1/28/11

Mack Draft: - Alex Silver, Anthony Rendon, Danny Muno, Zack MacPhee, Dwight Smith , and Nolan Fontana

Texas freshman third baseman Alex Silver has been diagnosed with Hodgkin’s lymphoma and will miss the first couple months of the season according to Austin-American Statesman writer Alan Trubow. Silver was expected to contribute in the Longhorns lineup this season as he was slated to start at either third base or second base. - http://www.collegebaseballdaily.com/2011/01/26/alex-silver-diagnosed-with-hodgkins-lymphoma



The First-Year Player Draft will be June 6-8 and, indeed, Seattle picks second behind Pittsburgh. That’ll be a big moment this year for the Mariners, with the chance to add one of the premier prospects in what is being billed as an excellent draft. Most everyone expects Pittsburgh will take Rice third baseman Anthony Rendon, though I’m sure the Mariners would love to grab the young slugger if he slips to them. Rendon is just coming back from a fractured ankle, but he hit .394 with 26 home runs and 85 RBIs last season while being named College Player of the Year. There is also a strong group of pitchers available, with UCLA right-hander Gerrit Cole and TCU lefty Matthew Purke generally mentioned atop the list. And the Mariners will likely look hard at UConn outfielder George Springer as well - http://benmaller.com/tag/mlb



Danny Muno – Fresno State - Muno is one of those guys who has been around forever. He was Fresno State’s starting shortstop as a freshman when the Bulldogs ran to the CWS National Championship in 2008. He earned WAC Freshman of the Year honors that season. Now a senior, he could end his career with more games than anyone who’s ever worn an FSU uniform. Muno batted .329 with seven home runs, 33 RBIs, 10 stolen bases, and scored a team-best 68 runs in 2010. He earned first team All-WAC honors at second base in 2009, but settled for second team last year with Hawaii’s Kolten Wong taking top honors. - http://collegebaseball360.com/2011/01/25/top-11-college-baseball-2b-to-watch-in-2011



Zack MacPhee – Arizona State - MacPhee had a good freshman season at ASU, but he was great as a sophomore in 2010. The switch-hitting second baseman was named the Pac 10 Player of the Year and also earned unanimous First Team All-American recognition after batting .389 with nine home runs, 64 RBIs, and 20 stolen bases to help the Sun Devils reach the College World Series under first-year head coach Tim Esmay. MacPhee also broke a nearly 40 year-old school record with 14 triples. His 1.150 OPS, helped by his .664 slugging percentage, were both team-highs. MacPhee combines with sophomore shortstop Deven Marrero to give ASU one of the youngest, fastest and best middle infield combos in the nation this season. - http://collegebaseball360.com/2011/01/25/top-11-college-baseball-2b-to-watch-in-2011


#34 - OF Dwight Smith Jr. McIntosh HS, Peachtree City Ga 5'11 185 L/R - comps to his father when Dwight Sr played for the Cubs years back, Jr has a good solid stroke with bat speed and strength in his swing, running speed and throwing arm are just ok, not ML average but definitely playable, better quickness than speed, he has a chance to improve speed by a .10 or .20 with work and dedication, arm can get better too in time. There is no real rush on this kid and dad says he'd like Jr to get an education but knows that signing quickly out of HS will only aid him in getting to the show quicker. http://xmlbscout.angelfire.com/  

Nolan Fontana – Florida - Fontana was a vital cog in the Gators’ run to the College World Series as a freshman in 2010. He started all but one of Florida’s 64 game and sparkled at shortstop, committing just four errors in 279 chances. That alone made him the first player in program history to earn a Rawlings Gold Glove Award. His overall offensive numbers (.283, 3 HR, 23 RBIs) aren’t eye-popping, but his move to the top of the order in early April helped solidify the Gator line-up and the drive to Omaha. Fontana’s .437 OBP with 53 walks were team-highs, while his 29 strikeouts tied Preston Tucker for the fewest of any batter with at least 200 at-bats. He also played for the USA Collegiate National Team over the summer. http://collegebaseball360.com/2011/01/21/top-11-college-baseball-ss-to-watch-in-2011

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