CA: Stefan Sabol, Aliso Niguel HS (Calif.)
1B: Christian Yelich, Westlake HS (Calif.)
2B: Lonnie Kaupplia, Burbank HS (Calif.)
3B: Kris Bryant, Bonanza HS (Nev.)
SS: Tony Wolters, Rancho Buena Vista HS (Calif.)
OF: Austin Wilson, Harvard Westlake HS (Calif.)
OF: Josh Sale, Bishop Blanchet HS (Wa.)
OF: Michael Lorenzen, Fullerton Union HS (Calif.)
DH: Drew Vettleson, Central Kitsap HS (Wa.)
UT: Taijan Walker, Yucaipa HS (Calif.)

SP: Dylan Covey, Maranatha HS (Calif.)
SP: Peter Tago, Dana Hill HS (Calif.)
SP: Adam Plutko, Glendora HS (Calif.)
SP: Aaron Sanchez, Barstow HS (Calif.)
SP: AJ Vanegas, Redwood HS (Calif.)
UT: Taijuan Walker, Yucaipa HS (Calif.)

Storylines

Pure Hitters

Though the West Region isn’t as deep in positional talent as in year’s past, two of the better pure hitters in the draft class reside on the left coast. Josh Sale, OF, Bishop Blanchet HS (Wa.) (pictured) could be the best overall hitter in the prep class, with potential for a plus hit tool and power tool. The Washington outfielder has a strong, thick build and generates excellent backspin and carry driving down and through the ball. Sale makes consistent hard contact by utilizing powerful forearms/hands, a compact swing and good hand/eye coordination.

Tony Wolters, SS, Rancho Buena Vista HS (Calif.) put on an impressive display in the Aflac All-American game last August, earning MVP honors after going 2-4 with a triple at the plate and making a slew of impressive plays up-the-middle. Wolters has quick hands and a smooth linedrive stroke that can produce surprising pop for a player his size. He shows an advanced understanding of the strikezone and an ability to work the count against advanced pitching. He was one of the better hitters for Team USA in their September/October run to Pan Am gold, posting a slash line of .387/.394/.516, and continued his success a few weeks later in Jupiter. The high-energy Wolters will likely shift to second base as a pro, but could be one of the better shortstops in college baseball as early as 2011 if he chooses to honor his commitment to the University of San Diego (part of one of the top recruiting classes in the country, including fellow PnR All-Regional selections Kris Bryant, Dylan Covey, Kellen Sweeney and Marcus Littlewood).

Prototypes

If you were to ask a group of scouts to draw-up the prototypical ballplayer body and the prototypical “athlete’s skillset”, they very well could respond by simply pointing to two of the PnR West All-Regional selections -- Austin Wilson, OF, Harvard Westlake HS (Calif.) and Stefan Sabol, C, Aliso Niguel HS (Calif.). Wilson is a chiseled 6-4/200 with a strong, broad frame a big paws to indicate there is probably a little more still to come. The Stanford commit has plus tools in the arm-strength and hit-for-power departments and shows enough of a feel on the defensive side to be an asset in right field. He’s also ripped-off sub-6.8 60 times in multiple events over the past year. With one of the highest ceilings of the prep outfielders, Wilson's progress this spring will be closely monitored, as teams determine exactly how much they are willing to invest to bring in this SoCal specimen -- his strong academic background and family ties to Stanford could make him a very difficult sign.

This past August at the Area Code Games, Stefan Sabol wowed scouts with a jaw-dropping 80.87 Sparq Score (as reported by Baseball America), which included a slightly out-of-character 6.28 60 time. Anyone who has seen him play, however, will tell you that no athletic feat attributed to Sabol can be considered truly surprising. He’s built like a strong-safety, with a strong upper-body and powerful core -- actually, with a frame quite similar to his cousin, Pittsburgh Stealers strong-safety Troy Polamalu (though Sabol is a few inches taller). There is likely a wide variance in opinion as to how much further development will be required for Sabol to stick behind the plate; though his skill set would play well in the outfield, catcher appears to be his position of preference. I believe in his ability to stick behind home, as does one D-I coach I spoke with prior to watching Sabol in Jupiter, who stated, "You'll hear that he won't stick [as a catcher] but don't buy it. He's legit, there." His pure athleticism may be unmatched in the draft class, and he’ll work this spring to show scouts he has a future as a backstop and enough refinement to potentially warrant a Top 50 selection.

Big Arms

By now you are aware of the glut of power arms in this year’s prep ranks, and the West Region is responsible for a fair number of those arms. Headlining the Pacific arms are an impressive triumvirate of Dylan Covey, RHP, Maranatha HS (Calif.), Peter Tago, RHP, Dana Hills HS (Calif.) and Taijuan Walker, RHP, Yucaipa HS (Calif.). All three sat in the low-90s down in Jupiter, with Covey hitting a little higher, touching 95/96 mph a handful of times. Of the three, Walker probably has the most projection remaining, with long arms and legs, a roomy 6/4-195 frame and a quick, slinging arm action out of a three-quarters slot (though he throws with some effort in his upper-body). Tago easily has the best life on his fastball, with big arm side run, and Covey throws on the toughest plane (downhill and frequently to the lower-third of the strikezone).

Covey’s curve is the best secondary pitch of the lot, with hard downer action and plus depth. Walker boasts a decent curve that flashes 2-plane action and can slip into more of a slurvy-to-sweeping slider when he doesn’t stay on top. Tago’s slider is a work in progress but capable of above-average bite. All three will have a chance this spring to solidify their value as first-day talents, with Covey already generally viewed as a potential early- to mid-1st round arm (due to the advanced nature of his repertoire). Some other arms worth noting in the West Region, each capable of low-90s velocity, include fellow All-Region selections Adam Plutko, RHP, Glendora HS (Calif.), AJ Vanegas, RHP, Redwood Christian HS (Calif.) and Aaron Sanchez, RHP, Barstow HS (Calif.), as well as notables Nicholas Vander Tuig, RHP, Oakdale HS (Calif.), Jesus Valdez, RHP, Hueneme HS (Calif.) and Dan Child, RHP, Jesuit HS (Calif.), #152, #205 and #222 on the PnR Top 300, respectively. 

Power Now/Power Later

Corner infielders Kris Bryant, 1B/3B, Bonanza HS (Nev.) and Christian Yelich, 1B/OF, Westlake HS (Calif.) offer the juxtaposition of current raw power against projected raw power. Bryant has been “on the radar” since his junior year of high school, flashing big in-game power even back then. That tool has continued to develop and he is considered by many to be one of the top five prep power bats in the 2010 draft class. Recently, he’s had some holes in his swing exposed by more advanced pitching, but his large, lean frame, coupled with good bat speed, continues to produce excellent leverage and plenty of reason for pro organizations to consider spending a pick in the top two rounds on him. His swing and approach will be closely watched by scouts looking to determine at exactly which point in those top 75 picks or so he should be nabbed.

Christian Yelich began the showcase circuit as “close watch” and has continually increased his standing on the PnR board, culminating in an impressive showing in Jupiter that helped land him at #135 on the PnR Top 300. He is just now starting to fill-in his long and lean frame and, similar to Bryant, he makes the most out of his long limbs to produce impressive leverage in his swing. He’ll flash power the other the way, but currently is more impressive to the pull side. If he continues to progress this spring, he could climb into first-day consideration, which may be enough to buy him out of his commitment to the Hurricanes. If not, Miami will boast an impressive pair of bats at the infield corners with Yelich and current sophomore third baseman Harold Martinez (some respected evaluators place Yelich in left field, due to his solid footspeed, but it remains to be seen how well he’ll continue to move as he fills-in).