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LONG BEACH—The 23rd annual Area Code Games concluded on Monday at Blair Field in Long Beach.

With the assistance of a crosschecker and a longtime pro and amateur scout, Baseball America ranks the Top 10 pitchers from the 2009 event:

1. Dylan Bundy, rhp Owasso (Okla.) HS: A member of the class of 2011, Bundy, according to the crosschecker, is “real good. He has an easy delivery, and can get the ball up there from 90 to 94. All his secondary stuff played; he has a good feel and can throw all four of his pitches for strikes. He has a plus slider and curve.”

2. A.J. Vanegas, rhp, Redwood Christian HS, Alameda, Calif.: “He has the whole thing going on. A good arm and an easy delivery,” scout said. Strong and physical at 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, Vanegas fires a 91-92 mph fastball and a hard 75 curve.

“He’s the main guy in Northern California,” the crosschecker said. “He can hump up the fastball when he wants to, and he’s a strike thrower with a good delivery.”

3. Kevin Gausman, rhp, Grandview HS, Centennial, Colo.: Tall, lanky and projectable at 6-foot-4 and 185 pounds, Gausman offers a 89-93 fastball, adding a slider and curve. “His curve is already (major league) average,” the crosschecker said, “but his slider isn’t average quite yet.”

4. Adam Plutko, rhp, Glendora (Calif.) HS: For almost a year, Plutko has been stuck in neutral, seeming to make no progress and possibly sliding backwards slightly. No more. Blessed with an ideal pitcher’s frame, Plutko fired an 89-92 fastball, a 74 curve and a 75 change.

“He worked very well," the crosschecker said. "I thought he hadn’t taken a step forward; now he’s definitely progressed.”

5. Jesus Valdez, rhp, Hueneme HS, Oxnard, Calif.: “There are a slew of Southern California pitchers, and he’s one of the better ones,” the crosschecker added. “He doesn’t have a great arm action, but he has a good body and a good arm.”

Valdez challenged hitters with a low 90s fastball, working quickly and efficiently and showing no qualms about pounding batters on the inside half of the plate.

6. Tyrell Jenkins, rhp, Henderson (Texas) HS: “You have to like him” the scout said. “He’s got the perfect projectable frame, the ball leaves his hand easily, and he’s only going to get better and better.”

Jenkins is 6-foot-4 and 185 pounds, and he features a fastball which touches 92 and an excellent slider.

7. John Simms, rhp, College Park HS, The Woodlands, Texas: Simms’ build is more mature and developed than Jenkins’, but he garners results.

“His stuff is not overpowering,” the crosschecker said, “and his arm slot is a bit low. But his slider is very good.”

Simms’ fastballs sits about 91 while the slider is around 80.

8. Peter Tago, Dana Hills HS, Dana Point, Calif.: Tago was a bit of an enigma in Long Beach. In his first appearance, he committed the mechanical double whammy of both cutting himself off and throwing across his body. In a later appearance, Tago worked well but threw no curveballs.

In general, Tago’s unusually long arms give him a loose and buggy whip type of delivery. His fastball ranges from 88-92. In other events, his curveball. a potential plus pitch—exhibits straight down drop with intense spin and registers in the mid 70s.

9. Aaron Sanchez, rhp, Barstow (Calif.) HS: “It’s easy to dream on him,” the crosschecker said. “He didn’t step it up here, but he’s pitched in so many events that his velocity isn’t always there. I like his loose, easy arm.”

Sanchez, when right, delivers a high 80s to low 90s fastball, and a tailing mid 70s curve.

10. Henry Owens, lhp, Edison HS, Huntington Beach, Calif.: Another member of the 2011 class, Owens displays a high 80s fastball and a two plane high 60s curve.

“He is a tall and projectable lefty,” the crosschecker said. “He is not overpowering but he has a good feel for the curve”

The scout added: "It’s too early to compare him to (Tyler) Matzek or (Tyler) Skaggs, but he may reach that level by the time he graduates."

The next prominent event on the showcase calendar is the Aflac All-America All Star Game, scheduled for Sunday, August 16 at Petco Park in San Diego.

I’ve read at least two glowing reviews of Archie Bradley at this event (albeit early on; perhaps he faded?) and was wondering what kept him off the list? It sounds like he has top-notch stuff and at least one commentator liked his projectability and delivery better than Bundy’s.

Posted by Blackie | August 12, 2009 at 10:39 am | Shortcut

I thought it strange Bradley did not make the list. Bundy was clearly in better control of all of his pitches. While Bradleys fastball was the best I saw it did dimimish in the third inning somewhat 92-94 down to 88-91. The first two innings it just seemed to jump out of his hand. In the third of his innings he did not record a strike out and one F8 just barely missed going out of the park.

Posted by Felix | August 12, 2009 at 5:09 pm | Shortcut

I agree with Comment 1. Where is Archie Bradley? It was reported that 2011 RHP Archie Bradley had 3 shut out/no hit innings while topping out at 95 mph. If there were 10 pitchers with better numbers and projectability than Archie, there must be some serious arms attending this event.

Posted by AC Supporter | August 12, 2009 at 7:25 pm | Shortcut

I found it strange that Archie Bradley was not listed. I attended each day of the AC he was outstanding. Smooth delivery ball came out EZ, 91-95 ( guns in front of me ) sitting on 93. While he’s a 2 pitch guy the marked increase from an year earlier ( he also was at the AC 2008 ) needs to be noted. Guess somebody wasn’t paying attention.

Posted by Stan | August 13, 2009 at 12:26 pm | Shortcut

Archie Bradley is certainly a guy BA will be keeping its eye on for the next couple of years. Dave’s reports had him in the low 90s (not 95-96) with work needed on his secondary stuff. But he does have a good body and nice pitcher’s frame.

Posted by Nathan Rode | August 14, 2009 at 1:55 pm | Shortcut

Nathan, does that mean Dav’es reports had him topping out in the low 90s? I think most of the velocities in this thread implied low 90s, topping out 95. And is Dave’s report based on several viewings, or just the day one outing most reported?

Posted by Blackie | August 14, 2009 at 3:58 pm | Shortcut

He was sitting low 90s, otherwise he would have told me he was sitting high 80s, touching lows. His report is based on what he saw and his discussions with a scouting director, crosschecker, veteran scout as well as the former pros that were in attendance. Dave also had his own bird dog type guy and no one brought up Bradley. That’s not to say he’s not a prospect. The frame is good, as is the fastball from the sounds of it. Some development of the secondary stuff will help him move right along. He’s also a 2011 so the 2010s have a bit of an edge, though there were two 2011s on the list.

Posted by Nathan Rode | August 14, 2009 at 4:06 pm | Shortcut

I certainly understand 2011′s taking a back seat, though Bundy, a fellow 2011, obviously did not. Concerning the secondary stuff, Keith Law (not prone to hype) had Bradley with an *extremely sharp breaking ball* and another scout had him with a power curve and good slider, commanded well. Nothing against Dave, whose work I enjoy a lot, but that sounds like more than solid secondary stuff. It wouldn’t be scouting without divergent opinions. He’ll be a strong follow the next two years.

Posted by Blackie | August 14, 2009 at 4:13 pm | Shortcut

Blackie: Let’s see if we can put this to rest. There is no question that Bradley is one of the top 2011 pitching prospects. No doubt about it. With all due respect to Keith Law, whom I admire a great deal, he is not a scout. None of the scouts I spoke to had Bradley touching 95 plus. They had him sitting in the low 90′s peaking around 93 occasionally. Also, all the scouts I spoke to like Bradley’s frame, but they voiced modest–and I emphasize modest– concerns about his delivery. Each scout also expressed praise for his breaking stuff, plus they all stated that Bradley needed to improve both his breaking stuff and command. It should be noted that the 3 scouts I spoke to have a combined total of 65 years of scouting experience. Bradley will be back next year, of course, as one the top prospects in the nation and deservedly so.

Posted by Dave Perkin | August 21, 2009 at 2:29 pm | Shortcut

What about Billy Waltrip LHP 16yrs old, topped out at 90 mph, averages 87mph, wicked curve ball, dropping change up, pitched a perfect game in the Mickey Mantle tournament, 1 pitch away from another perfect game with the Dallas Yankees, Winning pitcher in Fort Meyers National 16 and under championships, shut down Bundy’s state championship team, shut down Mannford’s OK. #4 state ranked team once is league and once in state championships and also shut down Bradley’s 6A team in 09 at sixteen years old. Billy is in the top ten 2010 Perfect Game top ten for the state of Oklahoma. He is know 17 years old and is a senior. Is there any info on this young man.

Posted by William Waltrip | October 9, 2009 at 1:21 pm | Shortcut