Dirtbags Baseball - Long Beach State 49ers

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Friday, May 13, 2005

Sneak Peak At Baseball America's Draft Tracker

Baseball America indicates today that their Draft Tracker coverage for the June, 2005, Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft will be launched next Monday. Today they have a sneak peak at the top 30, with a couple of caveats. Jered Weaver and Stephen Drew, both Scott Boras clients, are not included on the list because the Angels that play in Anaheim, and the Arizona Diamondbacks, respectively, control rights to them until May 31. Also, the list "is based strictly on talent and does not take the actual order of where teams draft in the first round into consideration." That said, here's BA's Allan Simpson's top 30:

Rank, Player, Position, School

1. Justin Upton, ss/of, Great Bridge HS, Chesapeake, Va.
Diamondbacks will have a tough time passing on a player with Bo Jackson-quality tools

2. Alex Gordon, 3b, U. of Nebraska
Impressive lefthanded power hitter has developed into a solid defender at hot corner

3. Luke Hochevar, rhp, U. of Tennessee
Draft's best pitching prospect has led Vols to top spot in SEC with consistent plus stuff

4. Mike Pelfrey, rhp, Wichita State U.
Six-foot-7 righty has the size, stuff, command and makeup to be a dominant big leaguer

5. Troy Tulowitzki, ss, Long Beach State U.
Bobby Crosby's successor with 49ers has major league ready tools, including power

6. Cameron Maybin, of, T.C. Roberson HS, Asheville, N.C.
Played for same Cincinnati summer team as Ken Griffey Jr., has similar tools at same age

7. Ryan Zimmerman, 3b, U. of Virginia
Future Gold Glover has added power and is expected to move quickly to big leagues

8. Craig Hansen, rhp, St. John's U.
With 96 mph fastball, 90 mph slider, could nation's premier closer be first to reach majors?

9. Ryan Braun, 3b, U. of Miami
He's shaky defensively, but he has the hitting ability and raw power to move to the outfield

10. Jay Bruce, of, West Brook HS, Beaumont, Texas
Unheralded at the start of the year, his five-tool potential has won over scouts

11. Jeff Clement, c, U. of Southern California
Nation's all-time prep home run king has huge power and become a capable defender

12. Andrew McCutchen, of, Fort Meade (Fla.)
Known more in the past for his blazing speed, he has added legitimate power this year

13. Wade Townsend, rhp, Dripping Springs, Texas
Baltimore's unsigned first-round pick from 2004 has impressed scouts in workouts

14. Mark McCormick, rhp, Baylor U.
Despite the best raw stuff in college baseball, he has yet to enjoy consistent success

15. Ricky Romero, lhp, Cal State Fullerton
Top arm on nation's top college team has first-round stuff, unmatched competitive fire

16. C.J. Henry, of, Putnam City HS, Oklahoma City
No player has moved farther or faster this spring than this multi-tooled, two-sport star

17. Cesar Carrillo, rhp, U. of Miami
Quick-armed ace lacks physical stature and any blemishes on his undefeated college record

18. Chris Volstad, rhp, Palm Beach Gardens (Fla.) HS
Six-foot-7 righty is the nation's top prep pitcher, even if he ranks only No. 18 on this list

19. Mark Pawelek, lhp, Springville (Utah) HS
A rare high school lefty who has command of four pitches, including a mid-90s fastball

20. John Mayberry Jr., 1b, Stanford U.
Unsigned 2002 first-rounder intrigues with power potential, baffles with performance (five homers)

21. Jacoby Ellsbury, of, Oregon State U.
The catalyst at the top of the lineup that has carried Oregon State to its best season ever

22. Cliff Pennington, ss, Texas A&M U.
Few get more out of their tools; he can run, throw, field and hit and he has unmatched instincts

23. Stephen Head, 1b, U. of Mississippi
He hasn't had a great season playing in a two-way role, but scouts still like his bat, power

24. Brandon Snyder, c-ss, Westfield HS, Centreville, Va.
Upton and this two-way standout are centerpieces of the richest draft crop in Virginia history

25. Trevor Crowe, of, U. of Arizona
He wasn't a first-rounder until he put together the best offensive season in college baseball

26. Taylor Teagarden, c, U. of Texas
Concerns about his bat, but there isn't a better defensive catcher or handler of pitchers

27. John Drennen, of, Rancho Bernardo HS, San Diego
Rancho Bernardo's latest draft hotshot has legit power potential in his compact 5-foot-10 frame

28. Brian Bogusevic, of-lhp, Tulane U.
Scouts are divided on whether this two-way star's upside is greater on mound or at plate

29. Matt Torra, rhp, U. of Massachusetts
Few pitchers have impressed more than this 6-foot-5 righty, who wasn't on many early priority lists

30. Henry Sanchez, 1b, Mission Bay HS, San Diego
Scouts are mixed on the overall worth of this 260-pound slugger, but he can put the ball in orbit

posted on 5/13/2005 by Jeff Agnew

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