Player Spotlight

[colbyjack]

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Ben Paulsen was a player I wasn't familiar with until I got the chance to see him play at last summer's Cape Cod League All-Star Game (he started at first base for the West squad). One word came to mind when I watched him play: Smooth.

 

His left-handed swing looks about as good as any could, with very good balance, extension and excellent swing mechanics. The barrel of his bat stays in the zone a long time, which allows him to make consistent, hard contact. He showed that his power translated well to swinging a wood bat on the Cape by finishing second in home runs (8) and RBI (33), fourth in extra-base hits (18) and fifth in slugging (.497). A disciplined and patient eye allows him to draw his fair amount of walks while waiting for his pitch, although so far in college he also has shown the propensity to strike out quite a bit.

 

Smooth also defines his glove, as he looks like he was born to play first base with soft, quick hands, good footwork and a strong arm for the position.

 

Paulsen's overall numbers don't look that pretty, since he didn't have a particularly good freshman season, but finished that year strong, particularly in conference play, and that success carried over to a successful summer playing for the New England Collegiate Baseball League. His emergence during his sophomore year and last summer lead many to believe he is poised for a huge year during his junior season with Clemson.

 

.291/.359/.491 in 639 AB, 40 2B, 2 3B, 28 HR, 63 BB, 138 K, 5 E

[colbyjack]

http://www.aflacallamerican2008.com/imageGallery/gallery%2FGame%20Day%2F20.JPG

 

Two-way threat Mychal Givens entered the summer of 2008 with more favoring his bat and his glove as a potential five-tool shortstop than those wowed by his natural and easy arm strength. I think the numbers shifted in favor of his promise on the mound after he consistently showed off the strongest, most electric arm at the biggest showcase and tournament events while playing with and against the best players in the nation.

 

He needed only two pitches to record a pair of outs at the Aflac All-American Classic, the first of which clocked at 96 mph. He has a very quick, whip-like arm, and he shows very good composure on the mound. There is some deception to his delivery, and his fastball, which can approach triple digits, exhibits some late, sinking life. As hard as it is to hit his fastball, he also can unleash a wicked slider that drops down and away from right-handed batters.

 

As a defender he has fast-twitch actions, very good range at the shortstop position and a strong arm. At the plate he has good bat speed and overall power potential, although I noticed he does have the tendency to swing down on balls. On the bases he has enough speed to be considered a consistent base-stealing threat.

 

Overall I'm a little concerned about his ability to hit for average at the next level, which only augments his value as a pitcher. While he does have two knockout pitches, I am a little concerned that his delivery and stuff may be best suited in a short relief role down the road. Of course such decisions don't have to be made anytime soon, as it would be hard to nitpick while passing up on such an impressive athletic talent.

[colbyjack]

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Zack Wheeler did his best last summer to put his name among the best prep right-handers in the nation. He participated at the Perfect Game National and East Coast Pro Showcases as well as the Aflac and Under Armour Games.

 

There are a lot of moving parts to Wheeler's big, slow delivery, with a lot of arms and legs thanks to a tall and lanky 6'4", 180 pound frame. He resembles the Phillies' Ryan Madson quite a bit, and for a more distant comparison, there were aspects of his delivery and stuff that reminded me of Orel Hershiser.

 

Despite his listed size, he does have strength in the lower half, and broad shoulders, meaning he should continue to fill out and add strength as his body matures.

 

He works comfortably in the 90-93 range and can touch 94/95 regularly. His breaking ball, somewhere in between a curve and a slider, is a power pitch that hovers right around 80 mph.

 

I'm a little concerned by his delivery, as there does seem to be some pressure on his arm as part of his delivery, but others don't seem too concerned. Most pitchers that throw like this, such as Ryan Madson or even Scot Shields, seem to be more effective in short relief, but it's far too early to write him off as a starter. He has committed to play for Kennesaw State.

[colbyjack]

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Matt Davidson reclaimed his status as one of the top 10-20 prep players in the nation this past summer after having a disappointing junior season at Yucaipa High School in Southern California. He started the summer showcase season at the Perfect Game National, and ended the summer as an Aflac All-American, where he won the home run derby crown.

 

His best tool is his bat, as he exudes confidence at the plate and shows great extension. He looks and acts like a natural run producer, with very good pull power and the ability to drive the ball to the opposite field. He has the bat speed to catch up with the best fastballs in the nation, and displays a patient, professional approach. Despite his power swing, he covers the plate well and is short and quick to the ball before his bat explodes through the strike zone.

 

Defensively he has improved as well, showing a very strong arm at third base with good footwork. His arm strength allows him to succeed as a pitcher as well, although his value lies in his bat. His speed is average at best, and he could slow down as he continues to fill out and add strength. He has the potential with the bat that a move to first wouldn't hurt his overall value.

 

Now one of the best bats available in the 2009 draft, Davidson has committed to play for USC.

[colbyjack]

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The prep class offers quite a few two-way talents that could be first-round picks as either pitchers or as hitters, but the arm strength and power potential at the plate at a premium position (catcher) leads many to believe that Austin Maddox will indeed be drafted and developed as a catcher.

 

Maddox is a big, physical player, that looks like he's much older than a high school senior, with thick, muscular limbs and a barrel chest. He is surprisingly quick and agile for his size, although many think he will need to be very diligent with his conditioning given his already mature frame and proportions.

 

When he makes contact, the ball travels a long, long way. He is one of the most powerful players eligible for the 2009 draft, although his swing can get equally big, leading to high strikeout totals. His size, bat speed and stature alone would make him a high draft pick.

 

Behind the plate he shows off one of the strongest arms in the country. Again, his size draws some concerns about whether he would be suited long-term from the rigors of catching on an everyday basis.

 

On the mound, he has such an easy arm that allows him to throw in the low-90s while approaching the mid-90s when he starts to find his groove. His curveball is a potential dominant pitch when it's working for him, and his size gives him a very imposing, intimidating presence on the mound. He has committed to the University of Florida as part of a very talented recruiting class for the Gators.

[colbyjack]

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Jonathan Walsh is a very good overall athlete, but his bat could allow him to sneak into the first round. I'm one of the few people that has Walsh ranked among the top 30 draft-eligible prospects in the nation, but I believe in his natural sense for the game and his ability to change games at the plate.

 

A switch hitter with a smooth, natural stroke from both sides of the plate, Walsh makes hitting look so incredibly easy. He takes pitches and never looks anxious. He can drive the ball from gap-to-gap, and has the bat speed to pull an inside fastball and the ability to lace soft stuff away up the middle and to left field. His stance, and his facial features, resemble Joe Mauer, and he profiles as a similar high average, doubles hitter with a knack for the big hit.

 

Walsh is a very good overall athlete that has a strong arm and runs surprisingly well. He currently plays behind the plate, and while his arm strength allows him to post impressive POP times, he has a long way to go to learn the finer nuances of the position. Should he begin his professional career after high school, he may be better off at third or first base or even a corner outfield spot, where he would be allowed to move as fast as his bat could carry him. Although his value as an impact, switch-hitting catcher is great enough to allow a team to be patient with his development.

 

He has committed to play for the Texas Longhorns, a college program that is never easy to sway recruits from.

[colbyjack]

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Keyvius Sampson may have impressed me more than any other player that I had the pleasure to watch during the summer of 2008. He, like Mychal Givens and Austin Maddox, is a talented two-way star who could go early in the draft as either a pitcher or as a hitter.

 

My money is that he goes early, and at this point in time I would argue that he goes earlier than many currently project, as a right-handed pitcher. He has such an easy and electric arm in which he effortlessly produces low-to-mid-90s heat. His fastball sits in the 90-92 range, and as he warms up he starts to touch more 93s, 94s and 95s. Given the ease of his delivery and his athletic frame, it's easy to project him throwing in the upper-90s very soon, possibly as soon as next spring.

 

He also throws a knockout curveball, which in the mid-70s, gives batters a very difficult pitch to hit regularly clocking 20 mph slower than his heater. He also throws a solid changeup.

 

As a hitter he shows good bat speed and some power potential. He laces line drives to all parts of the field, and has enough speed to swipe his fair share of bases. Defensively his speed allows him to cover a lot of ground in centerfield, and his arm strength is also an asset. He's a five tool player across the board.

 

Sampson is one player that I think more and more people are going to become familiar with between now and next June, as he continues to get better with the athletic talent to be a future star. He has committed to play for Florida State.

[colbyjack]

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Jason Stoffel was a highly regarded pitching prospect coming out of Agoura High School in 2006, where he teamed with Robert Stock, who is now at USC. A broken ankle caused Stoffel to miss the playoffs to close his high school career, and that along with his commitment to Arizona caused him to not be drafted in 2006.

 

Stoffel assumed the role as the Wildcats closer during his freshman year, and is currently tied with Mark Melancon for the program's leader in saves with 18. Stoffel has stated in the past that he preferred to start, but really flourished as a closer. He has the stuff to thrive as a starter should a team choose to pursue him in that role, but he hasn't thrown his changeup much at college since he hasn't needed it.

 

His fastball sits in the low-90s and has good, late life with a knack for inducing weak swings and ground ball outs. His curveball is also a plus pitch, giving him a solid one-two punch. When I saw him when he was still in high school, his fastball velocity, movement and command coupled with an aggressive approach allowed him to break quite a few bats of opposing hitters, who rarely got a good swing at his pitches.

 

While he's not overly projectable, he has a strong, stocky frame and an intimidating presence on the mound. His approach his fearless, he has a short memory and rarely gets rattled. The past two years he has teamed with Daniel Schlereth to give the Wildcats a very difficult late inning tandem to contend with, but now that Schlereth has begun his professional career, Stoffel will have the opportunity to showcase his skills on his own late in games in close contests.

 

He has not pitched during the summer the past two years, so here are his cumulative stats during his two years at Arizona:

 

9-2, 2.46 ERA, 60 games (1 start), 18 saves, 91.1 IP, 75 H, 134 K, 28 BB, 1.13 WHIP

[colbyjack]

http://www.jsugamecocksports.com/images/2008/8/1/rp_primary_Tootle%20Action62.jpg

 

While Jason Stoffel is typically considered the top closing prospect available for the 2009 draft, Ben Tootle isn't that far behind, and may actually profile as more of a true, power closer. He has started in his two years at Jacksonvile State, but his stuff is much more effective in shorter outings.

 

His stuff is highlighted by a mid-to-upper-90s fastball when used in short relief. He does struggle at times to command his fastball given how hard he throws it, but when he's pumping his heater in the zone it is nearly impossible to hit. It is even more difficult to hit when his slider is working for him. His slider is nasty, a great breaking ball with two-plane break that starts in on right-handed hitters only to break dramatically down and away.

 

Tootle has a smaller but chiseled frame and employs a huge leg kick as part of his delivery that makes him somewhat similar to Troy Percival. He also has the same kind of Percival stare, giving him an added intimidating element on the mound to go along with his stuff. His leg kick would need to be toned down significantly if any team wanted to try and develop him as a starter, as he doesn't pitch as well out of the stretch, which makes him relatively easy to steal bases off of.

 

He was a relative unknown before his successful stint on the Cape last summer in which he was named one of the league's top prospects by the scouts that covered the circuit, and definitely will be drawing more and more attention next spring. He could vault up draft boards similar to Casey Weathers in 2007, although his level of competition isn't as great.

 

19-7, 4.45 ERA, 54 games (31 starts), 2 CG, 5 saves, 206.1 IP, 209 hits, 190 K, 77 BB, 1.28 WHIP

[colbyjack]

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Robbie Shields could ascend up draft boards next spring much like Gordon Beckham did during the spring of 2008 with a strong junior campaign. He, like Beckham the year before, enjoyed a fine summer on the Cape this past year, although his time was cut short when he injured his wrist sliding into a base.

 

With very good bat speed and solid offensive tools across the board, Shields has the talent to be a game-changing infielder, with the ability to hit for a high average and power while also having good enough wheels to be a threat on the basepaths. His bat speed comes from very strong hands, wrists and forearms, and he knows how to loft balls to give him double-digit home run potential.

 

Defensively he doesn't have ideal range at the shortstop position, as many feel he may have to move to either 2B or 3B down the road, but he has plenty of arm strength to play any infield position. He does run well and shows good overall baseball instincts.

 

Shields has posted solid numbers since stepping onto campus, including his two summer stints (he was named one of the top prospects in the Clark-Griffith League after his freshman year), and has started at Florida Southern from day one. He is poised for a big junior year, as more and more people will become familiar with his name between now and next June.

 

.320/.392/.548 in 613 ABs, 41 2B, 6 3B, 29 HR, 66:107 BB:K ratio, 25 for 32 in stolen bases attempts, 49 errors

[colbyjack]

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After falling to the second round in the 2008 draft, after a stress fracture in his pitching shoulder was discovered, Tanner Scheppers has decided to play for the Saint Paul Saints in the American Association independent league in order to improve his draft status. At one point last spring he was considered to be a top 10 overall player.

 

His promise comes from his prototypical, projectable frame and an electric arm. At this time last year scouts were talking about how Scheppers was throwing in the mid-to-upper 90s as part of Fresno State's fall practices and scrammages, with improved fastball command. His fastball sits in the 92-96 range when healthy, and he has touched 99 in shorter relief stints.

 

If he profiled to be used out of the bullpen, he may choose to use his powerful slider that has been clocked as high as 87 as his out pitch. However, last spring he improved the bite and command of his 76-80 mph curveball, which most feel is a better secondary pitch for him to use as a starter in order to pace himself deeper into games. His changeup needs work, but at this point in time gives him the foundation for three solid offerings.

 

The health of his pitching shoulder of course will dictate just long Scheppers remains undrafted next June. He probably will only get a handful of bullpens and three, maybe four starts to prove that he is indeed healthy and that his arm responded well to the set-back. Otherwise he may regret turning down seven figures from the Pirates as their second-round pick last June.

 

16-7, 4.38 ERA, 49 games (27 starts), 1 CG, 1 save, 178.2 IP, 177 H, 219 K, 81 BB, 1.44 WHIP

[colbyjack]

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Brad Boxberger looked like a completely different pitcher when I saw him used predominantly in relief last summer on the Cape than he did when he started the spring as one of USC's weekend starters. To open the year, his stuff looked very hittable, and it was, as it led to an ERA in excess of 6.00 for his sophomore season. He was moved to the bullpen mid-year, and served as the closer to finish the season.

 

He continued that role into the summer, and was very successful in doing so, earning a spot on the league's all-star game roster. Boxberger showed the stuff that made him so successful as a freshman at USC, and also on the Cape, when he was named a freshman All-American.

 

At his best, although in shorter outings, Boxberger was pitching in the 93-94 range, with pretty good, late movement on his fastball. He also throws a slider with some cut-fastball type action on it, as well as a curveball. His range of pitches makes everyone not want to give up on his future as a starter, and he reportedly will re-claim a weekend role (probably Friday) with USC next spring, but again, his stuff lately has played so much better in shorter stints. He recorded nine saves on the Cape, and when batters are making contact, they're usually hitting weak ground balls to the infielders playing behind Boxberger.

 

He has a good, strong frame and a low waist with strong lower body strength. They is still room in his upper body to add strength, although he may not need it given his present-day stuff. If he does start for the Trojans to open the year, how he starts the season could make a huge impact on his overall draft status, as he has the size, stuff and pitching savvy to go among the top 10-15 picks.

 

7-11, 3.64 ERA, 58 games (29 starts), 11 saves, 187.2 IP, 158 H, 178 K, 79 BB, 1.26 WHIP

[colbyjack]

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Prep catcher Max Stassi is a true baseball rat, the type of player and person that wakes up every day to play baseball.

 

All of his success stems from his hard work and passion for the game, and that effort makes him a joy to watch. His defensive prowess is his best asset, having great catch-and-throw skills, with a rocket for an arm and very good footwork behind the plate. His take-charge, leadership skills makes him a natural at handling a pitching staff.

 

At the plate he employs a direct, quick stroke to spray line drives to all parts of the fields. Despite his smallish, sub-6' stature, he has pretty good pop, and has enough bat speed and overall power potential to hit his fair share of dingers.

 

Overall he's a very good athlete, with good speed for a catcher that runs the bases well. Given his work ethic, his defensive skills and his bat, he is very solid player across the board in a very good year for prep catchers.

 

Last summer, Stassi participated at nearly every major showcase and tournament event, including the Perfect Game National, the Tournament of Stars and Team USA, as well as the Aflac All-American and Under Armour games. He has committed to play at UCLA.

[colbyjack]

Since I haven't been entering all of the top prospects in order (and started with a prospect that isn't even on my top 30 list at this point in time), please view this post in the 2009 Draft Resource Thread to see my top 30 ranking:

 

http://brewersfandemonium...raft-Resource-Thread.html

 

I will be entering all of this information into Brewerfan.net's draft database over the next week or so, and will be sure to let everyone know when that page is ready to be viewed. I will continue to use this thread to profile players, usually not in any kind of order, just to keep people up to speed on the players they should be keeping their eyes on between now and next June.

[colbyjack]

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/ABPub/2008/06/06/2004463409.jpg

 

If Jake Locker preferred baseball over football, he may very well be the favorite at this point in time to go third overall to the Mariners next June. He is a freak of an athletic talent that runs like a running back, is built like a linebacker and has incredible arm strength.

 

In baseball terms, that translates to a five-tool talent. He athleticism playing CF reminds me of Dale Murphy back in the 1980s, a true right-handed slugger that also had a knack for stealing bases and driving in runs in bunches. Locker's arm strength plays anywhere on the field, as he played SS in high school and drew interest as a potential 3B prospect, although he made it 100% clear that he intended to pursue a football career at Washington.

 

And in high school, many preferred his future as a live-armed RHP. He could very well be the second-coming of John Elway.

 

There was a ton of unfair pressure placed on this young man as soon as he stepped on campus, once called the "savior" of the Huskies football program. For all of his tools, he receives even higher marks for his character, and if anyone can handle the mental/emotional burdens of a professional athlete, it's Locker.

 

However, his time as Washington's QB has been full of up's and down's. His redshirt freshman year went well, but his sophomore season has not. He broke his thumb during the fourth game of the season, the Huskies are the worst team that can quality for a bowl with an 0-11 record, and head coach Tyrone Willingham has stepped down from his post. Even if Locker remains with the program, it's unlikely he's ever going to be involved with anything more than a rebuilding program, and as good as he is, it has been proven that he alone can't carry the team.

 

He did play baseball last summer for the Bellingham Bells in the West Coast Collegiate League, and was ranked the league's #1 prospect. One interesting relationship to the Brewers is the the Bells Head Coast last summer was Brandon Newell, the Brewers area scout in the Pacific NW. Newell's father coached Locker's father back in the day, and the two remain close. It may not be a benefit for the Brewers, especially if Locker sticks with football, but the relationship certainly doesn't hurt.

 

Even if Locker does decide to choose baseball over football, you would think money would come into play. Grady Sizemore and Matt Tuiasosopo declined the opportunity to pursue a career at Washington as QB recruits coming out of HS, signing for $2 million and $2.3 million respectively, and Locker's talents, and his commitment to football, makes him that much greater of a commodity financially.

[colbyjack]

I'm currently taking an HTML/CSS class, and am working on how to code tables. I've already know the basics of this writing stories for this site, thanks to Brian, but I'm learning more of the nitty gritty details (table border, padding, spacing, etc.). Anyway, this chart is dedicated to DHonks, as I break down the career statistics of Santa Clara catcher Tommy Medica:

 

TOMMY MEDICA	BA	OBP	SLG	AB	H	TB	2B	3B	HR	BB	K	HBP	SF	SB	SBA	E	CSB	SBA	%
'08 Cape	.352	.462	.381	105	37	40	3	0	0	15	12	8	2	0	2	0	NA	NA	NA
'08 Santa Clara	.342	.438	.509	222	76	113	15	2	6	29	17	11	3	1	2	4	24	64	38%
'07 TUSA	.308	.392	.385	65	20	25	2	0	1	6	5	3	0	1	2	1	6	11	55%
'07 Santa Clara	.373	.436	.497	161	60	80	9	4	1	6	15	13	1	5	7	5	17	51	33%
Totals	.349	.437	.467	553	193	258	29	6	8	56	49	35	6	7	13	10	57	126	45%

 

His numbers and overall profile as a prospect is very similar to Jonathan Lucroy. He has a great approach at the plate with a knack for getting hit by pitches (and drawing walks). There isn't much power to his swing, but he's capable of double-digit home runs while hitting for a high average. He has a good arm, and overall is a good athlete that has spent some time in the OF.

[DHonks]

wow Colby, great stuff as always. And thanks for the SCU mention. I have lost touch a bit with the program, since my friend that worked in the athletic dept has moved on. I mainly just follow basketball. It's too bad as they have a good baseball tradition, yet never cracked .500 in my years there. I knew a couple of guys that got drafted, but none made it back for a second season of pro-ball.