8/28/10

2011 DRAFT: - Phil Evans, Brandon Nimmo, Shawon Dunston Jr., Michael Kelly... and Blake Swihart

Phil Evans:



8-17-10 from: - link  - Phil Evans, SS: Evans is a complete baseball player with instincts beyond his years, and it would be easy to paint him just with that brush. However, his raw tools shouldn't be discounted. The right-handed hitting shortstop continues to be one of my favorite players in the class because he hits with authority in game action against elite pitching. He also showed off plus raw power in batting practice and one of the most consistent line-drive swings at the event. At shortstop, he flashed his quick release and good first step. The profile here is very well-rounded, and Evans plays more like an advanced college middle infielder than a prep player.



Brandon Nimmo:


8-12-10 from: - link  - OF - East HS, Cheyenne, Wyo. A lefthanded-hitting outfielder who draws Paul O'Neill comparisons, Nimmo has an effortless stroke that results in hard line drives with future power. He is not as well known because he's from Wyoming, where there is no high school baseball. He can play all three outfield spots and has an above-average arm. He should become one of the top outfield prospects in the class.


8-16-10: - http://www.prospectwire.com/pw/article.php?id=130  - Brandon Nimmo, OF, Cheyenne East HS (WY) - Nimmo was one of my favorite players at the event. He goes to high school in Wyoming, where high school baseball is not played. He has an advanced feel for hitting, and makes consistent, hard contact at the plate. Nimmo has room to fill out, at 6-3, 180, so the potential to add more power as he fills out is there. He has a solid arm from the outfield and has the speed to be a premier defensive outfielder.


Shawon Dunston Jr.


8-18-10 from: - link  - Another notable name was Shawon Dunston Jr. (San Jose, Calif.). Unlike his father, he bats from the left side and is a center fielder. His swing looked a little longish to me, as he started it early in anticipation of fastballs and struggled with off-speed stuff. It's one game; I don't know if that's how Dunston always looks, but that's what I saw on Sunday.


Michael Kelly


8-19-10 from: - link  - Tall and projectable to go along with great command of a well-rounded three-pitch repertoire, Kelly reminded me of former Aflac All-American Rick Porcello. Kelly has a smooth and repeatable delivery, and as impressive as his low to mid-90s fastball is, the movement on the pitch and his command of it may have been even more impressive. He also threw both an impressive curve and polished change. He did hang a curveball to Daniel Camarena that got hammered to right field, but it’s hard not to like the total package this young man has to offer.


8-17-10 from: - http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/08/17/which-2011-mlb-draft-prospects-impressed-as-aflac-all-americans  - Michael Kelly, RHP: A long, lanky right-hander, Kelly just screams projection, but the present stuff and feel for pitching are so impressive, you have to wonder just how good he'll get. Kelly worked at 92-94 mph with his fastball on Sunday out of an easy, consistent delivery. He showed off a good breaking ball and changeup as well, working at 75-76 with good depth with his hook. He struggled somewhat from the stretch position, and did not look quite as comfortable there, but in general showed frontline starter potential.

Blake Swihart:


8-19-10 from: - link  - I had heard about Swihart’s effortless approach at the plate before, and it was immediately evident the first time he took to the batter’s box. It starts with a patient and confident approach, knowing what he wants to hit and hit hard. The bat speed is obvious, using a quick, easy swing in which the ball jumps off his bat. He hit a hard single up the middle in the fifth inning off of a low-90s fastball from Deshorn Lake, and entered the game with a lot of fanfare for his overall hitting prowess. I can’t comment on his defense just from this game, but one player that he immediately reminded me of given his switch-hitting bat and prowess at the plate was Victor Martinez.


8-17-10 from: - http://mlb.fanhouse.com/2010/08/17/which-2011-mlb-draft-prospects-impressed-as-aflac-all-americans  - Blake Swihart, C: Austin Hedges may be the standout with the arm and Marlette the standout as far as raw power, but it is Swihart that offers the best total package. He has the skills and frame to stick behind the plate and his bat continues to look fantastic. Swihart is very consistent mechanically from both sides of the plate, and unlike many young switch-hitters looks equally impressive from each side. With his consistent line-drive approach and plus power potential, he has the look of a future star behind the plate.

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