-state in Louisiana in both football and baseball before being drafted in the 21st round by the Houston Astros in 2008. He was a full-time starter as a freshman at UNO, hitting .299-7-27 with 12 steals, numbers he essentially duplicated with Glens Falls during the summer (.273-3-25, 13 SB). Jones has plus running speed and is capable of playing all three outfield positions, although his arm strength is the least of his physical tools. He has very good bat speed from the right side and can put a charge into the ball, power that should only improve with experience. Where Jones is lacking at present is in his overall hitting approach. He doesn’t recognize breaking balls very well and doesn’t have a two-strike approach, which led to frequent empty at-bats (53 K’s during the spring, 36 during the summer). One area where Jones did get exceptional reviews was for his character and work ethic, which his own manager, John Mayotte, said “were off the charts.”

6. Vincent Malzahn 1B Allegany County Nitros L-L 6-5 230 Sr. St. Thomas Aquinas (N.Y.)

SCOUTING REPORT: Malzahn is a huge athlete with surprising ability for a player his size. Though he plays at a small New York Division II school and didn’t put up noticeable power numbers as a junior (.256-2-26 on a team that hit only five home runs in 48 games), he intrigued scouts this summer with his enormous power potential. Malzahn led the NYCBL with in home runs, while hitting .298-8-27 overall, and a number of those were tape-measure bombs. He has a smooth and effortless lefthanded swing that translates to power to all fields, and he had a surprisingly good two-strike approach.

7. Corey Pappel RHP Elmira Pioneers R-R 6-6 205 Jr. Cornell

SCOUTING REPORT: Pappel has a very projectable frame at 6-6, 205 and should only get stronger as he fills it out. That he is from Canada only adds to his projection, though he has plenty of experience pitching at the highest levels of youth baseball in that country. Pappel went a modest 2-3, 5.36 with 43 strikeouts in 40 innings as a sophomore at Cornell in the spring, and yet was consistently dominant this summer in the NYCBL, going 4-3, 1.55 in 52 innings, allowing only 28 hits and striking out 59. He also allowed 35 walks. Pappel pitched aggressively with his fastball, which was regularly in the upper-80s, touched 91-92 mph and got good life down in the zone. He also has a nice cut fastball/slider that he uses as his second pitch, but needs to further develop a changeup or curveball to change a hitter’s bat speed.

8. Tony Dischler RHP Glens Falls Golden Eagles R-R 6-4 175 So. Louisiana-Monroe
SCOUTING REPORT: Dischler invoked a variety of responses among managers and scouts. Some were naturally skeptical after he posted a woeful 2-1, 9.64 record with 44 base runners in 18 innings as a freshman at Louisiana-Monroe, but he performed surprisingly well this summer in the NYCBL, going 4-1, 3.05 with 13 walks and 34 strikeouts in 38 innings. The upside is that Dischler has a young and very projectable build, a smooth and easy arm action, and a present 88-92 mph fastball. The downside is that he has little feel for either a breaking ball or changeup, and there are questions whether he can develop any type of swing-and miss-pitch as his fastball lacks deception.

9. Justin Fradejas OF Amsterdam Mohawks R-R 6-0 190 Jr. Auburn

SCOUTING REPORT: Fradejas is the third Amsterdam outfielder among the NYCBL top 10 prospects, a situation which had Fradejas, Mel Rojas Jr. and Tillman Pugh alternating among the three outfield positions. Fradejas alleviated the logjam, to a degree, when a badly sprained ankle caused him to miss almost a month of play before he returned for the playoffs. He hit .313-1-10 in 21 games and stole six bases. Fradejas had the best raw speed of the trio, having been timed at 6.44 seconds in the 60 at a workout in late May, and his arm strength grades out in the plus area. He also has the physical strength and raw bat speed to hit at the upper levels but still must smooth out his approach to hitting. Fradejas was initially recruited to Florida’s Okaloosa-Walton JC (now known as Northwest Florida State CC) by then-coach Keith Griffin, who was let go after Fredejas’ freshman season but coincidentally ended up as his coach this summer at Amsterdam. Fredejas wasn’t drafted in June, but reportedly turned down 6th-8th round money (roughly $100,000) the day before the draft because of his desire to resume his college career at Auburn.

10. Kyle Eastham RHP Geneva Red Wings R-R 6-2 175 Jr. South Florida

SCOUTING REPORT: Eastham showed one of the best fastballs in the NYCBL, touching 94 mph frequently. He worked with both a 2-seamer and 4-seamer, and mixed in a developing changeup. He saw limited action during the summer because of a tender arm, and threw only eight innings in four games. He went 1-0, 0.00, walking six and striking out eight. Eastham also threw only 15 innings, all in relief, in the spring as a sophomore for South Florida (0-0, 6.08), so he hasn’t had the experience and repetitions to really develop all his pitches. If he is healthy and gets the chance to pitch in 2010, he has the kind of arm strength to develop quickly into a top prospect.

11. Chase Boruff RHP Hornell Dodgers R-R 6-2 200 Sr. Carson-Newman (Tenn.)

SCOUTING REPORT: Though he worked in only 16 innings for Hornell, Boruff was about as dominating a pitcher as there was in summer ball as he went 1-0, 0.00 with seven saves, while allowing only seven hits and striking out 27. His success was a surprise to most everyone, probably even Boruff himself, as he converted from the outfield to pitching only in 2008 and had thrown less than 20 innings in his college career. Boruff’s fastball was a steady 90-92 mph with good movement early in the season, before it tailed off to the mid-80s by the end of the season. His out-pitch was a big-breaking slider that was nasty most of the time. His pitching mechanics are still on the raw side, but he could add a bit to his overall stuff with a few mechanical adjustments.

12. Anthony Giansanti OF Glens Falls Golden Eagles R-R 5-10 195 Sr. Siena

SCOUTING REPORT: Giansanti’s best tool is his bat. He has a crisp, strong swing from the right side and enough strength to drive the ball with some power. He hit .331-4-23 with 12 stolen bases this summer for Glens Falls after a .355-14-37, 20-SB spring for Siena that led the Oakland A’s to venture a 49th-round pick on him in June. His running speed grades out at major-league average (6.7-6.8 in the 60) and he has enough arm strength to double as an occasional reliever at Siena. Giansanti’s athleticism might be a bit underrated because of his size, but he was an accomplished gymnast growing up. He also has one of the most unusual side jobs a baseball player can have. He is a certified stuntman who is looking to go into acting after his baseball career is finished.

13. Trey Bennett OF Hornell Dodgers R-R 6-1 235 Jr. Mercyhurst (Pa.)

SCOUTING REPORT: Bennett was the NYCBL’s most dominant offensive player this summer. He hit .347-7-38, led the NYCBL in RBIs and slugging percentage, and finished second in batting average and home runs. Scouts said that no pitcher in the league could throw a fastball past the fullback-lookalike, which Bennett emphasized with exclamation points when he homered off NYCBL top prospect Braden Kapteyn in the league All-Star Game. He also turned heads in the same game by making a diving catch in the outfield. Bennett has surprisingly good speed (6.8 in the 60) in addition to his brute strength, but his lack of arm strength probably limits him to a first base/DH role at an upper level. Despite the impressive bat speed and power Bennett showed this summer, he went undrafted in June as a red-shirt junior after hitting only seven home runs in two full seasons at Division II Mercyhurst (.291-3-34 in 2009). He matched that total in just 144 at-bats with wood this summer. Bennett is also a 4.0 student at an academically-oriented school with the goal of becoming a lawyer/sports agent.

14. Lincoln Rassi RHP Webster Yankees R-R 6-1 180 So. Toledo

SCOUTING REPORT: Rassi has a slender, wiry frame and a smooth, athletic delivery that reminded observers of a righthanded Ron Guidry. He showed the ability to maintain the velocity on his 90-91 mph fastball deep into pitch counts this summer while going 5-1, 3.98. He allowed only 36 hits and 13 walks in 49 innings, while striking out 44. Rassi throws both a slider and changeup, and does a good job pounding the strike zone with all three pitches. His summer performance was a stark improvement from his freshman season at Toledo, where he went just 1-4, 7.64.

15. Dave Filak RHP Amsterdam Mohawks R-R 6-5 220 Jr. SUNY Oneonta

SCOUTING REPORT: Filak had some of the most dominating stuff in the NYCBL, but struggled with consistency. He went 4-2, 4.63 and walked 31 in 42 innings, but also struck out 67, second in the league. He was at his best in early July when he threw a seven-inning no-hitter against Glens Falls with 13 punchouts. Filak has a big, loose body and has made strides in refining his long, Iron Mike-like, straight-over-the-top arm action and release point. His fastball was consistently 90-92 mph, touching 93, although the pitch is pretty straight. Filak’s downer curveball is a solid second pitch, when he throws it in the strike zone. Hitters obviously have trouble picking up Filak’s pitches as he has struck out 146 hitters in 93 innings in two seasons at Division III SUNY Oneonta. He topped D-III pitchers in most strikeouts (14.86) and fewest hits (5.07) per nine innings in 2009. Filak was one of the most heavily-scouted players in the NYCBL this summer as the area scouts who primarily cover the league recognized a local player who could easily be a solid draft next June.

16. Mike Mason LHP Mohawk Valley D-Dawgs L-L 6-1 195 So. Marshall

SCOUTING REPORT: Mason has solid stuff across the board for a young lefthander, with a fastball that is consistently in the upper 80s, a solid curveball and some feel for a changeup. He went 3-3, 2.47 in 40 innings for Mohawk Valley after going 1-1, 6.43 in 35 innings this spring as a freshman at Marshall. It’s easy to see where Mason needs to improve as he walked a combined 54 hitters in 75 innings this spring and summer. Scouts said that Mason does a good job getting ahead in the count early, but tends to nibble once he gets ahead and has trouble putting away hitters. Mason also needs to tighten up his build as he is a little soft in the middle.

17. Nate Koontz OF Webster Yankees R-R 6-2 200 So. Ball State

SCOUTING REPORT: Koontz is a very athletic young outfielder who many felt may have had the best raw hand/bat speed in the NYCBL. When Koontz made contact, good things often happened as he hit .281-2-29 with nine doubles and four triples. Contact was a problem, though, as Koontz had a decidedly all-or-nothing approach at the plate that resulted in a 10/45 walk-to-strikeout ratio, although coaches felt that Koontz did a better job of going the other way and shortening his swing with two strikes as the season progressed. Koontz is an intelligent and coachable young player, and scouts said he should keep improving as he gains more at-bats. He hit .273-2-9 in 55 at-bats as a freshman at Ball State.

18. Mason McVay LHP Amsterdam Mohawks L-L 6-8 210 So. Florida International

SCOUTING REPORT: McVay looks the part of a pitching prospect at 6-8, 210, and may not be finished growing yet. He throws in the 89-91 mph range and doesn’t look too strained in reaching that velocity. His curveball shows signs of being a solid second pitch and he’ll cut his fastball on occasion to provide another effective look. The big piece of the puzzle with McVay will be whether he learns to repeat his delivery and release point with any consistency. He walked 25 batters in 25 innings for the Mohawks, while going 0-2, 2.88 with 30 strikeouts, and went 0-2, 8.06 with 14 walks and 23 strikeouts in 22 innings for Florida International as a freshman in the spring. McVay had shoulder surgery as a high school senior, so he’s missed critical development innings, especially for a tall young pitcher.

19. Nathan Forer RHP Glens Falls Golden Eagles R-R 6-1 170 Sr. Southern Illinois

SCOUTING REPORT: Forer has limited experience as a pitcher, and had enjoyed little success prior to this summer. A Canadian who only threw 58 innings in two years at a small junior college before going 1-7, 6.96 at Southern Illinois in the spring as a junior, Forer began coming into his own this summer. He went 5-2, 1.52 in eight starts for the Golden Eagles, including one game where he took a no-hitter into the ninth inning. Forer has very good arm strength with a fastball that sits in the 89-92 mph range and will flash good arm-side running action. When he keeps the ball low in the strike zone, as he did all summer, he can be very effective with his fastball. He throws a slurve-type curveball as a second offering and his challenge will be to tighten it up to make his fastball more effective next spring.

20. Brad Jesernig RHP Saratoga Phillies R-R 6-5 205 So. Pepperdine

SCOUTING REPORT: Jesernig led the NYCBL with nine saves and has a classic power pitcher’s build to go along with power stuff. He throws from a high three-quarters release point and gets outstanding boring/running life on a fastball that will frequently touch 90 mph. Jesernig has an unconventional delivery that enables him to hide the ball well and get late explosion at the plate. He throws a slider as a second pitch. Jesernig lacks both command and experience, although his command improved noticeably during the NYCBL season. He threw only 11 innings at Pepperdine as a freshman, going 0-0, 6.84 and walking 11 hitters. He walked 13 more in 14 innings of summer play. Jesernig, a native of Washington state, has an unusual family background. His father, Jim, is a prominent politician/lobbyist and a former Washington State Senator/State Director of Agriculture.

21. Sean Bouthilette RHP Amsterdam Mohawks R-R 6-2 195 So. Kentucky

SCOUTING REPORT: Bouthilette had a strong summer for a freshman with limited experience. He went 4-3, 2.02 with 14 walks and 42 strikeouts in 49 innings, and flashed signs of three solid pitches. He struggled in the spring at Kentucky, going 2-1, 7.79 with 15 extra-base hits in 17 innings. Bouthilette has the natural arm strength to throw in the low 90s, as he often did in high school, but generally pitched in the mid- to upper-80s this summer as he looked to work more on pitching and less on velocity. Bouthilette’s changeup is his best secondary pitch, although he flashes hard, biting action on his curveball at times.

22. Dan Gamache 3B Amsterdam Mohawks L-R 6-0 185 So. Auburn

SCOUTING REPORT: Gamache is a Rhode Island native and played his high-school ball at powerful Bishop Hendricken High before heading south to Auburn. He adapted easily to SEC competition, hitting .383-3-11 in part-time play while drawing 14 walks against eight strikeouts. The lefthanded hitter had a solid summer after a slow start, hitting .308-1-24 with 16 walks. One manager said he had the best pure line-drive swing in the league, and handled lefthanded pitchers as well as righthanders. Gamache played shortstop in high school and third base in the NYCBL, but probably projects best at second base in the future, although he will have to work hard to be more than a playable defender at that position.

23. Navarro Hall OF Mohawk Valley D-Dawgs L-R 6-1 180 So. Kentucky

SCOUTING REPORT: Hall is a classic leadoff type, with outstanding speed and a patient hitting approach that emphasizes getting on base. His lefthanded swing lacks power and he doesn’t always get the bat head out, instead relying on his feet and the ability to make contact and serve the ball to the opposite field to reach base. Hall hit .289-1-9 for Mohawk Valley and walked 36 times in 38 games, leading to a .458 on-base percentage. Despite reaching first base 75 times (32 singles, 36 walks, 7 HBP), Hall stole only three bases in seven attempts, so his base-stealing skills clearly need improvement. Hall uses his speed very well in center field, however, and has easy plus range, although his throwing arm is below average due to an unusual hitch in his throwing action. Hall played sparingly as a red-shirt freshman at Kentucky in 2009, and got two hits in just five at-bats.

24. Kosuke Hattori SS Watertown Wizards L-R 5-8 155 Sr. Minnesota State-Mankato

SCOUTING REPORT: Hattori’s diminutive size and raw tools limit his pro potential, but his outstanding baseball skills made him one of the most dominant players in the league and a special favorite of every manager and scout who saw him play in the NYCBL. He led the league in hitting at .377-0-13, stole 22 bases (third in the league) and also led the league with 36 runs scored. He was also named MVP of the league all-star game. Hattori has an Ichiro Suzuki hitting style with excellent bat control, a slashing swing and an uncanny ability to bunt (he had seven two-strike bunt hits this summer). He is very fundamentally sound on defense as well, especially in his ability to position himself and make the correct play. He has similar base-running instincts.

25. Jeff Lockwood 1B/LHP Hornell Dodgers L-L 5-11 210 Sr. Carson-Newman (Tenn.)

SCOUTING REPORT: Lockwood was a highly-touted recruit to Tennessee four years ago and excelled as a two-way player for the Volunteers as a freshman and sophomore. His role was significantly reduced in as a junior in 2009 (.197-2-11 as a hitter, 0-0, 4.10 in 26 IP as a pitcher) and he has chosen to transfer to NAIA Carson-Newman as a senior. His best friend, fellow Hornell pitcher Chase Boruff (see No. 11 above), not coincidentally attends that school and encouraged him to transfer. Lockwood missed the first half of the NYCBL season but made up for lost time in the 21 games he started, hitting .376-2-24 and going 2-0, 5.68 with a save on the mound, striking out 21 hitters in 12 innings. Lockwood has a higher ceiling at the plate, in part because he’s had some elbow issues. He has a very advanced approach at the plate, with good power to the middle of the field and a polished ability to work counts and hit with two strikes. Lockwood can hit 90 mph from the left side and has good control of his fastball.

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