Rankings - Top 15: Team USA (Summer 2009)

Reports from the established trade journals indicate that scouts were generally down on this year’s crop of collegians populating the National Team roster -- particularly the “elite” talent, or rather the lack thereof. While it wasn't projected first round talent 1 through 25, by my count there were at least four potential top 5 overall selections (though two are in the 2011 Draft Class) with a ten or so figuring to fall in the top third of our pre-season Top 300. Here is PnR’s Top 15 from this summer’s Team USA squad, and a “Note” highlighting each player’s performance over the past three months. “(2011)” designation indicates player isn’t draft eligible until 2011:

Gerrit Cole, RHP, UCLA (2011): 7 IP, 2 H, 1 BB and 9 SO in Game 1 of USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Championship, complete game 2 H shutout (7 SO) against Team Canada in World Baseball Challenge semifinals, and recorded 11 SOs over 5.2 IP as winning pitcher in combined no-hitter against Team Guatemala
Sonny Gray, RHP, Vanderbilt Univ. (2011): 5.1 IP, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB, 5 SO, earning the win in relief in Game 3 of USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Championship -- ranked second on team in ERA (0.75) behind relief pitcher Nick Pepitone (0.00)
Christian Colon, SS, Cal St. Fullerton: Team captain led team in hits (34), triples (3), homeruns (5), slugging (.617), RBI (34), stolen bases (24) and assists (58), finished 4th in batting average (.362) and 2nd in OBP (.459)
Drew Pomeranz, LHP, Univ. of Mississippi: Team leader in SO/9 IP (16.83), broke Team USA National Team (collegiate) record with 17 SO against Team Guatemala and earned win in finals of World Baseball Challenge against Team Germany (game line 7 IP, 1 ER, 1 H , 2 BB, 12 SO)
Bryce Brentz, OF/RHP, Mid. Tenn. St.: Second on team in batting average (.366), slugging (.563) and RBI (18) -- 10 for 15 in four games against Team Guatemala, with 5 doubles and closed the summer with two homeruns at the World Baseball Challenge
Chad Bettis, RHP, Texas Tech: Second on team in BAA (.100) allowing just 3 H and 3 BB in 9 IP, perfect 3-3 in save opportunities (team leader) and struck out over a batter per inning (11 SO/9 IP)
Tyler Holt, OF, Florida St. Univ.: Team lead-off hitter ranked first in batting average (tied - .371), on-base percentage (.513), walks (24), and second in hits (33), runs (28) and stolen bases (19) -- 10 for 21 during USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Championship (five games)
Rick Hague, SS/3B, Rice Univ.: Tied with Holt for team lead in batting average (.371) and was also top 3 in slugging (.551), doubles (7), homeruns (3), hits (33), RBI (16) and total bases (49) -- 9 for 19 with a double and two homeruns in five games at the World Baseball Challenge
Cody Wheeler, LHP, Coastal Carolina Univ.: 3-0 record in 4 GS, posting 12.49 SO/9 IP -- 7 IP, 2 ER, 2 H, 2 BB and 10 SO against Team British Columbia at World Baseball Challenge
Nick Pepitone, RHP, Tulane Univ.: Team leader in BAA (.045) and WHIP (0.477) -- only pitcher with over 1 IP not to allow an extra base hit all summer (14.2 IP)
Michael Choice, OF, Univ. of Texas - Arlington: Tied for second on team with 3 HR -- 7-29 (.368) with all 3 HR over seven games at World Baseball Challenge
Asher Wojciechowski, RHP, The Citadel: 12.63 SO/9 IP and team-leading 7.25 SO/BB ratio over 20.2 IP -- 8 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 12 SO over one start and one relief appearance at World Baseball Challenge and USA vs. Japan Collegiate All-Star Championship, respectively
Trevor Bauer, RHP, UCLA (2011): 12.46 SO/9 IP -- only starter aside from Cole to throw a complete game shutout, posting line of 7 IP, 2H, 0 ER, 0 BB, 12 SO against Team Guatemala in mercy rule game
Blake Forsythe, C, Univ. of Tennessee: Third on team with 1.31 BB/SO, second on team with .500 OBP and lead team in extra base percentage with 25% of his hits going for extra bases -- 5 for 15 with 1 2B and 1 HR over seven games at World Baseball Challenge
Brad Miller, INF, Clemson Univ. (2011): Second on team with 1.33 BB/SO, fifth on team with .417 OBP and perfect 8 for 8 in stolen base attempts -- third on team in assists (31) behind Colon (58) and Hague (38) while committing just 1 error in 54 chances and logging time and SS, 2B and 3B (primarily 2B)