4/25/10

DRAFT: - Brian Pointer, Cody Wheeler, Tyler Green, Kenny McDowall... and Chris Sale

Brian Pointer:


4-20 from: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2010/4/20/1431880/casing-the-states-nevada#storyjump : - OF, Galena HS, Reno - Pointer is the position player complement to Kris Bryant in the Nevada high school class, though he hasn't been making as much progress as hoped. Pointer doesn't offer the kind of ceiling that Bryant offers, though he does offer some nice polish at the plate for a prep bat. A lefty all the way, Pointer has solid raw hitting tools, featuring average potential with the bat and average potential for power. He's also a solid athlete with solid-average speed, making him an interesting prospect. He shows solid defensive tools for right field, showcasing a solid-average arm with above-average range for the position, and he should make for a good defensive outfielder after work on his routes. As you can tell, there isn't anything that really stands out about Pointer, and scouts have been waiting on him to show just a little more potential. At this point he profiles more as a solid college outfield prospect than a true pro prospect, and I suspect his Oregon State commitment will come into play in the range he's projected to be drafted. Projected Draft Range: 10th Round – Undrafted

Cody Wheeler::

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2010/4/23/1437780/25-additional-pitching-prospects  - LHP, Coastal Carolina University - Coastal Carolina is having a great year with a 33-5 record, and Wheeler is a big part of that, going 6-0, 3.88 with a 61/21 K/BB in 60 innings with 56 hits allowed. He has an 88-91 MPH fastball, but his slider is one of the better ones in the college ranks. His changeup isn't bad, and he looked great last year for Team USA. Projected to go in the third or fourth round, I think he's a sleeper who could end up exceeding expectations.






Tyler Green

4-22-10 from: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2010/4/22/1435556/casing-the-states-texas-part-two  - RHP, Brazoswood HS, Clute - This Green, of no relation to Cole, possesses one of the fastest arms in the draft, and he's an athletic two-way player to boot. A shortstop prospect as well, scouts are generally more interested in his arm on the mound. Though he stands at a relatively short 6'1'', he does still project some for strength, and that would add on to an already plus fastball. He already is throwing 90-93 mph pitches, touching 95, and with any projection for more, he could become a premier power arm as a prospect. He adds in a potentially plus curveball that gets tons of swings and misses, and the fact that he already has an excellent feel for it means that scouts trust he'll able to get a feel for a changeup, which he uses rarely due to his excellent two-pitch mix. The reason Green isn't ranked higher is that his delivery, combined with his body, isn't smooth and his overall mechanics are in question. He might not need an entire mechanical re-work, but some teams feel more comfortable looking at him as a possible reliever rather than a starter. However, when it comes down to it, he's gaining some steam due to his excellent natural stuff, and scouts now have to figure out how precious his TCU scholarship is to him. Projected Draft Range: 3rd-6th Round

Kenny McDowall:

4-20 from: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2010/4/20/1431880/casing-the-states-nevada#storyjump : - RHP, CC of Southern Nevada - McDowell is yet another player that has received positive exposure as a result of being teammates with Bryce Harper. A little-known sophomore entering the season, he's bloomed into one of the better junior college swing men in the country. He had his fair share of success exclusively as a reliever in 2009, showing solid command and some promise, but most thought he'd turn out to be more of a solid college pitcher than a true pro prospect. It turns out that he has a little more in the tank than was expected, and there's still some room for improvement. McDowall stands at 6'3'', but only 185 pounds, and one of the main reasons he wasn't highly-recruited out of high school is that he didn't have much strength to speak of. He slipped through the cracks nationally and only landed at CSN due to the hometown ties. On the mound, he features a solid-average 90-92 mph fastball that gets excellent sink, and it moves more than any other fastball on the staff. He commands it passably well, but he's lost his feel for it at times due to the movement it gets. It will sometimes drift out over the plate or dive below the strike zone often enough for hitters to lay off, resulting in his fair share of walks allowed. He complements his fastball with a fringe-average breaking ball and changeup combination that doesn't project well for him in pro ball, though he changes speeds enough to keep hitters off-balance. He doesn't have the big potential of his fellow pitchers, but he offers plenty of value as a swing man. He has a scholarship to Hawaii, and he'd start immediately there, so if he isn't happy with the offer he receives, he stands a chance to build on his stock next year. Projected Draft Range: 7th-12th Round

Chris Sale

4-21 from: - http://www.minorleagueball.com/2010/4/21/1435316/interesting-college-pitchers-for  - LHP, Florida Gulf Coast University - Sale attracted the attention of scouts last summer in the Cape Cod League, and has maintained that momentum this spring with a 2.48 ERA and a 78/8 K/BB in 58 innings, with 55 hits allowed. His exceptional K/BB and K/IP ratios reflect the fact that he has excellent command of his 90-95 MPH fastball, terrific changeup, and developing slider. Tall and lean at 6-5, 180, he has an attractive combination of polish and stuff, and could still have some remaining physical projectability. He won't get out of the Top Ten picks, and seems a logical candidate for the Indians at five or the Diamondbacks at six.

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