BA 2008 Top High School Draft Prospects

[brewswinga2]

BA just posted this on their front page. Anyone with a subscription want to give a basic recap?

[colbyjack]

The content lists the nation's top 100 high school prospects that are eligible for the 2008 draft. It's a little difficult giving a basic recap that doesn't include naming names at certain spots.

 

Tim Melville is #1, Tim Beckham is #2.

 

Here's the pic that accompanies the story (always fun seeing the kids wear the Brewers gear):

 

http://www.baseballamerica.com/images/prep10007428309jsmj.jpg

 

(From upper left clockwise around): Aaron Hicks, Harold Martinez, Gerrit Cole and Jarret Martin.

[colbyjack]

By the way, if you're into the draft and thinking about dropping some money for a subscription to learn about the top prospects, check out PG Crosschecker if you haven't already:

 

http://www.pgcrosschecker.com/

 

Yes, I sound like a company stooge, but if I wasn't associated with them I would probably drop my BA subscription (or beg my wife to allow me to have both) to get PGCC's unprecedented covered. Today they released the top 100 draft eligible prospects, both high school and college, complete with scouting reports. You just can't beat that, especially in October.

 

The scouting report version has Alvarez #1 and Matusz #2, instead of the other way around, which is how I have them ranked at this point in time.

[Pioneers3]

Colby-I am not sold on Beckham-I saw him three times over the last summer and he doesn't jump out at me at all...don't get me wrong, he is going to be solid but he isn't an Upton type kid.... Cole...that kid is going to be a stud! Saw him hit 97 in a cold rain! I like the Hicks kid to...solid plus speed!

[colbyjack]

Thanks for chiming in on Beckham Pioneers, I have heard and read similar reports on him since he really made an impression with his performance at the Aflac game. The same things seemed to have surrounded Justin Jackson at this time last year, with questions about how well he was going to hit.

 

What do you think about Cole's future, as I read a few comments at BA noting that he may be best in a future closers role. I don't know of anyone that projects high schoolers as big-league closers, so that's not exactly high praise. Do it have anything to do with his reported long arm action or other mechanical issues? PGCC had some comments from Jerry Ford that Cole could be a similar prospect to Rick Porcello from a year ago, which obviously is huge praise.

 

Also, any thoughts on Antonio Jimenez, the catcher from Puerto Rico? I saw he enjoyed a huge jump on PGCC's top prospect list, and his combination of tools and athleticism is extremely appealing. Wish I could have made it to Jupiter to see him among countless others.

[Pioneers3]

Cole's only issue is how deep he can go...he's got a live arm I saw all four innings he threw done in Jupiter and he was electric...I have never seen a High School kid throw the way he does, and he has some savy with different tempo into his leg lift...I didn't see any PR teams down there...Cole has closer type stuff...that projects real well!