The Lineup: 6/3/12

Posted on 3 June 2012 by

It’s draft week! We’re set for an exciting week of teams drafting the potential future of their organizations, and I’m planning plenty of coverage to match the excitement. I’ll be running one more pre-draft piece Monday morning and hen recapping much of the activities the rest of the way.

Monday – 2012 MLB First Round Mock Draft, First Round Recap
Tuesday – 2012 MLB Draft Day Two Preview, Day Two Recap
Wednesday – Day Three Recap
Thursday – Post-Draft Notes: American League
Friday – Post-Draft Notes: National League

Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter with the handle @BPN_Mark for my overall prospect coverage and @TigsTownMark for my Tigers specific prospect coverage (and other random stuff like bourbon, beer, etc.).

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Scouting Report: Andrew Heaney (LHP)

Posted on 1 June 2012 by

BLUF: Number four starter with solid stuff, plus command and outstanding feel.

The Player: Andrew Heaney (LHP, Oklahoma State University) – 24th round pick by the Twins in 2009. Started ten games and appeared in 16 overall as a freshman. Finished his first year with five wins and a 5.16 ERA. Started nine of his 20 appearances as a sophomore in 2011, posting a solid 7-4 record and 4.03 ERA in 67 innings. Allowed 77 hits and 23 walks while striking out 51 batters. Turned in a breakout 2012 campaign as a junior, winning eight of his 15 starts. Led OSU starters with a 1.60 ERA and only 74 hits allowed in 118.1 innings with just 22 walks and 140 whiffs.

Basis of Report: Compilation – Personal Observation (Cape Cod League 2011), Industry Contacts

Scouting Report

Body (6-2, 175): Very slight frame. Narrow shoulders. Concerns over durability persist. Has some strength but would like to see more. Lots of arms and legs. Lanky kid with good body control. Solid athlete that moves well on the field. 
Delivery/Mechanics: Slow, deliberate movements through windup. Consistent in windup. Very balanced and in control with high leg kick and easy movement down mound toward plate. Above-average arm speed but nothing spectacular. Mixes arm angles throughout innings. Knows his body well and consistently releases at the right time with all pitches. Easy delivery adds deception to all pitches. Can lull hitters to sleep at times, getting his stuff on them quicker than expected.
Fastball (FB) Velocity (Wind-up): High – 94, Low – 88, Average – 90-91, Grade – 50/50
Fastball (FB) Velocity (Stretch): High – 95, Low 88, Average 90-91, Grade – 50/50
Fastball (FB) Movement:  Nothing fancy. Will flash occasional sink but nothing consistent. Increased consistency with ability to sink ball could be helpful. Grade – 40/50
Overall Fastball: Average to solid-average FB overall with basic movement. Changes speeds with FB well, adding and subtracting at will. Commands well. Pitch plays up because of arm angles, varying speeds, etc. May show half a tick more velo with added strength, but no guarantee. Grade – 50/50 Continue reading →

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2012 MLB Draft Notes: Edition #4

Posted on 31 May 2012 by

We’re only days away from the draft and in what is currently scheduled to be the last Draft Notes post, I want to zero in on a few of the big issues. First and foremost, the race for number one is still pretty open, while the uncertainty around a couple of injured potential first-rounders has them moving all over draft boards.

Who’s Going 1-1?
In advance of the college season, Stanford right-hander Mark Appel seemed a veritable lock to go number one overall to the Houston Astros. Since that time other players have stepped forward and some have gone back as well.

Byron Buxton has cemented himself as the top position player in the draft. Lucas Giolito was the top prep player anywhere on the diamond but his injury forced him down draft boards. Kyle Zimmer put together an amazing early-season run that pushed him into the 1-1 discussion. Mike Zunino, as the rare catcher with power and All-Star ceiling has also found himself in the mix.

Based on conversations I’ve had with many in the industry, Appel is still squarely in the mix for the Astros. There are even plenty of folks that believe he is still the overwhelming favorite to be picked first overall. Appel would give the Astros a high-ceiling college pitcher with true number two starter potential, while also having the ability to move quickly through the system.

Moving quickly may not be that critical for a team several years away from competing for a division crown, but that doesn’t mean a new management regime wouldn’t like a shiny piece to begin touting as some of their best work.

Byron Buxton is the consensus best high school player in the draft and there was almost an equal number of industry insiders that believed Buxton would be the guy at the top instead of Appel. In Buxton, the Astros get an ultra-athletic up-the-middle player with impact potential down the line. Continue reading →

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2012 MLB Draft Top 35 Prospects: Update #1 (05.30.12)

Posted on 30 May 2012 by

This pre-draft ranking updates a previously posted ranking from earlier this month. To be clear, this ranking does not represent a mock draft or projected order of selection. It simply represents my personal ranking of the draft prospects based on a compilation of my own scouting efforts and endless conversations with scouts and front office executives. I have linked scouting reports from this spring on some players. Please note that these scouting reports — or more specifically the draft projection is a snapshot in time and may no longer be applicable based on newer information.

1.       Byron Buxton (OF) – Appling County HS (GA) – Scouting Report (03.19.12)
Those that doubt Buxton as the top player in this draft do so while questioning his ultimate power potential. For me, even without the power, he’s the most dynamic position player in this draft and offers the highest ceiling outside of injured right-hander Lucas Giolito.

2.       Kevin Gausman (RHP) – Louisiana State University – Scouting Report (04.06.12)
While other pitchers offer the potential to develop into number two starters, Gausman offers the present stuff and continued projection to give him the best profile at that lofty level. Pitchers with number two potential are never in high supply, and Gausman offers the best ceiling among this year’s college pitching crop.

3.       Mike Zunino (C) – University of Florida – Scouting Report (03.23.12)
Zunino’s power bat and outstanding catching acumen are enough to make him a top-flight prospect. Combine that with his past performance on elite stages and his outstanding makeup and he is suddenly in the discussion as one of the top players in the entire draft. With positional scarcity on his side, Zunino is among the elite players in this year’s draft.

4.       Carlos Correa (SS) – Puerto Rico Baseball Academy – Scouting Report (03.16.12)
Whether you believe in his ability to remain a shortstop or not, Correa’s offensive potential is hard to ignore. The more scouts I speak with, the more convinced I become in his offensive potential. There are scouts that have urged me to consider him the top player in the draft, rather than just one of the top players.

5.       Lucas Giolito (RHP) – Harvard-Westlake HS (CA) – Scouting Report (05.08.12)
While Giolito continues to throw on flat ground, the suspense about what happens to him in the draft continues to build. Once on target to become the first high school pitcher ever taken number one overall, Giolito could now land anywhere from the top five to out of the first round depending on his medical reports and perceived signability. If healthy, Giolito has a higher ceiling than any pitcher in the draft.

6.       Mark Appel (RHP) – Stanford University – Scouting Report (03.12.12)
Appel has undeniable stuff and has performed well playing for one of college baseball’s elite teams. That said, his performance hasn’t matched scouts expectations based on his raw stuff and more and more scouts are seeing him as a number three starter with the ingredients to be more, but without the feel to make it happen. He is still in the mix to go 1-1 to the Astros, but his stock does continue to slip with many teams in the top ten.

7.       Kyle Zimmer (RHP) – University of San Francisco – Scouting Report (04.02.12)
Zimmer was one of the draft’s biggest risers earlier this spring before coming back to earth a little recently. He still offers an outside chance to be a number two starter and more likely a really good number three, which should be enough to easily push him off the board in the top ten.

8.       Michael Wacha (RHP) – Texas A&M – Scouting Report (03.30.12)
Wacha has climbed draft boards throughout the spring. He is physical and offers a fine array of pitches and enough feel to get the most out of his raw stuff. While some scouts fail to see front of the rotation potential, the low level of risk associated with Wacha keeps him high on draft boards.

9.       David Dahl (OF) – Oak Mountain HS (AL) – Scouting Report (04.05.12)
There are certainly plenty of scouts that question Dahl’s ability to stay in the middle of the diamond as he matures, but even the chance to stay there with his offensive potential makes Dahl a premium pick next month. He is a well-rounded player with ability in all five tools and he could be a well-above average regular if it all comes together.

10.   Max Fried (LHP) – Harvard-Westlake HS (CA) – Scouting Report (03.21.12)
Once overshadowed on the Harvard-Westlake roster by Lucas Giolito, Fried got his chance to shine when Giolito was sidelined. Fried offers his own tantalizing package of power stuff, only from the left side, making him another rare commodity. There are teams that really believe in Fried’s abilities and he could go further up draft boards based on individual workouts over the next week. Continue reading →

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Scouting Report: Christian Yelich (OF)

Posted on 29 May 2012 by

BLUF: Gifted hitter with outstanding offensive profile that spans several tools.

The Player: Christian Yelich (OF, Miami Marlins) – A first round pick by the Marlins in 2010, Yelich appeared in only 12 games between the Gulf Coast League and South Atlantic League that summer. Saw action in 122 games for Low-A Greensboro in 2011, posting a .312/.388/.484 line as a 19-year old. Mashed 32 doubles and 15 home runs while also swiping 32 bases. Through 40 games this year, has hit .270/.353/.514 in pitcher-friendly Florida State League, already mashing seven home runs.

Basis of Report: Compilation – Industry Contacts

Scouting Report

Body (6-4, 190): Long, lanky frame with good present strength and surprising athleticism based on what you expect when you first see him. Good coordination despite long levers. Graceful with room to add more strength down the line.
Hit: Beautiful swing. Picture perfect. Excellent bat control and hand-eye coordination. Can hit any pitch in any part of the strike zone. Uses the whole field well and works up the middle consistently. Continues to refine approach at the plate. Waiting out pitchers more consistently this year, finding pitches he can hit hard rather than just make contact with. Can struggle with lefties at times. Potential elite-level hitter with .300 averages and the ability to hit in the three spot with on-base ability as well. Grade – 60/80 Continue reading →

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Scouting Report: Stephen Piscotty (3B)

Posted on 28 May 2012 by

BLUF: Potential solid offensive performer whose prospect status depends on power and defensive development.

The Player: Stephen Piscotty (3B, Stanford University) – Has been a standout performer for three years with Stanford. Posted a .326/.387/.454 line as a freshman after being drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 45th round in 2009. Continued to rake in 2011 with a .364/.423/.471 line backed by 13 doubles, one triple and three home runs. Led the Cape Cod League in hitting with a .349 average in 2011. Through the end of the regular season, notched a .319/.405/.460 slash line with eleven doubles, three triples and five home runs.

Basis of Report: Compilation – Personal Observation (2011 Cape Cod League), Industry Contacts

Scouting Report

Body (6-3, 205): Big frame with MLB-body potential. Broad shoulders. Long arms and legs. Has thick thighs given the rest of his body. Solid natural strength but needs to add more to take full advantage of his frame. Potential for a prototypical big third base body with lots of strength.
Hit: Very quick bat. Short stroke. Gets the bat to the zone quickly and frequently on time. Shows ability to handle a variety of pitches and can lace line drives from line to line. Has feel for the barrel and knack for contact. Will go out of the zone for contact at times and could be better served developing more plate discipline. Needs to wait for pitches to drive more frequently, as he becomes satisfied with weak contact to the opposite field at times. Potential plus or better hitter with minor tweaks as a professional. Grade – 40/60 Continue reading →

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The Lineup: 5/27/12

Posted on 27 May 2012 by

With the draft less than two weeks away, I’m going to continue to ramp up my pre-draft coverage with more scouting reports and notes from around the game. I want to take this week to highlight two college players while also updating my personal Top 35 prospects for the draft. I am also going to squeeze in a quick scouting report on Marlins outfielder Christian Yelich and what he could bring to the table down the line.

Monday – Draft Scouting Report: Stephen Piscotty (3B)
Tuesday – Scouting Report: Christian Yelich (OF)
Wednesday – 2012 MLB Draft Top 35 Prospects (v2.0)
Thursday – Draft Notes: Edition #4
Friday – Draft Scouting Report: Andrew Heaney (LHP)

Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter with the handle @BPN_Mark for my overall prospect coverage and @TigsTownMark for my Tigers specific prospect coverage (and other random stuff like bourbon, beer, etc.).

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