Rounds 21-30: 8 pitchers (6 HS RHPs) and 2 college 3B

[batman]

"Nebraska Says Goodbye To Star Players," Daily Nebraskan, June 7, 2004

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... The Huskers also may have to replace some players who leave for the draft, held Monday and Tuesday. Anderson (coach) expects junior pitchers Phil Shirek and Dustin Timm both to be drafted. Anderson said he thinks Timm probably will be back, but wasn't sure about Shirek. ...

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In an unrelated note, Timm had reconstructive elbow surgery prior to this season. I believe it was Tommy John Surgery, but can't find a more detailed reference to his injury.

~Bill

[batman]

"NCAA Rosters Deep With Florida Talent," Orlando Sentinel, Byline Bill Buchalter, September 14, 2003

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Another potential early signing could be Olympia baseball star Ty Pryor, who took his first "official" visit this weekend to Duke.

 

Pryor is being recruited heavily by the Blue Devils, Wake Forest, Clemson, Harvard, Yale, South Carolina, Miami, Florida Southern, UCF, South Florida, Vanderbilt, LSU, Tulane and Virginia.

 

He has the grades to match his hitting skills, scoring 1,420 on his SAT and carrying a weighted 4.52 grade-point average. He wants to take all five visits before making a final decision.

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From a later article in the Tampa Tribune:

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Orlando Olympia High RHP Ty Pryor verbally committed to USF's baseball team. Pryor, who also considered UCF, Florida Southern and North Florida, hit .392 as a junior and was 6-4 with a 3.68 ERA.

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Pryor is the nephew of former Major League Baseball player Greg Pryor.

~Bill

[batman]

"Johnson Earns 2nd Gibson - And He'll Be Back," Newsday, Byline Gregg Sarra, June 12, 2003

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There is nothing fancy about East Islip's Brian Johnson. He's straight heat. The overpowering righthander was too much for Suffolk opponents again this year.

 

Johnson took his 88-mph fastball and mowed down the opposition on his way to a 10-0 record, 118 strikeouts, 16 walks and a 0.41 ERA in 75 innings as he led East Islip to the Suffolk League III title and the Suffolk Class AA championship.

 

"When he's on, no one is hitting him," East Islip coach Sal Ciampi said. "He's something special out there. Every time we gave him a lead, we were confident that we'd win the game."

 

For his achievement, Johnson earned the Paul Gibson Award, given to Suffolk's top pitcher, for the second consecutive season last night at the Suffolk County Coaches Association All-County dinner at the Polish Hall in Riverhead. No other pitcher has won the Gibson Award twice. And Johnson is only a junior.

 

"It's an honor to win any award," said Johnson, who has a career record of 34-2. "My goal before the season was to help the team win the county championship."

 

East Islip (23-2), which was knocked out of the county playoffs in the first round the two previous years after posting outstanding regular-season records, finally took home the top prize when Johnson fired a three-hitter with nine strikeouts in a 10-0 win over League I champion Smithtown. He accomplished that on two days' rest.

 

"It was the biggest relief of my high school career," said Johnson, whose only two losses came in those two first-round defeats. "It was a hurdle I definitely needed to overcome. I didn't want to finish my career and have someone say we never won a playoff game."

 

One of Long Island's most prolific righthanders still has a year left to add to some gaudy pitching statistics. He already has a Suffolk-record 34 wins, 328 strikeouts and an ERA of 0.77 in 228 innings.

 

The 6-1, 190-pound Johnson burst onto the varsity scene as a 13-year-old eighth-grader and has turned heads since. The over-the-top fireballer has been on major league scouts' radar for the past two years.

 

"He's not hard to figure out," Ciampi said. "He comes right at the hitter."

 

Johnson saved some of his best work for last. He opened East Islip's playoff run by firing a no-hitter against Newfield in a quarterfinal game, then pitched a shutout in the championship game. He reached double digits in strikeouts in seven of his 10 starts.

 

Johnson didn't allow an earned run in his final 43 1/3 innings. He gave up 16 hits in that span. And the best part for East Islip is that he'll be back.

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~Bill

[DHonks]

For those who read my pre-draft comments on some mlb.com videos on Pitchers, check out the video on this Bowman kid!!! Awesome looking.

[Never Outhustled]

DHonks is right, Bowman is very nice. It'll take plenty of $$ to sign him, but it looks like picks 1-4 will be quick, easy signs. That will hopefully leave enough cash for Bowman, Chapman Leclerq, and Morgan.

[MassBrew]

Nebraska RHP Dustin Timm most assuredly will return to the University of Nebraska, but the Brewers will retain his rights until next spring as a fifth year senior, as discussed earlier in this thread:

 

Timm finished 2-3 with a 3.89 earned-run average in 44 innings this season following his return to the mound 11 months after reconstructive elbow surgery. He heard plenty of questions about his arm. Timm told the Brewers Tuesday of his desire to pitch another season at Nebraska.

 

"My arm felt great this year," Timm said. "It's just endurance. I would throw 70 pitches, and I'd be tired. Having my senior year to get stronger, it's too much to pass up."

[950opsLHcatcher]

I saw Prettyman man play for awhile yesterday against South Carolina, and he struck me more as a utility guy than as a third base prospect. He has an open stance and a quick swing that doesn't appear to have much power in it at all. Purely a ground ball/line drive hitter. Could hit for decent average, and he appeared to have a decent idea at the plate. Pretty skinny, could add some weight. Quick at third base, though as I said, I think he's more of a utility guy, so he'll have to prove he can plus plus defense elsewhere, too.

[colbyjack]

I agree Toby. He has a defensive swing, but seems to hit for really good contact. His swing & frame actually reminded me a lot of Craig Counsell's, and that's probably his upside. I agree, he'll have to play somewhere other than 3B to have any value at the big league level, or even the upper levels of the organization.

[Never Outhustled]

Prettyman has played several positions before this season, he's playing exclusively 3rd this season because they're so outstanding everywhere else. Your both right about his swing. Theres definately no power there. IHe reminds me of Chase Utley.

[MassBrew]

More opportunities to see Prettyman in action during the best-of-three finals of the College World Series as Fullerton faces Texas.

 

 CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES Saturday, June 26 Game 1 ? 7 p.m. (ESPN) Sunday, June 27 Game 2 ? 3 p.m. (ESPN) Monday, June 28 Game 3 ? 7 p.m. (ESPN, if necessary)