• Rankings
• Features
• Notes
• Mock Draft
• Draft Order
• About

Analyzing Amateur Baseball Talent as it pertains to the MLB Draft

Dandy Dozen

The draft is a week away, so it’s time to catch up with some names that have put themselves in the conversation for the early rounds. There’s no rhyme or reason to this list, just 12 of the best draft-eligible prospects that haven’t been profiled previously.

SP

Bedrosian is the first of several sons of former big-leaguers on this edition of the Dandy Dozen, as his father Steve was the National League Cy Young winner in 1987. Cameron started the Aflac All-American Classic for the East squad last summer, and shows big-league moxie on the mound. He has a somewhat shorter, compact yet strong frame with broad shoulders. Mechanically he’s sound, with an equally compact delivery. He can run his fastball up to 95, but consistently sits at 90-92, where the pitch shows more natural sinking life. His best pitch is a hard-breaking curveball that he’s able to drop both into and out of the zone depending on the situation he’s in. He may not have the highest upside, but he is also a relatively finished product that should enjoy immediate success at either the professional level or in college should he honor his commitment to LSU.

SP

Stanek is no stranger to scouts, having pitched in the 88-92 range prior to this year. His loose, projectable body is similar to that of small state standout Kevin Gausman from nearby Colorado. Stanek’s stock has risen considerably this spring as he came out early improving his velocity to the low-to-mid-90s range, and has maintained that velocity has the spring has progressed, and given his frame and arm it’s not inconceivable that his stuff could continue to get better as his body continues to mature. He also has tightened up his curveball, giving him two legitimate strikeout pitches. Once considered a tough sign away from Arkansas, he could be selected as early as the sandwich round and likely will begin his career this summer.

SP

Blair was a talented Illinois prep pitcher coming out of high school three years ago, and at the time was considered a relatively polished sinker-slider pitcher who showed advanced and natural late break on his fastball. Back then he pitched 88-91, a range he continued to throw in during his first two years at Arizona State. This year he has blossomed considerably, reaching the mid-90s consistently being inserted as a regular, weekend starter, eventually taking the Friday role when finesse lefty Josh Spence was shut down due to injury. His fastball continues to show explosive late sink, and his slider is a perfect complement. He throws from a low three-quarters delivery, perfect for his stuff, and he continues to imrpove his changeup, a pitch he hasn’t needed much up to this point in his career.

SP

Cates began his college career at Northeast Texas Community College as a catcher. He’s a solid hitter and a good overall athlete, but his arm strength by far is his best tool, and he was given the opportunity to showcase that arm by becoming a starting pitcher this season. He has consistently worked in the 92-96 range, and has touched a few ticks higher than that on occasion. While he doesn’t have the best command, and overall needs to work on his mechanics, he does throw a relatively polished changeup. He will need to tighten up his breaking ball and his mechanics, but that is something more experience is expected to correct. He has committed to play for Oklahoma State next year, but has improved his draft stock significantly this spring.

SP

Biddle is a large, mature lefty whose stuff has enjoyed a significant jump this spring. He has always pitched in the upper-80s with the ability to reach the 90s on occasion, but has been throwing more consistently in the low-90s this spring. He throws both a curve and a slider, with the curve being the better of his two breaking balls. His changeup remains a work in progress, and many expect it will become an average pitch at worse with experience. Given his size he can often lose his release point and his overall mechanics can get out of whack. He also will have to watch his conditioning over the years as his body type already looks as though he’s a few years older than he is. He has committed to play for Oregon.

CL

Munson is a live-armed closer prospect whose college baseball career began as a catching prospect. Similar to Cates as profiled above, his arm was just too good not to be used as a pitcher, and he has blossomed into one of the best projected closer prospects available this year. His fastball sits in the 93-95 range, and he has touched higher than that. He also throws a wicked low-80s slider, giving him the necessary two dominant pitches to succeed as a closer at the next level. Similar to other college stoppers, he has somewhat of a max-effort delivery from a relatively modest frame, which along with the lack of a third pitch will likely keep him in a short relief role at the next level.

CL

A modest athlete physically, Ruffin is drawing quite a few Huston Street comparisons this spring given his successful conversion to closing for the Longhorns. The son of former big-leaguer Bruce Ruffin, Chance began his first two years as a starter and enjoyed immediate success as a freshman. He has always been able to change speeds and move the ball around the strike zone to keep hitters off balance. His breaking ball, of which he adds and subtracts well, is his best pitch and he commands it extremely well. His fastball typically sits in the upper-80s to low-90s, although he has been able to reach a few digits higher than that in short relief. He has been nearly unhittable this spring, and has really improved his draft status, now a likely candidate to be off the board by the end of the second round.

C

In a year extremely light on prep catchers, young Canadian Kellin Deglan appears to be the best available. He has improved significantly this spring, and is starting to show more and more promise with his left-handed bat. He still has a lot of work to do with his swing, but he has made good adjustments swinging a wood bat, including his time spent playing against professional athletes earlier this spring. His best assets lie behind the plate, where he shows good instincts and quickness that should allow him to stick behind the plate, something fellow Canucks Justin Morneau and Brett Lawrie were unable to do. He also has good, not great arm strength, and a quick, accurate release. His leadership and intangible skills also receive high marks. He has committed to play for Florida International, but could be taken in the latter half of the first round.

IF

The younger brother of Major League outfielder Ryan Sweeney, Kellen is able to play the middle infield as a right-hander. He too has a potent left-handed swing, and exhibits a short yet strong swing from a similar shorter yet compactly strong frame. He has a very good eye at the plate with surprising pop and shows the ability to make in-game adjustments. Overall he’s a good athlete, although he lacks the ideal range to stick at shortstop although he makes all the plays that he gets to. More than likely he will move over to second base, if not immediately, eventually, or he could end up in the outfield. He had Tommy John surgery last summer that prevented him from taking the field defensively, starting the game as the West team’s designated hitter, although he was fully healed from that injury by late winter. He is yet another talented recruit for the University of San Diego.

SS

Williams like so many other players on this list has been no stranger to scouts, but his rapid ascension up draft boards has more to do with what position he’s playing this year than a dramatic improvement in his abilities. He moved from centerfield to shortstop this, and has played well enough to lead many to believe he will be able to continue to play there at the next level, either professionally, as he’s now considered a potential second round pick, or at the University of South Carolina. His speed is his best tool, as his range and quickness allowed him to excel defensively in the outfield, where his arm strength was also an asset. He is also a threat on the basepaths, and he gets down the first base line quickly knowing how to put the ball into play with a swing tailored for contact. He is wiry strong and lithe at this stage of his physical development, but has room for added strength. He likely will never be a huge power threat, but has gap power and enough speed to stretch out extra base hits.

OF

Parker offers a powerful swing in a year short on impact bats. He is a well-built, good overall athlete that also serves as Clemson’s starting quarterback. That alone will make it difficult to assess his signability, as he just completed his freshman year of eligibility on the gridiron, and even if he does sign professionally it may be with the understanding that he re-joins the Clemson football team in the late summer and fall. He has strong wrists and forearms and good bat speed that allows him to yank tape-measure home runs. He hit the ground running his freshman year, which was technically his senior year in high school after leaving early, although struggled a little bit last year. This year he has improved his approach while maintaing his power, as he’s quickly approaching 20 home runs on the season. While a good athlete with a good arm, he may fit best in left field despite playing right in college.

OF

LaMarre is a rare left-handed throwing, right-handed hitting outfielder that shows very good tools across the board. He was the top prospect coming out of Michigan three years ago, and has continued to improve during each of his three years for the Wolverines. He has good speed and a strong throwing arm, and also shows good instincts positioning and track fly balls in centerfield. A broken thumb earlier this season caused him to spend most of his time in left upon his return. He has good bat speed and foot speed, giving him an exciting blend of power and speed. His makeup also receives high marks, and as he continues to hit this spring more and more believe he may have a chance to squeeze into the back end of the first round. Being picked in the supplemental first-round or second is more likely.

Dandy Dozen

SP	Cameron Bedrosian	Son of Steve with big-league curve
SP	Ryne Stanek	Projectable RHP on the rise with big FB
SP	Seth Blair	Sinker/slider RHP with improve velocity
SP	Zach Cates	Former catcher showing big-time arm
SP	Jesse Biddle	Big lefty throwing more in the 90s
CL	Kevin Munson	Power closer with big FB, SL
CL	Chance Ruffin	Son of Bruce has thrived in closer role
C	Kellin Deglan	Good D' tools with improving lefty bat
IF	Kellen Sweeney	Athletic IF with sweet lefty swing
SS	Mason Williams	Speedy, toolsy former CF on the rise
OF	Drew Smyly	Power prospect also strong armed QB
OF	Ryan LaMarre	Five-tool CF prospect from Big Ten

more

Dandy Dozen Archives

• 05-30-10
• 05-20-10
• 04-30-10
• 04-10-10
• 02-28-10
• 01-10-10
• 12-29-09
• 10-21-09
• 2009 Archives

© 2009 ebertdesign.com