|
College Notes
This week was purely a video review
week at PnR (as will be Week 2), with the first trip planned for Houston, March 5 - 7 for the College Classic at Minute Maid.
There was a lot to see and a lot to like in the first weekend of action, with the following players making a particularly
good impression on me:
After serving as the closer in 2009, and as a dominant reliever with Team USA this summer,
Chad Betts, RHP, Texas Tech made the first start of the season for the Red Raiders and didn’t disappoint.
The righty went seven strong, not allowing a baserunner until a fifth inning walk, or a hit until the sixth, with his final
line an impressive 7 IP, 4 SO, 2 BB, 4 H and 1 ER. His stuff was sharp, showing a three-way fastball (cut, two-seam and
four-seam, sitting upper-80s, low-90s and low- to mid-90s, respectively) that avoided hard contact all day. He also threw
his hard-biting slider with effectiveness and mixed in around five change-ups with surprising command and fade. It’s
a little early to fully jump aboard the “Bettis the starter” bus, as his pitch count was very low and he became
noticeably more hittable around the 70-pitch mark, but it was a very solid debut and bumped his stock some in my eyes.
Justin Grimm, RHP, University of Georgia was hot and cold in his Friday start against Baylor
but finished with a good line (5 IP, 6 SO, 3 BB, 4 H and 2 ER) and was generally crisp with his pitches. His fastball
was reported low-90s touching 94/5 mph and came on a tough downward angle. Both his curve and his change-up flashed mid-season
form and were much more consistent than I expected out of the gate. The curve is an upper-70s 12-6 breaking ball, though he
threw a couple of harder curves (not sliders) that were tighter and closer to 1-7. His change was generally low- to mid-80s
with solid arm speed. Grimm slipped into some batches of wildness but was overall effective and looked like a solid top fifty
arm.
Zach Cone, OF, University of Georgia (2011) put together a monster weekend and flashed good
leather out in centerfield in both game films reviewed (though in limited opportunities). At the plate, he cruised to a line
of 11-16, 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 1 BB, 1 SO, 1 SB in two games apiece against Duke and Baylor, showcasing excellent bat speed and
and ability to drive the ball to all fields (he doubled down the LF line, singled to the LF gap and smacked two oppo singles
to RF in the games I saw). It’s certainly early, but Cone is positioning himself to be a top fifty guy in next year’s
draft, capable of holding down center field or right and providing top-half-of-the-order production (with ultimate slotting
and positioning likely determined by how strong he gets and if he loses any mobility).
Though his weekend was
a bit inconsistent overall, Stewart Ijames, OF, University of Louisville flashed his offensive potential
on Friday. Ijames (pronounced EYEmz) went 3-5, barreling the ball in his first four at bats and showed some pull power to
right and an ability to let the ball travel deep and drive the ball oppo. Teammate Thomas Royse (RHP) also
put together an impressive start, utilizing a very lively low-90s fastball en route to a line of 5 IP, 2 H, 5 SO, 0 BB, 1
HBP, 0 R and the win. He elevated the ball well on occasion and threw to both sides of the plate.
Todd
Cunningham, OF, Jacksonville St. University played a strong left field and came up with two hits (including one of
only four allowed by Bettis) in Friday night’s action. He hits out of an open stance and shows quick hands and
some loft in his swing, flashing some pull side power (in my limited looks, he seems to project as more of a gap-to-gap bat
as a pro). Though limited to the corner on Friday, he could have the footspeed and arm to hold down center. Entering the season
he ranked #81 on the PnR Top 300 and looked very much the part in his first action this season. He finished the series in
Lubbock with a line of 5-12, 1 HR, 1 BB and 1 SO.
Sean Gilmartin, LHP, Florida St. University (2011)
was a little shaky early on, but settled down to earn the win against Georgia St., posting a line of 7 IP, 5 H, 7 SO, 3 BB
and 2 ER. Gilmartin has a sturdy frame, particularly in his strong trunk, and works primarily off of an above-average fastball
he throws with good downward plane. On Friday, he mixed-in a sweeping curve with soft shape (flashing some good bite, but
inconsistent) and a tight little slider that shows potential to be an average offering. He was caught feeling for his release
point early on, but ultimately found his comfort zone.
Pat Dean, LHP, Boston College and Sam
Dyson, RHP, University of South Carolina each had impressive first outings -- Dean in the Friday opener for the Eagles
and Dyson as SC’s Saturday starter. Dean stymied Tulane with well-placed fastballs and a big curve, going 7 IP, 6 H,
8 SO, 1 BB and 2 ER. He moved his fastball in and out and was effective with his curve both in and out of the zone. Dyson
went just under four innings in his Saturday start, going 3.2 IP, 0 H, 1 BB and 8 SO. His fastball was popping and he dropped
a couple of killer change-ups with lots of deception. Durability will determine where he profiles at the pro level -- relief
or starting -- but if his change-up proves to be a third average or better offering, he should get plenty of votes for the
latter.
A handful of freshman hitters looked good in their first games of the season. Perhaps no one had a better
debut than Barrett Barnes, OF, Texas Tech, who went 3-4 in his first game on Friday and belted two homeruns
while collecting 6 RBI. Most impressive was that both homers were “no doubters”, one oppo to right field and the
other pulled into a very stiff left field wind. He finished the weekend with a line of 6-15, 2 2B, 2 HR and 4 SO. Jayce
Boyd, 1B, Florida State University showed quick and strong hands, hitting out of a Chipper-esque open stance.
He squared the barrel a couple of times and kept his hands inside the ball, driving it up the middle with authority. Stanford’s
Kenny Diekroeger (3B) utilized simple hitting mechanics and a compact swing to showcase a projected plus
hit tool. His bat speed was excellent and could produce good power in the future, as well. His weekend culminated in a walk-off
opposite field “single” (would have been a double had the game not ended) to right, helping the Cardinal complete
a sweep of Rice. Boyd and Diekroeger finished with lines of 4-12, 1 2B, 2 SO and 3-11, 3 SO, 2 BB, respectively. All three
are 2012 draft eligibles.
High School Updates
Not much going on yet on the high
school front. Mike Foltynewicz, Minooka Community HS (Ill.) and Jordan Shipers, LHP, South Harrison
HS (Mo.), #173 and #92 on the PnR Top 300, respectively, both sat in the low-90s at the Perfect Game Pitcher/Catcher
Indoor Showcase. Foltynewicz was a PnR favorite down in Jupiter this October and could easily work his way into the top three
rounds if he continues to show three solid offerings (fastball, curve and change). Both Folty and Shipers were also PnR selections
to the High School Midwest All-Region Team.
Kellen Sweeney, SS/OF, Jefferson HS (Iowa) is almost six-months into his rehab after undergoing
Tommy John surgery at the end of the summer and is back to swinging the bat well, according to reports at PGCrosschecker.com. He’s scheduled to start throwing in the coming weeks and could make a quick jump up PnR’s
Top 300 (currently at #201) if he shows he’s healthy this spring. Prior to his surgery, he displayed above-average arm
strength capable of playing both in center and at short.
In underclass news, Baseball Factory released its selections
for the ten top players (2011) at the Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament, featuring a few familiar names. Dante Bichette, Jr., SS, Orangewood Christian HS (Fla.) came
in as their top prospect; the following is their brief write-up, which matches what I saw down in Jupiter back in October:
1. Dante Bichette, Jr. - 3B/SS | 6'1/215 | R/R | 2011 | Orlando, FL
Dante is a strong,
physical young infielder who projects best as a 3B at higher levels. His feet work well in the field and he fields with rhythm,
displaying soft hands and a strong, accurate arm across the diamond. At the plate is really where Dante shines. He is a natural
hitter who generates outstanding bat speed. The ball jumps off his bat. He is a future middle-of-the-order run producer who
has committed to the University of Georgia.
Also included are two Texans that were covered in PnR’s wrap of the Perfect Game World Showcase back in early January: Bryan Brickhouse, RHP, The Woodlands HS (Texas) and Drake Roberts, SS, Brenham
HS (Texas). Brickhouse (#5 on the top player list) showed a nice compliment of pitches in Ft. Myers, including a
heavy upper-80s fastball (that Baseball Factory reports as touching 90 mph in the Pre-Season All-America Tournament), a low-70s
curve and a solid 80 mph slider. He is a UNC commit and current teammate to PnR’s top rated pitcher in the 2010 Draft
Class, Jameson Taillon. Drake (#9 on the top player list) showed soft hands, good footwork and glove-side
range in workouts and in games back in January. He is committed to the University of Arkansas.
 |
|