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Players signed indicated in Bold
| Round | Overall | Team | Player | School | State | Bonus |
| 1 | 14 | Minnesota Twins | Aaron Hicks | Wilson HS, Long Beach | Calif. | $1,780,000 |
| A magnet for scouts since his sophomore season, Hicks is the finest prep outfielder/pitcher prospect in the greater Los Angeles area since Daryl Strawberry in the early 1980s. He most resembles Adam Jones, who was a first-round talent as both an outfielder and pitcher. As an outfielder, Hicks projects as a five-tool player, and his arm grades out to near 80 on the scouting scale. With his plus speed (6.6 seconds over 60 yards), Hicks is a daring and aggressive baserunner. His speed, easy range and arm mean Hicks will begin his career as a center fielder. Prior to the 2008 season, many scouts had reservations about his hitting ability. A switch-hitter, he's shown improvement by lowering his hands. His hitting mechanics and lightning reflexes permit scouts who believe in him to project him as an above-average hitter with above-average power. As a pitcher, Hicks' fastball sits in the 92-94 mph range, and in a mid-May start he was at 94-97. His curveball shows wicked movement and he adds a hard cutter and a change. Clubs were split on whether Hicks would pitch or hit, but either way, he's expected to go in the middle of the first round. | ||||||
| 1s | 34 | Philadelphia Phillies | Zach Collier | Chino Hills (Calif.) HS | Calif. | $1,020,000 |
| Collier was not selected to participate in the 2007 Area Code Games or the Aflac Classic, but he's had a high profile nonetheless. He started to generate buzz during the local Connie Mack summer season as a teammate of Isaac Galloway and Aaron Hicks. Rave reviews from parents and youth coaches began to filter down to scouts, and Collier helped his cause with strong showings in two showcase events held at the MLB Urban Youth Academy in Compton. He continued gaining ground this spring, and then moved into first-round consideration when he took a Hicks 93 mph fastball deep during a tournament game in Fullerton. To make sure the 40-plus scouts in attendance were paying attention, Collier ripped two more hits. Lefthanded all the way, Collier has an athletic and projectable 6-foot-2, 195-pound outfielder's frame. His above-average speed makes him a threat as a baserunner and permits him to patrol center field for now. As he slows down and matures physically, he'll play an outfield corner, and his average arm makes right field a possibility. Collier had a surgical procedure to improve blood flow to his heart, performed in May 2006, which may be a concern for some clubs, but he's been medically cleared for two years and has had no problems. Collier's hitting ability and solid all-around game had him moving up boards, possibly in the middle of the first round. | ||||||
| 1s | 42 | San Diego Padres | Jaff Decker | Sunrise Mountain HS, Peoria, Ariz. | Ariz. | $892,000 |
| Decker looks like a younger version of Matt Stairs with a compact, strong body, and he's earned comparisons to the Canadian slugger as well, though Decker throws lefthanded. Scouts mean the comparison as a compliment, because Decker can really hit. The best thing about being a 5-foot-10 slugger is that Decker is short to the ball and has an easy feel for hitting, generating easy above-average power with a quick, strong swing. He's a baseball player and grinder who has become an area scout's favorite. His arm is his next-best tool after his bat, as he's thrown a no-hitter this spring, occasionally visits the low-90s with his fastball and spins a solid-average breaking ball. If he doesn't make it as a hitter, he definitely has a shot to become a lefthanded reliever, and if he winds up at Arizona State he could become a three-year, two-way star. His body leaves no room for projection, but he has one of the better now bats in the high school draft class. Decker's a second-round bat but probably fits lower on most boards due to his small stature. | ||||||
| 2 | 50 | Baltimore Orioles | Xavier Avery | Cedar Grove HS, Ellenwood, Ga. | Ga. | $900,000 |
| Athleticism, speed and the unknown are all words coinciding with Avery. This spring he signed to play football as a running back with Georgia. A center fielder, Avery is one of the fastest players in the draft and has been timed at 6.2 seconds in the 60-yard dash. However, Avery is hampered by the poor level of competition on his high school team's schedule, making him a tough player for scouts to evaluate this spring. He was visible last summer and performed well both in the East Cobb league and on the showcase circuit, leading to his being named an Aflac all-American. Avery's tools are thought to be raw, as are his instincts. However, with his speed, he is projected to be an above-average outfielder with an average arm, similar to Carl Crawford. At the plate, Avery's ability is even more of a projection. Hitting lefthanded and having above-average speed will always give Avery a chance to hit for average, but scouts feel he is still a ways away with the bat and his approach. Avery could be an exponential improver with proper instruction and multiple at-bats in the minor leagues. | ||||||
| 2 | 51 | Philadelphia Phillies | Anthony Gose | Bellflower (Calif.) HS | Calif. | $772,000 |
| Gose has perhaps the strongest left arm of any Southern California high school pitching prospect since Bill Bordley, a first-round pick in the mid 1970s. However, his small stature and a recent bout of rotator cuff tendinitis have his draft status in doubt. Gose's blistering fastball ranges from 92-96 mph, peaking at 97. Both his frame and four-seam fastball draw legitimate comparisons to both Scott Kazmir and Billy Wagner. In professional baseball, Gose will need to improve and sharpen both his 77 mph curve and 75 mph changeup. Gose profiles as a lefthanded closer or set-up man, since he loses significant velocity as a game progresses. He'll also need to clean up his mechanics and learn to slow down his frantic pace. Scouts are currently awaiting results on another MRI of Gose's shoulder; one in mid-April showed no fracture or labrum tear. After starting several games early in the season, Gose was restricted to DH duty for much of the spring. As with so many young hurlers, high pitch counts and year-round play add to injury concerns with Gose. When he's healthy or when he's not pitching, Gose plays center field, with plus-plus speed and arm being his best tools. He's aggressive on the bases with a knack for stealing bags, taking the extra base, and flying into bases with a head-first slide. However, Gose has never consistently shown enough hitting ability to convince scouts he can hit professional pitching. Severe doubts about his bat make it most likely that Gose will be drafted and signed as a pitcher. | ||||||
| 2 | 54 | Milwaukee Brewers | Cutter Dykstra | Westlake HS, Westlake Village, Calif. | Calif. | $737,000 |
| Dykstra is a righthanded version of his dad, former major leaguer Len Dykstra, who starred with the Mets and Phillies in the 1980s and 90s. The younger Dykstra is a terrific athlete, finishing first in the SPARQ testing at the 2007 Area Code games in Long Beach and running the 60 in 6.58 seconds. An offense-first prospect, he uses his speed aggressively. He has a balanced stance at the plate and can hammer pitches middle in. He has outstanding power for a player his size, and his excellent bat speed produces both line-drive and loft power. While his frame is strong, well developed and athletic, Dykstra has little physical projection. Of greater concern with Dykstra is defense, as he's moved from shortstop to center field. He's not a natural fit at either spot with an adequate arm. The UCLA signee had late helium and could go in the first three rounds. | ||||||
| 2 | 55 | Washington Nationals | Destin Hood | St. Paul's Episcopal HS, Mobile, Ala. | Ala. | $1,100,000 |
| Hood showed his raw power and lightning-quick bat speed when he tied for the home run derby title at the Aflac Classic last fall. Raw and electric are two words scouts use to describe Hood. He has four raw tools but each with above-average projection. An exceptional athlete with a combination of strength and speed, Hood is signed to play football (wide receiver) and baseball at Alabama. At the plate, Hood has bat speed and raw power to rival anyone in this draft class, but his hit tool is currently lacking as he often swings and misses. A shortstop in high school, Hood will most definitely be moved to the outfield due to his below-average arm strength. He is a plus runner, and although his instincts are under-developed, could be an average defender in the future. The team that drafts Hood will believe in his ability to eventually hit. Upon reaching high ceiling, Hood projects as a middle of the order impact bat. | ||||||
| 2 | 56 | Houston Astros | Jay Austin | North Atlanta HS, Atlanta | Ga. | $715,000 |
| A teammate of Avery in the East Cobb League, Austin is an athletic outfielder in a draft short on players of his mold. A center fielder with above-average speed and a lefthanded swing, Austin has scouts intrigued with his potential to be a five-tool player at the big league level. He has added power to his game this spring after physically maturing and incorporating his lower half more into his swing. He has plus bat speed and has shown ability to make consistent contact at the high school level. The team that drafts him will be betting that Austin will continue to hit into the pros as the other tools needed are present. Austin can even throw 90 mph off the mound, giving him a plus arm in the outfield. He is still somewhat raw but has a ceiling and would be a great pick for a team with multiple selections early in the draft. | ||||||
| 2 | 59 | St. Louis Cardinals | Shane Peterson | Long Beach State | Calif. | $683,000 |
| Peterson is the top prospect on a talent-laden Long Beach State squad which could have six players drafted in the first 10 rounds. Peterson's strong, mature body and outstanding hitting performance this year, following up an excellent showing in the Cape Cod League last summer, should make him the first Dirtbag drafted. One of the most versatile players in the nation, the lefthanded Peterson has the ability to play first, pitch (90 mph off the mound) or hold down a corner outfield spot. He's above-average defensively at first but should run enough (though he's below-average) to hold down a corner outfield spot. Peterson's hitting mechanics are a bit out of the ordinary, as he's a front-foot hitter, but he generates excellent bat speed and has a high finish that helps give him loft power. An admirably consistent hitter, Peterson can hammer the ball to all fields, and has cleared the deep center-field fence at Blair Field, one of the stingiest D-1 hitter's parks in the country. Peterson slumps only when he chases the high inside fastball, or when he becomes too pull oriented and flies his head and front side open. Statistically-inclined clubs will jump on Peterson, who was leading the Big West Conference in on-base percentage (.495) and ranked second in slugging. While not a prospect on the level of recent Long Beach State hitters like Troy Tulowitzki and Evan Longoria, Peterson is a legitimate first-two-rounds candidate and has enough bat to be a regular at a corner position. | ||||||
| 2 | 63 | Toronto Blue Jays | Kenny Wilson | Sickles HS, Tampa | Fla. | $644,000 |
| An athlete, Wilson's best tool is his above-average running ability. He gets out of the box and down the line right at four seconds and is a true base stealing threat. Wilson is a gap-to-gap hitter with below-average power, using his speed to put pressure on the defense. In the outfield, Wilson is an above average defender. Committed to Florida, Wilson may be a tough sign. | ||||||
| 2 | 66 | Seattle Mariners | Dennis Raben | Miami | Fla. | $616,000 |
| Lefthanded power hitters are always in demand, and with this draft class being low on quality college outfielders, Raben satisfies two areas of desire. A 49th-round draft pick by the Mariners in 2005, Raben chose to attend Miami and helped lead the Hurricanes to the College World Series as a freshman. Following his sophomore year, Raben played in the Cape Cod League for Orleans, hitting six home runs and earning all-Cape Cod League honors. A preseason All-American, Raben was recognized as one of the top hitting outfield prospects in the upcoming draft. Raben has a strong build at 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds. He is aggressive at the plate and can often times get caught chasing pitches out of the zone. His swing has some length, but Raben has tremendous power that translates to the game. In the outfield, he is a below-average runner but does have good instincts and takes proper routes. However, Raben could be moved to first base at some point in his professional career. | ||||||
| 2 | 68 | New York Mets | Javier Rodriguez | Puerto Rico Baseball Academy, Gurabo, P.R. | $585,000 | |
| Considered one of the better prospects in Puerto Rico heading into the Excellence Tournament that annually draws scouts to see the island's best talent each May, Rodriguez elevated his status after his strong showing there. He is the best pure hitter from Puerto Rico and has good bat speed. With a lean, athletic body, Rodriguez should have the ability to add muscle to his long frame. He shows above-average raw power to the pull side, though there is some length to his swing. Rodriguez is an average to above-average runner, clocking in at 6.7 seconds in the 60-yard dash. Reviews of his fielding are mixed, though his arm is above-average for both the length and carry he gets on the ball and for its accuracy. | ||||||
| 2 | 72 | Colorado Rockies | Charlie Blackmon | Georgia Tech | Ga. | $563,000 |
| Blackmon has been drafted twice before, by the Marlins out of high school in 2004 (28th round) and then by the Red Sox in 2005 after his freshman year at Young Harris (Ga.) JC (20th round). In both cases he was taken as a lefthander, but after transferring to Georgia Tech he didn't see any time on the mound, and he redshirted in 2007. Blackmon played in the Texas Collegiate League last summer and batted .316 as an outfielder, so when he returned to Georgia Tech he got a chance as a position player and took full advantage. In his first year as a hitter, Blackmon has led the Yellow Jackets in batting and was among the team leaders in nearly every offensive category. A natural athlete, Blackmon has five tools that are quickly gaining refinement. At 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, he has the prototypical pro body. He runs well and could play any of the three outfield positions but probably fits best in left. At the plate, Blackmon has a natural lefthanded swing and makes consistent contact. While his approach is still raw, he projects to hit for power and average. He's a college senior but a young hitter, so he has plenty of room for improvement. He is one of the biggest sleepers in this year's draft. | ||||||
| 3 | 82 | San Francisco Giants | Roger Kieschnick | Texas Tech | Texas | $525,000 |
| Coming off a summer during which he tied Pedro Alvarez for the Team USA lead with seven homers, Kieschnick had a shot to go in the first round, with his chances enhanced by a lack of quality college outfielders. But he hasn't delivered as much as hoped, chasing too many pitches out of the strike zone and batting just .300 entering the final week of the regular season--this after hitting .305 as a sophomore. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound Kieschnick has above-average power to all fields, but until he shows more discipline, pitchers can exploit his aggressiveness. He's not one-dimensional, however, as he has solid-average speed and arm strength, making him a prototypical right fielder. His game and his build are reminiscent of his cousin, former Cubs first-round pick Brooks Kieschnick. Roger ranks as the top position player in Texas in a down year for the state, but he's more likely to go in the sandwich or second round now. | ||||||
| 3 | 93 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Kyle Russell | Texas | Texas | $410,000 |
| Russell topped NCAA Division I with a school-record 28 homers in 2007, yet that wasn't enough to answer questions about his bat. His poor history with wood bats and his seven-figure asking price dropped him to the Cardinals in the fourth round. When the two sides couldn't come to an agreement, he returned for an up-and-down junior season. Russell hit one homer in March and 12 in April, and scouts still aren't sure his swing and approach will work with wood. He offers power to all fields, though he has been more pull-conscious this spring. He's a decent athlete with a right-field arm, but it's his bat that will have to carry him to the majors. Russell could get drafted in the same area he did a year ago, though it's unlikely anyone will match St. Louis' reported willingness to give him an $800,000 bonus. | ||||||
| 3 | 94 | Milwaukee Brewers | Logan Schafer | Cal Poly | Calif. | $404,000 |
| Outfielder Logan Schafer is one of the Mustangs' safest bets to be drafted. He has average tools across the board. He isn't particularly patient at the plate , but Schafer's athletic ability and raw power from the left side help him stand out. He could squeeze into the first six rounds if they find the right fit. | ||||||
| 3 | 100 | New York Mets | Kirk Nieuwenhuis | Azusa Pacific (Calif.) | Calif. | $360,000 |
| Nieuwenhuis entered the season as BA's top-ranked NAIA prospect after being the Alaska League's player of the year last summer. He's physical at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, has good arm strength and has pitched at times in his career. He has a strong swing and hit .400 with 15 home runs this spring for Azusa Pacific. | ||||||
| 3 | 101 | San Diego Padres | Blake Tekotte | Miami | Fla. | $361,000 |
| Tekotte plays on a Miami team loaded with impact draft prospects, and he has taken full advantage of the increased exposure. He has been a spark plug for the Hurricanes all season hitting out of the leadoff spot and could fit the same role as a big leaguer. Hitting from the left side, Tekotte puts pressure on the defense with his above-average speed and ability to put the ball in play. He also steals bases--more than 20 this season--and has shown occasional power this spring. Tekotte will also benefit from this being a draft low on college outfielders. He is an above-average college center fielder, and could be average there in the pros despite his below-average arm strength. Tekotte performed well in the Cape Cod League last summer, hitting .256 for Brewster in 43 games. He was subsequently named to the Cape Cod all-star team and earned all-league honors following the season. Tekotte has a good chance to hit for average at the major league level but will most likely be a gap-to-gap hitter with below-average power. His lack of power might leave his bat a bit shy for an everyday regular, and he could settle in as a fourth outfielder. | ||||||
| 3s | 112 | Los Angeles Angels | Zach Cone | Parkview HS, Lilburn, Ga. | Ga. | |
| One of the best high school athletes in this year's draft class, Cone has had an impressive spring season and has vaulted his draft stock upward. Although he is still somewhat stiff at the plate, Cone improved throughout high school and has shown the ability to hit for power and the potential to hit for average. He also has above-average speed, getting down the first base line in 4.1 seconds from the right side. Cone comes from professional bloodlines as his father played in the NFL. At 6-foot-2, and 200 pounds, Cone has the range and instincts to play center field at the major league level. There aren't many prospects in this draft class with Cone's mixture of athleticism, strength and tools. Cone is committed to play baseball for Georgia. | ||||||
| 4 | 113 | Tampa Bay Rays | Ty Morrison | Tigard (Ore.) HS | Ore. | $500,000 |
| Morrison was in Virginia last spring and played on a Virginia-based travel team last summer, then was in Hawaii in the fall. However, his parents moved to Oregon in the spring, and he surpassed Tigard High teammate Ryan Gorton as the state's top prep prospect. A member of the University of Oregon's first baseball recruiting class for its reborn program, he probably doesn't have enough bat to make a quick impact in pro ball, but a patient team could get one of the draft's better athletes. Long and lean, almost frail, Morrison is a fast-twitch athlete who is a 65 runner on the 20-to-80 scale. Morrison's best present tool is his speed, and he's a raw though potentially above-average defender in center field. He's a long strider who can cover a lot of ground and has enough arm strength for center field. Offensively, Morrison is behind, unable to bring his authoritative batting-practice hacks into games. However, he has raw power, though it might take a couple of thousand minor league at-bats for it to come out. | ||||||
| 4 | 116 | Baltimore Orioles | Kyle Hudson | Illinois | Ill. | $287,000 |
| Hudson was better known for his exploits as a wide receiver in his first two years at Illinois, leading the football team in receptions as a freshman and again as a sophomore. Relegated to a supporting role on the gridiron last fall, he has taken out his frustrations on opposing pitchers this spring. He ended the regular season among the NCAA Division I leaders in batting (.411), on-base percentage (.511), runs (60) and steals (39). He also set Big 10 Conference records for runs (40) and steals (25) in league games, and tied a school mark when he swiped his 40th base in the opening round of the league tournament. Hudson is a 5-foot-11, 165-pound burner whose games revolves around his top-of-the-line speed. He has run the 40-yard dash in 4.4 seconds and uses his quickness well on the bases and in center field. He's an outstanding athlete who once won the Illinois state high school high jump title with a mark of 6-foot-10 and earned 15 letters in four sports. Hudson offers little power, but he understands his limitations and concentrates on getting on base. He uses a slap approach at the plate and is a good bunter. His arm is well-below-average, though he compensates by getting to balls quickly. A team that loves speed and values athletes at a premium position could take Hudson as early as the third round. | ||||||
| 4 | 122 | Houston Astros | T.J. Steele | Arizona | Ariz. | $267,000 |
| Steele played at Canyon del Oro High, a powerhouse program in Tucson that is the alma mater of big leaguers such as Chris and Shelley Duncan and Ian Kinsler, among others. He stayed in Tucson for college and has been a three-year starter at Arizona. Steele's athletic ability stands out in a college class short on such players. He's a plus runner with good range in center field; combined with his instincts and adequate arm, he's an above-average defender. Steele has raw power potential and good instincts to go with his speed on the bases, and potentially could be a middle-of-the-order, 20-homers, 20-steals threat. However, Steele's bat lacks refinement, mostly due to too much aggressiveness and too little pitch recognition. Miscast as a leadoff hitter, Steele gets himself out early in counts too often and isn't patient enough to bring his plus raw power to the fore. Steele isn't the average college draft pick in several ways and should take more time to develop than most. But in a year nearly devoid of college outfielders with upside, he stands out. | ||||||
| 4 | 126 | Minnesota Twins | Danny Ortiz | Harrison HS, Cayey, P.R. | $253,000 | |
| Like fellow Puerto Rican Javier Rodriguez, Ortiz is a sweet-swinging outfielder who boosted his stock as much as anyone at the Excellence Tournament in May. Though he doesn't have the classic size of a corner outfielder, Ortiz has pure hitter with a projectable bat and a good approach at the plate. With quick hands and power to all fields, Ortiz has good hitting mechanics and his bat stays in the hitting zone for a long time. He recorded a 6.7-second time in the 60, but Ortiz will likely play left field ultimately in pro ball. He projects to go in the top five rounds, and a team who saw him play well in May could take him as high as the third round. | ||||||
| 4 | 134 | New York Mets | Sean Ratliff | Stanford | Calif. | $225,000 |
| Stanford's top talent, junior outfielder Sean Ratliff, might have worked into the first-round mix with more polish at the plate. His 18 homers ranked fifth in the Pac-10, he runs well for his 6-foot-3, 225-pound size, and he has enough arm to hit 92 mph off the mound. It's a prototype right-field profile, but Ratliff has an unorthodox swing with holes in it, and he swings and misses a lot. His 72 strikeouts tied for second-worst in Division I entering regional play. | ||||||
| 4 | 135 | San Diego Padres | Jason Kipnis | Arizona State | Ariz. | |
| Scouts who saw Arizona State early also were impressed by Kentucky transfer Jason Kipnis, who got off to a rousing start, showing surprising power. Most area scouts compare him to former ASU star Colin Curtis as a tweener, though they liked Curtis' hit tool better. Kipnis' power falls short due to a bat wrap that will slow him down with wood. He has enough arm and speed to play all three outfield spots and a patient approach at the plate while being aggressive on the basepaths with his average speed. He fits into the sixth- to 10th-round range for most clubs. Kipnis redshirted at Kentucky as a freshman and was kicked off the Wildcats club as a sophomore but has impressed with his work ethic at ASU. | ||||||
| 4 | 138 | Arizona Diamondbacks | Ryne White | Purdue | Ind. | $213,000 |
| First baseman Ryne White is far and away the most advanced hitter in the state. He batted .333 this spring after finishing third in NCAA Division I with a .452 batting average in 2007, but he did increase his power (from eight to 12 homers) and continued to control the strike zone (35 walks, 21 strikeouts). White has a quick bat, tremendous hand-eye coordination and a whole-field approach. He made adjustments this year to get more power out of his stroke. He's short for a first baseman at 5-foot-11 and 205 pounds, but he has an average arm and could get a pro opportunity in the outfield, where he played as a freshman. | ||||||
| 4 | 142 | Boston Red Sox | Pete Hissey | Unionville (Pa.) HS | Pa. | $1,000,000 |
| Hissey's brother and father played college baseball, so he had no trouble dropping basketball even though he could have played shooting guard for a mid-major college hoops program. An above-average runner with good instincts, Hissey has added about 20 pounds of muscle to his 6-foot frame in the past year, and though his power is below-average currently, he projects as average or slightly better. He's an aggressive hitter who has a good feel for the strike zone, stays on breaking balls well and hits hard line drive to all fields. He's a promising defender in center field but needs to improve his routes. One scout projected him as a right fielder down the line and compared him to Paul O'Neill for his game as well as his hard-nosed approach. Hissey is an excellent student, and a club will likely have to take him in the top three rounds to buy him out of a commitment to Virginia. | ||||||
| 5 | 168 | Arizona Diamondbacks | Collin Cowgill | Kentucky | Ky. | $155,000 |
| Cowgill missed all of 2007 with a broken hamate bone and has done nothing but hit since returning. He batted .290 in the Cape Cod League last summer, earning all-star honors and helping Yarmouth-Dennis win the championship, after which he turned down the Athletics as a 29th-round pick. Cowgill is just 5-foot-9 and 195 pounds, but he plays bigger than his size and tools, which aren't lacking. He has a discerning eye and plenty of bat speed, allowing him to wait on and attack vulnerable pitches. He hit 16 homers in 2006 and 18 more during the regular season this year. He's a slightly below-average runner out of the batter's box and a slightly above-average runner under way, yet his instincts allow him to steal bases and track down most balls in center field. He also has a strong arm for the position. Cowgill's demographics aren't ideal--he bats righthanded and throw lefthanded, and he's 22 after losing a year to injury--but his gritty makeup and the results he gets are reminiscent of Reed Johnson. | ||||||
| 5 | 169 | Los Angeles Angels | Khiry Cooper | Calvary Baptist Academy, Shreveport, La. | La. | |
| Cooper is best known for his football exploits, and he has signed a scholarship to play wide receiver at Nebraska. He also scored in double digits for Calvary's basketball team. On the diamond, he's a 6-foot-2, 180-pound athlete who's going to need plenty of time to develop. He has plus speed and power potential, but he also has a long swing and is extremely raw. | ||||||
| 5 | 170 | New York Yankees | Chris Smith | Centennial HS, Compton, Calif. | Calif. | $158,000 |
| A lefthanded hitter who batted better than .700 this spring, Smith has good "now" hitting tools, though he has not shown it against upper-level competition yet. He has a balanced, compact swing and promising bat speed. He's an average runner presently and figures to become below average as his body matures. He is a solid defender in left field who gets good jumps and takes direct routes. | ||||||
| 5 | 172 | Boston Red Sox | Ryan Westmoreland | Portsmouth (R.I.) HS | R.I. | $2,000,000 |
| Last summer, Westmoreland was intriguing as a thin, rangy, fast-twitch athlete who moonlighted as an all-state soccer player and standout basketball player. He added 15 pounds of muscle over the winter and increased his strength at the plate, his foot speed and even his velocity off the mound, where he used an 86-90 mph fastball and decent curveball to strike out 19 of the 21 batters he faced in a seven-inning perfect game this spring. That arm strength translates well to center field, where his well-above-average speed allows him to cover a lot of ground. As an athletic high school outfielder from Rhode Island, Westmoreland draws inevitable comparisons to fellow Ocean Stater Rocco Baldelli, and he has that kind of upside. He has quick hands and good hand-eye coordination, allowing him to put the barrel on the ball consistently, but he's still learning to incorporate his lower half into his swing and hit the ball with more authority. The scuttlebutt in the Northeast was that it would take at least a seven-figure signing bonus to buy him out of a commitment to Vanderbilt, but the Red Sox have expressed interest in the local boy, sending several prominent front-office executives in to see him. | ||||||
| 6 | 174 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Robbie Grossman | Cypress-Fairbanks HS, Cypress, Texas | Texas | $1,000,000 |
| Grossman had an outstanding 2007, carrying Cy-Fair High to the Texas state 5-A title, tearing up the showcase circuit and leading the U.S. junior national team in hitting (.450). He further helped his cause by drilling three homers in a doubleheader while several national scouts were in the area to catch the Minute Maid Park Baseball Classic. But Grossman hasn't sustained that performance, sliding him out of the first round. Scouts have clocked the 6-foot-1, 200-pounder as an average runner this spring after he showed plus speed in the past, meaning they have to bet more on his bat. A Texas recruit, Grossman is a switch-hitter with raw power from both sides of the plate, but his below-average arm means he'll have to play left field if he can't handle center. | ||||||
| 6 | 175 | Kansas City Royals | Alex Llanos | Westlake HS, Westlake Village, Calif. | $125,000 | |
| Center fielder Alex Llanos saw his stock rise at the Excellence Tournament. A plus runner who ran a 6.5 in the 60-yard dash, Llanos is a converted shortstop who has been playing center field for just a few months. His speed plays well in the outfield. At the plate, he has a physical frame (6-foot-3, 175 pounds) with good bat speed and contact-hitting ability. He could land in the top five to 10 rounds. | ||||||
| 6 | 180 | Chicago White Sox | Kenny Williams Jr. | Wichita State | Kan. | $150,000 |
| Outfielder Kenny Williams Jr., the son of the former big leaguer and current White Sox general manager, has barely played since being diagnosed with mononucleosis in early May. He also didn't see much action in his first three seasons in college, sitting on the bench for two years at Arizona and redshirting in 2007 after being academically ineligible following his transfer to Wichita State. An athletic 6-foot-2, 198-pounder who has been drafted twice--including by the Rockies in the 32nd round last year--Williams did shake off the rust in 2008. He's a switch-hitter with a quick bat, though he has yet to develop much power or plate discipline. His best tool is his speed, which he uses well on the bases and in the outfield. | ||||||
| 6 | 182 | Houston Astros | J.B. Shuck | Ohio State | Ohio | $150,000 |
| Shuck made the all-Big 10 Conference team as both a pitcher and an outfielder. Some scouts like him as a Sam Fuld-type outfielder, a 5-foot-11, 185-pound gamer who gets the most out of fringy tools. Shuck is a contact hitter who struck out just 24 times in three college seasons, and he can use his solid speed and fine instincts to steal bases. He also plays a quality center field and throws well, though his power is limited. Others prefer Shuck on the mound, where he can locate his high-80s fastball and changeup to both sides of the plate. He needs to be more aggressive rather than nibbling at the corners, and his breaking ball is just a show-me pitch. | ||||||
| 6 | 184 | Oakland Athletics | Tyreace House | JC of the Canyons (Calif.) | Calif. | $130,000 |
| Speedy outfielder Tyreace House, has a fireplug build at 5-foot-10, 180 pounds, with strength and 70 speed on the 20-to-80 scale. The ex-football player and track star still has work to do on his swing. | ||||||
| 6 | 189 | Toronto Blue Jays | Markus Brisker | Winter Haven (Fla.) HS | Fla. | $125,000 |
| Brisker is an athletically gifted outfielder from Winter Haven, Fla. At age, 17, Brisker is young for his class and is somewhat raw on the baseball field. At the plate, Brisker has plus bat speed with current gap-to-gap power but with projection to hit for more power down the road. He is a plus-runner with good actions in the outfield and will be able to steal bases as well. | ||||||
| 6 | 190 | Atlanta Braves | Adam Milligan | Walters State (Tenn.) CC | Tenn. | $350,000 |
| Drafted by the Braves in the 27th round last year, Milligan is athletic and has plus raw power from the left side. An average runner, he has improved his defense and projects as an average left fielder. He is committed to Vanderbilt for next season. | ||||||
| 6 | 192 | Seattle Mariners | Jarrett Burgess | Florida Christian HS, Miami | Fla. | $150,000 |
| Burgess is an athletic outfielder who suffered through leg injuries throughout his senior season in high school. However, Burgess has enticing raw tools, including a plus-arm, above-average speed and raw power. | ||||||
| 7 | 203 | Tampa Bay Rays | Jason Corder | Long Beach State | Calif. | $30,000 |
| Corder started his college career at California but finished it at Long Beach State. It was a tougher fit for his power bat at spacious Blair Field, but he still ranked second in the Big West in homers, behind UCSB's Mike Zuanich. Scouts say Corder has real power despite a long swing that results in a lot of swings and misses. He has enough arm for right field, a 55 on the 20-to-80 scale. | ||||||
| 7 | 210 | Chicago White Sox | Jordan Danks | Texas | Texas | $525,000 |
| Jordan Danks might have been a first-round pick coming out of high school had he not told teams he was set on attending Texas. He was one of the best prep power hitters in the 2005 draft, having beaten Cameron Maybin in the home run derby at the 2004 AFLCA All-America Game, where Danks hit several balls completely out of the park. Three years later, his power potential remains largely unfulfilled. The Longhorns' Disch-Falk Field doesn't favor hitters, but it's not the sole culprit for Danks' meager total of 12 homers in three college seasons. His bat speed and feel for hitting are just fair, though he has improved at driving balls to the opposite field this spring. If Danks was delivering the power scouts expected, he'd be an easy first-round pick because he's both big (6-foot-5, 205 pounds) and the best college athlete in this draft class. He runs well and shows better instincts on the bases and in center field than he does at the plate. The White Sox drafted Danks in the 19th round three years ago and are looking for athletes, so they could reunite him with his older brother John, who's in their rotation. | ||||||
| 7 | 212 | Houston Astros | Jon Gaston | Arizona | Ariz. | $150,000 |
| Arizona's position players offer mostly mediocrity after the dynamic T.J. Steele. Jon Gaston should be the first one picked due to his present strength, decent athleticism and lefthanded bat. He's not athletic but runs and throws average. | ||||||
| 7 | 219 | Toronto Blue Jays | Eric Thames | Pepperdine | Calif. | $150,000 |
| A lefthanded hitter and thrower, Thames' outstanding 2008 season at Pepperdine has drawn substantial attention from scouts. He was hitting .407 with 13 homers and 59 RBIs when he went down in late May with what scouts described as a hip flexor injury, though Pepperdine describes it as an upper-leg injury. An unsigned 39th-round pick of the Yankees in 2007, Thames has improved his stock considerably, improving his body over the years. He's now a solidly built, muscular 6-foot, 205-pounder who physically resembles former White Sox outfielder Warren Newson. Thames' primary tool is his bat, as he's strong enough to hit effectively from an open, spread stance. Occasionally, Thames will drift into a habit of trying to lift, pull and jerk everything. He often over swings and whiffs on offspeed stuff, and is much more effective when he cuts down on his swing and attempts to use the entire field. In the outfield, Thames is an acceptable, average defensive left fielder, with acceptable speed and range. He has played some center field but profiles better defensively in left. His inconsistent and fringy arm strength also fits better in left. As a pro, Thames profiles as a potentially heavy-hitting left fielder with average to slightly below-average non-hitting tools. | ||||||
| 7 | 231 | Cleveland Indians | Tim Fedroff | North Carolina | N.C. | $725,000 |
| Tim Fedroff turned 21 early this season and is a prospect for 2008. At 5-foot-11, 182 pounds, Fedroff is not an imposing figure, but he has strong forearms and wrists and packs a powerful punch at the plate. With a compact lefthanded swing, Fedroff has hit for average and power this season, leading the Tar Heels with 12 home runs in the regular season. An above-average runner out of the box, Fedroff can put pressure on the defense with his speed, as he consistently posts sub-4.0-second times to first base. In the outfield he has a fringe-average arm, making him more of a candidate for left field at the pro level. | ||||||
| 8 | 238 | Florida Marlins | Isaac Galloway | Los Osos HS, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. | Calif. | $245,000 |
| Galloway has long been on the radar screens of scouts. An Aflac All-American and Area Code Games regular, Issac has dazzled onlookers on the scout ball, travel ball and showcase circuit for two years. Blessed with an ideal tall, lanky and projectable frame, Galloway is a premium athlete, consistently clocking in the 6.5 to 6.6 range in the 60-yard dash at various showcase events. Galloway also possesses an impressive throwing arm, rifling straight line trajectory throws from right field and center field in both pregame and game situations. Over the past two years, Galloway had measurably improved his bat, flashing a fluid natural swing and promising bat speed. In the fall off 2007, he enjoyed impressive wood bat BP sessions at several showcase events. However, Galloway picked a bad time to slump. He has hit poorly this spring, backtracking on the advances he had made in the fall of 2007. His struggles were due in part to an unusually spread-out stance. Despite an easy, smooth swing, Galloway has no load to generate power in his current setup. He's been overpowered by good velocity this spring on a regular basis. Defensively, Galloway is a wonderful outfielder, showing a gliding Torii Hunter/Mike Cameron knack for running down balls in center. While he will need additional experience and polish, Galloway profiles as an above-average defensive outfielder. Galloway's arm also grades out as above-average, though he's lacked accuracy this spring due to poor throwing mechanics. While he has significant tools, they are too raw for him to be a consensus first-round pick. | ||||||
| 8 | 243 | Texas Rangers | Mike Bianucci | Auburn | Ala. | $175,000 |
| Biannuci has been a solid college outfielder and consistent middle-of-the-order contributor for the past three seasons at Auburn. He hit eight home runs as a freshman and 14 as a sophomore, and was selected in the 23rd round of last year's draft by the Angels as a draft-eligible sophomore. He returned to Auburn and hit 13 more homers this season, though his stock did not jump appreciably. At 6-foot-1, 215 pounds, Bianucci is a strong, muscle-bound athlete. An average runner and thrower, he should be adequate defensively in the outfield. He's a free-swinger at the plate, taking vicious cuts with an all-or-nothing mentality. His raw strength makes him a home run threat to all fields, but he also swings and misses often. Biannuci's athleticism and home run capability will get him drafted, but he'll have to improve his approach to have success as a pro. | ||||||
| 8 | 244 | Oakland Athletics | Jeremy Barfield | San Jacinto (Texas) JC | Texas | $92,000 |
| 8 | 247 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Nick Buss | Southern California | Calif. | $95,000 |
| Junior outfielder Nick Buss failed to capitalize on his strong summer in Alaska, where he ranked as the No. 1 prospect in 2007. A wonderful all-around athlete, Buss has 6.7-second speed in the 60 to go with a solid-average arm. He can hold down any outfield spot defensively but has reinforced scouts' doubts about his bat. Buss' long and somewhat stiff swing has garnered spotty results in 2008, but a late hot spurt may have bolstered his draft stock. | ||||||
| 8 | 248 | Milwaukee Brewers | Erik Komatsu | Cal State Fullerton | Calif. | $130,000 |
| He has a college body in that he's mature and somewhat squat, with a bat that is decidedly pro caliber. He has a short, quick swing with strength that shoots line drives from gap to gap and surprising pull power. He's a solid-average thrower and runner who profiles as a fourth outfielder at the major league level. | ||||||
| 8 | 253 | Detroit Tigers | Andy Dirks | Wichita State | Kan. | $35,000 |
| Andy Dirks has a knack for getting on base. He entered NCAA super-regional play with a 28-game hitting streak and a 73-game on-base streak, and he set a Northwoods League record last summer by reaching base in 52 straight contests. He's an athletic 6-foot, 195-pound center fielder, yet Dirks never has been drafted. He'll make a nice senior sign this June. He has a short swing, patient approach and gap power, and the plus speed to steal bases. His hard-nosed attitude also endears him to scouts. | ||||||
| 8 | 260 | New York Yankees | Dan Brewer | Bradley | Ill. | $125,000 |
| Dan Brewer stood out on the Cape last summer, batting .297 (12th in the league) with seven homers (fourth) while playing five positions. In three years at Bradley, he has made the all-Missouri Valley Conference team at three positions: second baseman as a freshman, shortstop as a sophomore and outfield this spring. Scouts aren't sure where he profiles best. The optimal situation might be to make him an offensive second basemen, but his hands are a little stiff and he's better suited defensively for the outfield. He's a solid runner but doesn't have prototype speed for center field, and his opposite-field, line-drive approach doesn't provide the power desired on an outfield corner. His arm is slightly above-average. | ||||||
| 9 | 265 | Kansas City Royals | J.D. Alfaro | St. John Bosco HS, Lakewood, Calif. | Texas | $75,000 |
| 9 | 269 | Cincinnati Reds | David Sappelt | Coastal Carolina | S.C. | $75,000 |
| David Sappelt was the Big South Conference player of the year in 2007 and was batting .344 this season while playing an above-average center field. He has a package of speed and power at the plate, making him a threat in multiple ways on the field. | ||||||
| 9 | 273 | Texas Rangers | Jared Bolden | Virginia Commonwealth | Va. | $123,300 |
| Virginia Commonwealth's Jared Bolden has consistently hit in each of his three years in college, and he led an anemic VCU attack with a .355 average and 12 home runs this season. A lefthanded first baseman, Bolden is athletic and could move to the outfield in pro-ball. | ||||||
| 9 | 274 | Oakland Athletics | Mitch LeVier | Fullerton (Calif.) JC | Calif. | $75,000 |
| 9 | 275 | St. Louis Cardinals | Aaron Luna | Rice | Texas | $150,000 |
| With nine homers entering NCAA regional play, Aaron Luna hasn't matched his power numbers from his first two seasons (29 total homers). That may drop him down far enough in the draft to render him unsignable away from what would be his senior year at Rice. But he did hit well with wood bats in the Cape Cod League last summer, and he's more athletic than his 5-foot-11, 200-pound frame might indicate. A former all-state running back at a top Texas program (Carroll High in Southlake), he plays a solid left field. Luna was Rice's regular second baseman in 2007, and he profiles better at that position. | ||||||
| 10 | 299 | Cincinnati Reds | Sean Conner | Palm Beach (Fla.) CC | Fla. | $65,000 |
| 10 | 304 | Oakland Athletics | Rashun Dixon | Terry (Miss.) HS | Miss. | $600,000 |
| The top high school position player in the Mississippi is Rashun Dixon. A football signee to Mississippi State, Dixon is athletic with raw baseball skills, highlighted by his speed and power potential. He projects to a corner outfield spot. | ||||||
| 10 | 306 | Minnesota Twins | Evan Bigley | Dallas Baptist | Texas | $75,000 |
| Dallas Baptist's best prospect is outfielder Evan Bigley, who has solid speed, pop in his bat and a strong arm. He has played third base in the past, and might fit better there than in center field as a pro. He does struggle to hit breaking balls. | ||||||
| 10 | 321 | Cleveland Indians | Donnie Webb | Oklahoma State | Okla. | $100,000 |
| 11 | 324 | Pittsburgh Pirates | David Rubinstein | Appalachian State | N.C. | |
| 11 | 325 | Kansas City Royals | Malcolm Bronson | Monte Vista HS, Spring Valley, Calif. | Texas | |
| 11 | 329 | Cincinnati Reds | Andrew Means | Indiana | Ind. | $200,000 |
| Means, who caught 48 passes for Indiana in the fall, has more tools than skills in baseball. He's a ripped 6-foot-1, 215-pound center fielder with plus-plus speed, though he needs to use his strength to drive more balls and must refine his approach at the plate. | ||||||
| 11 | 331 | Washington Nationals | Marcus Jones | North Carolina State | N.C. | $150,000 |
| Marcus Jones is an intriguing prospect in center field for N.C. State. With a prototypical athlete's body, Jones runs well and looks the part on the baseball field. Defensively, Jones is an above-average defender with an average arm. The question is whether he'll hit enough at the professional level. Jones has good plate coverage and the ability to hit for power, and he has room to add strength. | ||||||
| 11 | 332 | Houston Astros | Jacob Priday | Missouri | Mo. | |
| Missouri's school record-holder for career homers (49) and RBIs (240), Jacob Priday did a lot of damage in both categories when he went deep four times and drove in nine runs against Texas in mid-April. Priday, who played at Sikeston (Mo.) High with Dodgers rookie sensation Blake DeWitt, joined the Tigers as a catcher but tore his labrum in 2007. He has spent most of his time at DH since, but a pro team may put him back behind the plate, where he once showed an average arm and decent receiving skills. If not, he'll be a corner outfielder. | ||||||
| 11 | 334 | Oakland Athletics | Chris Berroa | Chipola (Fla.) JC | Fla. | |
| 11 | 335 | St. Louis Cardinals | Devin Shepherd | CC of Southern Nevada | Nev. | |
| Devin Shepherd entered the season as the nation's top juco prospect, having been an unsigned fifth-round pick of the Twins out of a California high school in 2006. After spending one season at Oklahoma, Shepherd shined last summer in the California Collegiate League, then backtracked using wood bats for CCSN. He was awful early, then rallied to finish at .343 but showing power (one home run). Scouts knock Shepherd for his lack of energy, inability to bring his raw power to bear in games and spotty ability to make contact. He remains athletic, a big man who can run and an impressive 5 o'clock hitter. While he was earlier committed to Oregon State, he's now believed to have switched to UC Santa Barbara. | ||||||
| 11 | 350 | New York Yankees | Ray Kruml | South Alabama | Ala. | |
| In the outfield, Alabama has speedy Ray Kruml, who transferred in from Indian Hills (Iowa) JC two years ago. Kruml is a gap-to-gap hitter who uses his speed to put pressure on defenses and take away runs in the outfield. | ||||||
| 11 | 352 | Boston Red Sox | Bryan Peterson | West Valley HS, Spokane, Wash. | Wash. | $150,000 |
| An outstanding quarterback, Peterson broke former NFL quarterback Mark Rypien's city record for all-purpose yards. His throwing arm for baseball is just average and might fit best in left field. His bat is his calling card, as he squares balls up and has above-average power potential from the left side. He also has solid instincts defensively and is a fringe-average runner. He's a Washington State signee and likely will be the first prep position player from the state to be drafted. | ||||||
| 12 | 353 | Tampa Bay Rays | Brian Bryles | North Little Rock (Ark.) HS | Ark. | |
| The state's top high school player, outfielder/righthander Brian Bryles, hasn't committed to a four-year school, so he may be signable. As a center fielder, he offers speed and upside with a line-drive-oriented bat. On the mound, he can crack the 90s with his fastball. The 6-foot-2, 180-pounder lacks polish as both a hitter and a pitcher and will need time to develop. He was part of North Little Rock's state-champion 4 x 100 meter relay team. | ||||||
| 12 | 355 | Kansas City Royals | Keven Caldwell | Miami Northwestern HS | S.C. | |
| 12 | 356 | Baltimore Orioles | Jason Rook | Appalachian State | N.C. | |
| 12 | 365 | St. Louis Cardinals | Michael Swinson | Coffee County HS, Douglas, Ga. | Ga. | |
| Swinson is another excellent athlete, and like May he's raw and has a ways to go at the plate. He swings lefthanded and is a plus runner. | ||||||
| 13 | 384 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Seth Gardner | Highland Park HS, Dallas | Texas | |
| 13 | 387 | San Francisco Giants | Juan Carlos Perez | Western Oklahoma State JC | Okla. | |
| Juan Carlos Perez put up the craziest statistics in the state. Playing at hitter-friendly Western Oklahoma JC, he set a Division II junior college records with 37 homers (one short of the overall juco mark) and 102 RBIs while batting .465 with a 1.102 slugging percentage. While his stats might be inflated, the 6-foot, 185-pounder has legitimate tools. He has a sound swing with bat speed and easy power, average speed and arm strength, and a chance to play center field. The bigger issues with Perez are his age (he'll be 22 in November) and his immigration status. A Dominican, he stayed in the United States after his original tourist visa expired, which could prevent him from gaining a work visa to play pro ball. If he gets his paperwork, he could go in the first 10 rounds. | ||||||
| 13 | 396 | Minnesota Twins | Michael Harrington | College of Charleston | S.C. | |
| Charleston's other hitting prospect is Michael Harrington, who beat out Jeremie Tice--and the rest of the nation--with 26 home runs this season. Harrington was drafted last year by the Orioles in the 38th round and should be a good senior sign this June. He has obvious power and is a decent runner--most likely putting him in left field at the pro level. | ||||||
| 13 | 397 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Lenell McGee | Oakton (Ill.) CC | Ill. | |
| 13 | 401 | Chicago Cubs | Tony Campana | Cincinnati | Ohio | |
| Cincinnati has not one but two 5-foot-8 position players who will get the chance to play pro ball in Tony Campana and Josh Harrison. Campana, who spent his first two college seasons at UNC Asheville, led NCAA Division I with 1.07 steals per game in 2007 and swiped 44 more as a senior. He has top-of-the-line speed and knows his job is to make use of it on the bases and in center field. The downside is that he weighs just 151 pounds, has no power and will have trouble handling fastballs with a wood bat. | ||||||
| 13 | 402 | Seattle Mariners | Ryan Royster | UC Davis | Calif. | |
| UC Davis' top home run hitter, fifth-year senior outfielder Ryan Royster, is the nephew of ex-big leaguer Jerry Royster and has the potential for five average tools, with one or two rating as plus. Royster's still learning to hit but is more athletic than the vast majority of fifth-year seniors. He's still learning to use his 6.6-second speed and has become more patient as the Aggies' leadoff hitter. He's a late bloomer who figures to go in the first 10 rounds. | ||||||
| 13 | 408 | Arizona Diamondbacks | Ollie Linton | UC Irvine | Calif. | |
| 13 | 410 | New York Yankees | Jack Rye | Florida State | Fla. | |
| Rye is a lefty-swinging outfielder with raw power and hit better than .400 for the Seminoles this season. | ||||||
| 14 | 413 | Tampa Bay Rays | Mike McKenna | Florida Atlantic | Fla. | |
| Mike McKenna, was Sun Belt Conference player of the year after batting .394 with 16 home runs for the Owls. A good runner with an average arm, McKenna is athletic in the outfield and a solid defender. | ||||||
| 14 | 417 | San Francisco Giants | Caleb Curry | Iowa | Iowa | |
| Caleb Curry stole an Iowa-record 45 bases as a senior, ranking third nationally in that category entering NCAA regional play. He's a plus runner with good instincts on the bases and in center field, and he also gets the job done at second base. Though he's just 6 feet and 175 pounds, he has a little pop and isn't just a slap hitter. | ||||||
| 14 | 424 | Oakland Athletics | David Thomas | Catawba (N.C.) | N.C. | |
| 14 | 427 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Clay Calfee | Angelo State (Texas) | Texas | |
| 14 | 437 | Colorado Rockies | Tyler Massey | Baylor School, Chattanooga | Tenn. | $525,000 |
| Great makeup is always the first thing people attirbute to outfielder Tyler Massey. Coaches and scouts love the way he plays the game and handles himself on and off the field. He's also athletic and was a multi-sport standout in high school. At the plate, he has raw power and a feel for hitting, with natural strength. He has a short lefthanded stroke with leverage and uses the whole field. Massey is an average runner and could play either corner outfield position or first base. He is committed to Virginia. | ||||||
| 14 | 442 | Boston Red Sox | Tyler Yockey | Acadiana HS, Lafayette, La. | La. | $150,000 |
| 15 | 451 | Washington Nationals | J.P. Ramirez | Canyon HS, New Braunfels, Texas | Texas | $1,000,000 |
| Ramirez is arguably the best hitter among Texas' draft prospects this year--high school or college. He performed well all along the showcase circuit and batter .395 for the U.S. junior national team last summer. Employing a smooth lefthanded stroke, he smokes line drives from gap to gap. However, Ramirez' true value and his signability remain subjects of debate. He may be a tweener by pro standards. He's not big (5-foot-10, 185 pounds) and lacks the raw power that clubs want in a corner outfielder, while his fringy speed will prevent him form playing center field. His arm likely will relegate him to left field. Two different scouts compared him to David Dellucci. As much as Ramirez' hitting ability and his makeup draw praise, teams are unlikely to meet his top-two-rounds asking price to prevent him from attending Tulane. | ||||||
| 15 | 453 | Texas Rangers | Joey Butler | New Orleans | La. | |
| 15 | 460 | Atlanta Braves | Layton Hiller | Blinn (Texas) JC | Texas | |
| 15 | 462 | Seattle Mariners | Jake Shaffer | Northern Kentucky | Ky. | |
| 15 | 466 | Philadelphia Phillies | Damarii Saunderson | Northville (Mich.) HS | Mich. | |
| Outfielder/lefthander Damarii Saunderson has the best tools among Michigan's high schoolers, but he's so raw that he'd be better served by attending Iowa Western CC than turning pro. He's an athletic 6-foot-3, 195-pounder with power potential, arm strength and decent speed. He also has holes in his swing. | ||||||
| 15 | 468 | Arizona Diamondbacks | Bobby Stone | Montgomery (Texas) HS | Texas | $135,000 |
| First baseman Bobby Stone displayed the best power at the 2007 Area Code Games, and he delivers it from the left side of the plate. He has a strong 6-foot-2, 210-pound frame and a nice swing. Stone may play both ways at Sam Houston State, as he's a lefthander with a mid-80 fastball and good mound savvy. He's more signable than most of Texas' best prep prospects. | ||||||
| 15 | 469 | Los Angeles Angels | Marcel Champagnie | Arizona State | Ariz. | |
| Perhaps Arizona State's most intriguing prospect, shortstop/outfielder Marcel Champagnie has prompted a split opinion among scouts. A Canadian who was a Twins draft-and-follow last spring, he emerged as an offensive force early before shaky defense at short dropped him into a utility role. He flashes above-average speed (4.2 seconds to first from the right side), but more often churns out below-average times, a sign of poor effort. He has strength in his hands and gap power. His defense was poor enough to cost him his regular job, but two scouts thought he had enough of a chance to stay in the infield to at least send him to pro ball as a second baseman, if not a shortstop. | ||||||
| 16 | 474 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Wes Freeman | All Saints Academy, Lakeland, Fla. | Fla. | $150,000 |
| A full package of five raw tools, Freeman is the prototypical well-built high school prospect who scouts can dream on. At 6-feet-4, 210 pounds, he's a physical specimen blessed with strength and speed. He shows plus speed, an above-average arm and athleticism in the outfield and projects to be an average defender at worst. At the plate, Freeman's ability is still raw and he has an aggressive approach in need of refinement. Swinging with a natural uppercut, he has leverage in his swing and pure bat speed, leading to plus raw power to all fields. His swing concerns scouts, however, because he has a straight arm hitch in his load, which would affect his ability to hit quality pitching if it's not corrected. But teams won't be able to ignore his raw tools. An Aflac All-American last fall, Freeman is committed to Central Florida. | ||||||
| 16 | 479 | Cincinnati Reds | Carter Morrison | Clayton Heights SS, Surrey, B.C | B.C. | $125,000 |
| Morrison was moving up draft lists as he continued to show more present power with wood bats than any of his countrymen. He earned a spot on the junior national trials roster that went through Florida and the Dominican Republic and impressed scouts back in British Columbia this spring, hitting seven homers with wood bats. He runs and throws well enough to be drafted now, and his simple, low-maintenance swing should help him hold up in pro ball. He'd be a safer pick in the old draft-and-follow system, but his present hitting potential pushes him up the draft list. | ||||||
| 16 | 487 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Kyle Conley | Washington | Wash. | |
| Washington's best position player draftee will be outfielder Kyle Conley, who could go as high as the eighth round. He's got legitimate power, hitting 19 home runs to rank second in the Pac-10 in the regular season, and reminds some scouts of past Huskies sluggers such as Tyler Davidson and Jay Garthwaite at 6-foot-4, 230 pounds. His other tools are fringy. He's an eligible sophomore. | ||||||
| 16 | 489 | Toronto Blue Jays | Michael Crouse | Centennial SS, Coquitlam, B.C. | B.C. | $150,000 |
| Crouse, whose father Ray played in the NFL and the Canadian Football League, resembles Diamondbacks outfielder Chris Young physically but lacks premium bat speed. He has made dramatic strides offensively since last year, showing improved power. A long strider, he's an average runner who is faster under way and should have the range to stay in center field, at least in the short term. His average arm could play in the corners if his bat improves enough for him to fit there. | ||||||
| 16 | 490 | Atlanta Braves | Billy Burns | Walton HS, Marietta, Ga. | Ga. | |
| 17 | 504 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Jaron Shepherd | Navarro (Texas) JC | Texas | |
| 17 | 506 | Baltimore Orioles | Brian Conley | Towson | Md. | |
| 18 | 535 | Kansas City Royals | Carlo Testa | Belmont | Tenn. | |
| At 6-foot-3, 200 pounds, Carlo Testa is a lefthanded pitcher and outfielder for Belmont, leading the team in both batting (.387) and wins (6). He profiles best as a position player at the next level and will likely end up in right field. With an above-average arm and average speed, Testa is an athletic defender with good instincts. At the plate he is an above-average hitter, making consistent solid contact. | ||||||
| 18 | 546 | Minnesota Twins | Matt Nohelty | Minnesota | Minn. | |
| Passed over as a draft-eligible sophomore in 2007, Nohelty has above-average speed and a feel for hitting. He needs to draw more walks to fit at the top of a batting order, and his slap approach doesn't lend itself to much power. He's a solid center fielder with a below-average arm. His signability is in question because he's a top student who earned a computer-science degree in three years and turned down the chance to play summer ball in 2007 so he could intern with Northwest Airlines. If he doesn't receive a pro offer to his liking, he could return to Minnesota and pursue a master's degree. | ||||||
| 19 | 567 | San Francisco Giants | Ryan Mantle | Missouri State | Mo. | |
| Outfielder Ryan Mantle has the most intriguing bloodlines in the state, as he's a third cousin of Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle. Ryan piques the interest of scouts with his athleticism as well. He's a 6-foot-3, 205-pounder with power, speed and arm strength, but his tools never have translated into performance and he's still susceptible to breaking pitches. A redshirt junior, Mantle was passed over despite being eligible for the last two drafts. | ||||||
| 19 | 568 | Florida Marlins | Justin Bass | Stetson | Fla. | |
| 19 | 581 | Chicago Cubs | David Macias | Vanderbilt | Tenn. | |
| Macias led the Commodores in batting this season at .356, with nine home runs. At 5-foot-9, 175 pounds, Macias is a switch-hitter and a sparkplug with athleticism and speed. He's an above-average defender | ||||||
| 19 | 583 | Detroit Tigers | Ben Guez | William & Mary | Va. | |
| Outfielder Ben Guez should also be given a shot in pro ball after carrying momentum from an all-star summer in the Cape last year into this season. Guez hit .390 with 14 home runs and 62 RBIs this spring, including a 32-game hitting streak, though he profiles as an offensive fourth outfielder with below-average power and average speed | ||||||
| 19 | 586 | Philadelphia Phillies | Steve Susdorf | Fresno State | Calif. | |
| Susdorf, whose older brother Bill starred earlier this decade at UCLA, has a solid lefthanded swing and average athletic ability. He's best suited defensively to left field and lacks profile power, though he can shoot line drives from pole to pole and has shown pull home run power. One scout compared him to Aaron Guiel with less speed. | ||||||
| 19 | 592 | Boston Red Sox | Brian Humphries | Granite Hills HS, El Cajon, Calif. | Calif. | |
| Humphries has an ideal tall, athletic and projectable frame, and has already filled out noticeably since the beginning of the 2007 showcase season. A lefthanded hitter and righthander thrower, Humphries has solid but unspectacular tools. His 6.8-second time in the 60 is slightly above-average speed. His best tosses from the outfield grade out around average, but he has been inconsistent with his throws in showcase events. Humphries will show glimpses of excellent hitting ability, but for scouts the glimpses are infrequent. He had a poor showing in the February Major League Baseball showcase event in Compton. To his credit, though, Humphries had several outstanding efforts in both BP and games in fall wood-bat scout league contests. Questions about Humphries' bat and his solid but not overwhelming tools figure to keep him out of the first three rounds. If he ends up at Pepperdine, it's easy to imagine Humphries developing into one of the nation's top players over the next three years. | ||||||
| 20 | 596 | Baltimore Orioles | Ronnie Welty | Chandler-Gilbert (Ariz.) CC | Ariz. | |
| Welty, at 6-foot-5, 190 pounds, looks the part and hit well this spring, challenging McDonald for league honors by hitting .459. He also has above-average arm strength and runs at least average if not a tick above. One league coach compared him to Hunter Pence for his ability to produce despite a gangly frame and less-than-ideal swing mechanics, and scouts are divided on him, with some wanting to see him perform against four-year college pitchers before they bite. | ||||||
| 20 | 599 | Cincinnati Reds | Tyler Stovall | Central Michigan | Mich. | |
| 20 | 600 | Chicago White Sox | Justin Greene | Francis Marion (S.C.) | S.C. | |
| 20 | 601 | Washington Nationals | Nick Akins | Riverside (Calif.) CC | Calif. | |
| Riverside CC's Nick Akins' tools compare with any player in the nation, with a chiseled 6-foot-2, 212-pound build that would make a bodybuilder insecure. His raw bat speed is the equal of any draft-eligible player in the nation, and he hit 13 home runs this spring. Akins has always had a frustrating inability to hit offspeed and breaking stuff down in the zone, however, often chasing those pitches. After starting the 2008 season strong, he slumped to end the year. He's raw defensively and fits best at second base or left field. He's still showing the effects of missing the last year of his prep career in a well-chronicled on-field incident that got him kicked off his high school team. | ||||||
| 20 | 611 | Chicago Cubs | Jericho Jones | Louisiana Tech | La. | |
| 20 | 613 | Detroit Tigers | Ryan Lollis | Missouri | Mo. | |
| 20 | 615 | San Diego Padres | Jason Codiroli | West Valley (Calif.) JC | Calif. | |
| 20 | 617 | Colorado Rockies | Nate Lape | Marshall | W.Va. | |
| At 6-foot-5, 215 pounds, Lape is a big, strong outfielder who came to Marshall from North Carolina. He led the team with a .388 average and 17 home runs this season. | ||||||
| 21 | 629 | Cincinnati Reds | Theodis Bowe | Milford (Del.) HS | Del. | |
| 21 | 631 | Washington Nationals | Michael Guerrero | Mississippi | Miss. | |
| Guerrero has athletic ability in the outfield and a chance to hit with occasional power at the professional level. | ||||||
| 21 | 632 | Houston Astros | Rodarrick Jones | St. John HS, Plaquemine, La. | La. | |
| 21 | 639 | Toronto Blue Jays | Brian Van Kirk | Oral Roberts | Okla. | |
| Outfielder Brian Van Kirk was the Summit League player of the year after winning the league triple crown (.414-18-74). A senior who made stops at Miami-Dade CC and Tennessee before coming to Oral Roberts, he has strength, a good approach and a compact swing for a 6-foot-1, 215-pounder. He has caught in the past and logged a few innings behind the plate this spring, but he's best suited as a left fielder or DH. His biggest issue as a catcher was throwing accuracy and not arm strength or receiving skills, so he may get another look there. | ||||||
| 21 | 651 | Cleveland Indians | Ryan Blair | Sacramento State | Calif. | |
| 22 | 653 | Tampa Bay Rays | Jason Appel | UNC Wilmington | N.C. | |
| Wilmington has two other quality senior signs in second baseman Jason Appel and Daniel Hargrave. Appel is a plus runner who hits lefthanded and batted over .400 this season. | ||||||
| 22 | 659 | Cincinnati Reds | Byron Wiley | Kansas State | Kan. | |
| Outfielder Byron Wiley hit .366 as a sophomore, setting the stage for him to go in the first five rounds of the 2008 draft. Then he hit .217 in the Cape Cod League and .227 while losing his starting job this spring. He appears to be a victim of draftitis, trying to do too much to impress scouts. Instead, Wiley has chased too many pitches and stopped making hard contact. He looks better in batting practice and still displays speed and some raw strength, so someone may take a flier on him. | ||||||
| 22 | 679 | Los Angeles Angels | Ryan Groth | Oral Roberts | Okla. | |
| 23 | 686 | Baltimore Orioles | Edwin Cintron | Antonio Luchetti HS, Arecibo, P.R. | ||
| 23 | 691 | Washington Nationals | Derrick Phillips | Westminster Christian Academy, St. Louis | Mo. | |
| 23 | 698 | Milwaukee Brewers | Marcus Knecht | St. Michael's College School, Toronto | Ontario | |
| Knecht ranks behind his outfield peers in tools but has more present hitting ability. He has excellent hands and strength in his swing, and should hit for more power with wood as he learns to use his lower half in his swing and not rely on his hands. At 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, he's already solid and should get stronger. A below-average runner, he fits better in left field or possibly first base. | ||||||
| 23 | 701 | Chicago Cubs | Ryan Sontag | Arizona State | Ariz. | |
| 23 | 704 | New York Mets | Evan LeBlanc | Santa Clara | Calif. | |
| 23 | 706 | Philadelphia Phillies | Brandon Haislet | Hawaii | Hawaii | |
| Outfielder Brandon Haislet could be an excellent senior sign this year if he can show intensity to match his tools. He's physically gifted, runs well enough to play a solid center field and throws enough to move to a corner if needed. Haislett has raw power but stiff actions at the plate. He has a good approach at the plate, ranking third in the Western Athletic Conference in batting and first with a .482 on-base percentage, but needs one on the bases to take better advantage of his speed. | ||||||
| 23 | 708 | Arizona Diamondbacks | Matt Long | Santa Clara | Calif. | |
| 23 | 709 | Los Angeles Angels | Matt Crawford | Mercer | Ga. | |
| 24 | 716 | Baltimore Orioles | T.J. Baxter | New Orleans | La. | |
| 24 | 722 | Houston Astros | Danny Meier | Portland | Ore. | |
| Portland's Dan Meier has more tools than his Oregon State counterparts. He runs well for his size, enough to fill in in center field, and has shown improved power at the plate. He sells out and strikes out too much, but when he connects he can put a charge in the ball, as he tied for the West Coast Conference lead with 15 homers through the regular season. His best tool is his arm, and he's athletic enough for either outfield corner. | ||||||
| 24 | 723 | Texas Rangers | Adam Cobb | Louisiana Tech | La. | |
| 24 | 726 | Minnesota Twins | Lionel Morrill | Vauxhall HS, Crows Nest Pass, Alb | Alberta | |
| Morrill plays at the Vauxhall Academy in Alberta, in a town known as "the potato capital of the West" in Canada. Scouts have found their way there because Morrill, at 6-foot-4, 190 pounds, has a pro body, 6.6-second speed in the 60 and at least an average arm, if not more. His loose, athletic frame glides to balls in center field and he projects as an above-average defender with experience. He has raw power offensively but a raw approach and hasn't seen much quality pitching yet. He's committed to play at the Junior College of Southern Idaho. | ||||||
| 24 | 729 | Toronto Blue Jays | Chris Hopkins | Oregon State | Ore. | |
| Outfielder Chris Hopkins, a 20-year-old senior, has speed and is a fine defender in center field. His bat is light for pro ball and he doesn't run enough on the bases to be an offensive factor. | ||||||
| 25 | 747 | San Francisco Giants | Damon Wright | Dartmouth | N.H. | |
| Dartmouth center fielder Damon Wright is a good athlete who had his best year offensively as a senior, batting .397/.466/.682 with nine homers and 39 RBIs. He's got occasional power and average speed, but his swing is long and his approach is suspect, despite an 18-17 BB-K ratio in 151 at-bats this spring. | ||||||
| 25 | 757 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Jerry Sands | Catawba (N.C.) | N.C. | |
| 25 | 759 | Toronto Blue Jays | Brad McElroy | UNC Charlotte | N.C. | |
| 25 | 765 | San Diego Padres | Logan Power | Mississippi | Miss. | |
| Power has athletic ability in the outfield and a chance to hit with occasional power at the professional level. | ||||||
| 25 | 769 | Los Angeles Angels | Roberto Lopez | Southern California | Calif. | |
| 26 | 783 | Texas Rangers | Chris Dove | Elon | N.C. | |
| 26 | 785 | St. Louis Cardinals | Chris Swauger | The Citadel | S.C. | |
| 26 | 786 | Minnesota Twins | Adam Severino | Miami | Fla. | |
| 26 | 790 | Atlanta Braves | Calvin Culver | Los Angeles Pierce JC | Calif. | |
| 26 | 794 | New York Mets | John Servidio | Barry (Fla.) | Fla. | |
| 27 | 804 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Edwin Roman | Puerto Rico Baseball Academy, Gurabo, P.R. | ||
| Edwin Roman offers plus-plus speed as the fastest player in Puerto Rico, clocking 60 times in the 6.4- to 6.5-second range. He's athletic and a good defender in center field, but his bat is questionable and lacks any real approach at the plate. A team that likes his speed and athleticism might snag him in rounds 10-15, though he's more likely to go in the 15 to 20 range. | ||||||
| 27 | 809 | Cincinnati Reds | Matt Stiffler | Ohio | Ohio | |
| 27 | 814 | Oakland Athletics | Brent Warren | Xavier HS, Cedar Rapids, Iowa | Iowa | |
| Warren feared his baseball career was over when a routine physical during his junior year revealed that he had a congenital heart defect. But he was cleared to return to the diamond after surgery and re-established himself as a quality prospect for the 2008 draft. Extremely projectable at 6-foot-3 and 175 pounds, Warren is reminiscent of former Iowa prep standout Ryan Sweeney--and he's more athletic than Sweeney was. Though he still has room to add a lot of strength, the ball jumps off Warren's bat at times. He's an intelligent hitter with a sweet lefthanded swing that catches up to good fastballs. He's an above-average runner and center fielder, and while his arm isn't back to where it was before his heart surgery, it should be average in time. Pro clubs are focusing on Warren as an outfielder, but he could contribute as a two-way player if he attends Oregon State. | ||||||
| 27 | 825 | San Diego Padres | Aaron Murphree | Arkansas | Ark. | |
| 28 | 838 | Florida Marlins | Kevin Mattison | UNC Asheville | N.C. | |
| 28 | 840 | Chicago White Sox | Brandon Short | St. John's River (Fla.) CC | Fla. | |
| 28 | 851 | Chicago Cubs | TeWayne Willis | Lincoln Memorial (Tenn.) | Tenn. | |
| 28 | 857 | Colorado Rockies | Mike Zuanich | UC Santa Barbara | Calif. | |
| This year's top draft pick from UC Santa Barbar could be slugging Mike Zuanich, a 6-foot-4, 220-pound senior. He started his college career at El Camino JC before moving to UCSB, and he enjoyed a breakout season, leading the Big West in home runs heading into regionals. He puts on the most impressive batting practice displays in the area. One such exhibition at UCLA saw him sail a dozen drives over the fence and into the trees beyond the protective netting. One scout said of Zuanich's BP exploits: "He takes the air out of the place." A righthanded hitter who throws left, he has difficulty with offspeed and breaking stuff. He plays left field at UCSB and has enough range, as he's an average runner (7.1 seconds in the 60), but his natural position is at first, where he is an above-average defender. He has a high upside if he can better identify breaking pitches and lay off them. | ||||||
| 28 | 860 | New York Yankees | Chad Gross | Cuesta (Calif.) JC | Calif. | |
| 28 | 862 | Boston Red Sox | Matt Marquis | Immaculata HS, Somerville, N.J. | N.J. | |
| Outfielder Matt Marquis will be tough to lure away from Vanderbilt, where he would be an impact power bat immediately. Marquis has plus raw power and puts on shows in batting practice, but he's a dead pull hitter and his swing has some rigidness to it, though it's short and compact. Marquis is an average runner with an average arm, but he projects as a corner outfielder. As a 5-foot-11, righthanded-hitting corner outfielder, he'll have to hit an awful lot to profile as a big leaguer, and right now his hit tool lags behind his power. | ||||||
| 29 | 863 | Tampa Bay Rays | Brandon Magee | Centennial HS, Corona, Calif. | Calif. | |
| 29 | 870 | Chicago White Sox | Randall Thorpe | Heritage HS, Colleyville, Texas | Texas | |
| Randall Thorpe rated as the fastest player at the 2007 Area Code Games, running a 6.4-second 60-yard dash. He also has a strong arm, which makes him a standout defender in center field. But teams are unlikely to meet his asking price to keep him away from Texas A&M because they question his bat. He needs to add strength to his 6-foot-1, 170-pound frame, and he struggled to hit .300 against high school pitching this spring. | ||||||
| 29 | 883 | Detroit Tigers | Keith Stein | Sam Houston State | Texas | |
| 29 | 890 | New York Yankees | Mike Jones | Arizona State | Ariz. | |
| 30 | 908 | Milwaukee Brewers | Wayne Dedrick | Hillcrest HS, Tuscaloosa, Ala. | Ala. | $100,000 |
| 30 | 910 | Atlanta Braves | Chris Shehan | Georgia Southern | Ga. | |
| Chris Shehan was the best hitter in the Southern Conference this season, batting .428 with 22 home runs for Georgia Southern. Shehan is strong and has plus bat speed with a chance to hit for power at the pro level. He is athletic with average speed and will likely play in the outfield. | ||||||
| 30 | 915 | San Diego Padres | Bobby Verbick | Sam Houston State | Texas | |
| 30 | 918 | Arizona Diamondbacks | Daniel Rodriguez | Miami-Dade CC | Fla. | |
| 31 | 925 | Kansas City Royals | Ryan Curl | Punahou HS, Honolulu | Ohio | |
| Outfielder Ryan Curl has more upside than any high schooler in the state, but he's more of a raw athlete than a finished product. The Rangers sent in a crosschecker to evaluate him, but pro teams probably will let him attend Miami (Ohio) for three years rather than spend a six-figure bonus on him at this point. The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder has plus speed and arm strength to go with projectable power, but he's not ready to hit pro pitching. Curl has a bat wrap that makes it difficult for him to catch up to breaking pitches, though he can drive balls when he squares them up. | ||||||
| 31 | 945 | San Diego Padres | Sean Gilmartin | Crespi Carmelite HS, Encino, Calif. | Calif. | |
| 31 | 952 | Boston Red Sox | Andrew Frezza | Barry (Fla.) | Fla. | |
| 32 | 953 | Tampa Bay Rays | Kyle Gaedele | Rolling Meadows (Ill.) HS | Ill. | |
| 32 | 971 | Chicago Cubs | Kurt Calvert | Missouri | Mo. | |
| 32 | 977 | Colorado Rockies | Will Scott | Kell HS, Marietta, Ga. | Ga. | |
| 33 | 987 | San Francisco Giants | Ryne Price | Kansas | Kan. | |
| 33 | 991 | Washington Nationals | Billy Cather | Maine | Maine | |
| Maine's Billy Cather is an exceptional defensive center fielder with above-average speed that plays on the basepaths (he stole 15 bases in 19 attempts this spring). He lacks strength at the plate, but one scout said he could play center field in the majors right away. | ||||||
| 33 | 996 | Minnesota Twins | Luke Yoder | Cal Poly | Calif. | |
| An excellent student, Yoder is one of the Cal Poly's best athletes and has excellent raw power from the right side. He runs well enough to play center field but lacks arm strength, making left field his best fit. | ||||||
| 33 | 997 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Melvin Ray | North Florida Christian HS, Tallahassee, Fla. | Fla. | |
| 33 | 1004 | New York Mets | Neil Medchill | Oklahoma State | Okla. | |
| In his first season at Oklahoma State after transferring from Chandler-Gilbert (Ariz.) CC, outfielder Neil Medchill has displayed impressive athleticism for a 6-foot-4, 200-pounder. He has average speed and plus arm strength, and he'd profile well as a right fielder if he added strength and power. He's a redshirt sophomore with extra leverage, so clubs may wait to see how he progresses in 2009 before offering him a big bonus. | ||||||
| 33 | 1005 | San Diego Padres | Dan Robertson | Oregon State | Ore. | |
| 33 | 1010 | New York Yankees | Tommy Baldridge | Coastal Carolina | S.C. | |
| 34 | 1021 | Washington Nationals | Brian Pruitt | Stetson | Fla. | |
| 34 | 1027 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Andrew Darwin | San Jacinto (Calif.) HS | Calif. | |
| 34 | 1032 | Seattle Mariners | Ty Tostenson | Oak Ridge HS, El Dorado Hills, Calif. | Calif. | |
| 34 | 1034 | New York Mets | Justin Garber | Shippensburg (Pa.) | Pa. | |
| 35 | 1048 | Florida Marlins | Brian Schultz | Florida Southern | Fla. | |
| 35 | 1053 | Texas Rangers | John Ruettiger | Joliet (Ill.) Catholic Academy | Ill. | |
| Outfielder John Ruettiger is the nephew of Dan "Rudy" Ruettiger, the famed walk-on of Notre Dame and movie fame. John quarterbacked Joliet Catholic to the state 6-A football title last fall, but his future is in baseball. A 6-foot-2, 180-pounder, he uses a slash-and-dash approach at the plate to take advantage of his plus speed. He also covers a lot of ground and has a strong arm in center field. Also a lefthanded pitcher, he threw a complete game to beat Braden Kapteyn in the state 3-A sectional final. The consensus among scouts is that until he gets stronger, he projects as more of a good college player than as a true pro prospect, making it more likely that he'll attend Arizona State. | ||||||
| 35 | 1054 | Oakland Athletics | Virgil Hill | Mission (Calif.) JC | Calif. | |
| 35 | 1058 | Milwaukee Brewers | Mike Vass | Chapman (Calif.) | Calif. | |
| 35 | 1066 | Philadelphia Phillies | Ruddy Rio-Nunez | Eduardo Montpetit HS, Montreal | Quebec | |
| 35 | 1069 | Los Angeles Angels | Demetrius Washington | Middle Georgia JC | Ga. | |
| 36 | 1074 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Kyle Morgan | San Francisco | Calif. | |
| 36 | 1080 | Chicago White Sox | Jordan Keegan | Silverado HS, Las Vegas | Nev. | |
| 36 | 1087 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Jake New | Tennessee Tech | Tenn. | |
| 36 | 1097 | Colorado Rockies | Patrick Rose | UC Santa Barbara | Calif. | |
| 37 | 1120 | Atlanta Braves | Lucas Hileman | Anna-Jonesboro HS, Anna, Ill. | Ill. | |
| 37 | 1126 | Philadelphia Phillies | Matt Johnson | North HS, Riverside, Calif. | Calif. | |
| 37 | 1127 | Colorado Rockies | Delta Cleary | Louisiana State-Eunice JC | La. | $250,000 |
| Outfielder Delta Cleary was the best athlete in Arkansas when he came out of high school in 2007, starring as a quarterback for Jonesboro High's football team and an explosive dunker on the Hurricane's 6-A state championship basketball team in addition to his baseball exploits. Cleary was so raw, however, that no team bothered to draft him. A cousin of Miami Heat star Shawn Marion, he helped Louisiana State-Eunice win its second Division II Junior College World Series in the last three years. A 6-foot-3, 175-pound switch-hitter, he has plus speed that he puts to good use on the bases and in center field. His bat and his power are still developing. Some scouts wonder how much he'll hit with wood bats, while others praise him for improving his stroke this spring. | ||||||
| 37 | 1128 | Arizona Diamondbacks | Sanders Commings | Westside HS, Augusta, Ga. | Ga. | |
| 38 | 1144 | Oakland Athletics | Bobby Crocker | Aptos (Calif.) HS | Calif. | |
| Aptos' High's Bobby Crocker, has potential as a pitcher but has so many tools he's seen as a better fit in the outfield. Crocker has shown excellent bat speed as well as above-average running speed. His offense remains raw, and he was expected to wind up at Cal Poly. | ||||||
| 38 | 1149 | Toronto Blue Jays | Quentin Williams | Pittsburgh Central Catholic HS | Pa. | |
| 38 | 1151 | Chicago Cubs | Sean McNaughton | Brigham Young | Utah | |
| An All-Freshman choice in 2005 as a second baseman, Sean McNaughton returned to BYU this year after his two-year Mormon mission and led the team in the triple-crown categories as well as in stolen bases. He's a talented, physical offensive player with bat speed but no defined position or pro profile at just 5-foot-9, 180 pounds. | ||||||
| 39 | 1163 | Tampa Bay Rays | Andrew Gans | Coronado HS, Henderson, Nev. | Nev. | |
| 39 | 1166 | Baltimore Orioles | Lance West | Bossier Parish (La.) CC | La. | |
| 39 | 1168 | Florida Marlins | Mikie Mahtook | St. Thomas More HS, Lafayette, La. | La. | |
| Mikie Mahtook was more renowned as a quarterback with electric speed before this spring, but his exploits as an outfielder may earn him a six-figure bonus. Mahtook, who received football interest from mid-major programs, made the decision to focus solely on baseball, easing questions about his signability. Many clubs didn't get a long look at him until he faced perennial state power Barbe High, and he didn't play well, cooling interest. But a handful of teams view him as an outstanding athlete who's more advanced than most two-sport stars. They see a 6-foot-1, 200-pounder with plus-plus speed to go with above-average power and arm strength, and they don't think he'll take long to adjust to pro pitching. The Blue Jays, Marlins, Mets and Tigers all scheduled workouts with Mahtook shortly before the draft. | ||||||
| 39 | 1178 | Milwaukee Brewers | Eric Decker | Minnesota | Minn. | |
| Minnesota assistant head coach Rob Fornasiere says outfielder Eric Decker reminds him of another former Big 10 Conference two-sport star, Kirk Gibson. Decker set a school record with 67 receptions (for 909 yards and nine touchdowns) last fall. Very athletic at 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, he can go from the left side of the plate to first base in an above-average 4.1 seconds and has plus-plus speed once he gets going. He covers enough ground to play center field, though he mans left field in deference to Matt Nohelty. Decker also has plenty of untapped power potential, and while he's raw, he shows the makings of good plate discipline. His worst tool is his arm, but it's playable. Scouts love Decker's tools but don't think they have any chance of signing him as a draft-eligible sophomore. | ||||||
| 40 | 1201 | Washington Nationals | Avery Barnes | Florida | Fla. | |
| 40 | 1203 | Texas Rangers | Jamie McGraw | Corban (Ore.) | Ore. | |
| 40 | 1205 | St. Louis Cardinals | Paul Cruz | Tampa | Fla. | |
| 40 | 1207 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Jimmy Parque | Skyline (Calif.) JC | Calif. | |
| 40 | 1214 | New York Mets | Seth Williams | North Carolina | N.C. | |
| 40 | 1217 | Colorado Rockies | Kemer Quirk | Rockhurst HS, Kansas City | Mo. | |
| 40 | 1221 | Cleveland Indians | Tim Palincsar | Texas-San Antonio | Texas | $100,000 |
| 41 | 1223 | Tampa Bay Rays | Brett Parsons | Navarro (Texas) JC | Texas | |
| Outfielder Brett Parsons is a 6-foot-4, 215-pound slugger with power to all fields. His swing can get long and his range and arm are a little shaky in the outfield, but his bat can carry him. | ||||||
| 41 | 1228 | Florida Marlins | Alan Williams | Mangham (La.) HS | La. | |
| 41 | 1232 | Houston Astros | Tony McClendon | Damien HS, La Verne, Calif. | Calif. | |
| 41 | 1242 | Seattle Mariners | Henry Cotto | Gateway (Ariz.) CC | Ariz. | |
| 41 | 1246 | Philadelphia Phillies | Mike Petello | Scottsdale (Ariz.) CC | Ariz. | |
| 41 | 1248 | Arizona Diamondbacks | Brendan Duffy | Oral Roberts | Okla. | |
| 41 | 1250 | New York Yankees | Mykal Stokes | Tustin (Calif.) HS | Calif. | |
| 41 | 1251 | Cleveland Indians | Adam Matthews | White Knoll HS, Lexington, S.C. | S.C. | |
| 42 | 1254 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Cole White | Army | N.Y. | |
| 42 | 1257 | San Francisco Giants | Tyler Thompson | Jupiter (Fla.) HS | Fla. | |
| 42 | 1258 | Florida Marlins | Jeremy Synan | North Carolina State | N.C. | |
| 42 | 1261 | Washington Nationals | Naoya Washiya | JC of the Desert (Calif.) | Calif. | |
| 42 | 1262 | Houston Astros | Ryan Danbury | North Florida CC | Fla. | |
| 42 | 1269 | Toronto Blue Jays | Andrew Durden | Indian River (Fla.) CC | Fla. | |
| 42 | 1282 | Boston Red Sox | Caleb Brown | Central Kitsap HS, Silverdale, Wash. | Wash. | |
| 43 | 1288 | Florida Marlins | Kess Carter | Ravenwood HS, Brentwood, Tenn. | Tenn. | |
| 43 | 1295 | St. Louis Cardinals | Joe Babrick | King HS, Tampa | Fla. | |
| 43 | 1297 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Greg Zebrack | Campbell Hall HS, North Hollywood, Calif. | Calif. | |
| 43 | 1302 | Seattle Mariners | Mike Kindel | Springboro (Ohio) HS | Ohio | |
| 43 | 1304 | New York Mets | Mark McGonigle | New Orleans | La. | |
| 43 | 1305 | San Diego Padres | James Tunnell | Oklahoma City, Okla. | Okla. | |
| 43 | 1306 | Philadelphia Phillies | Bryan Frew | Nebraska-Omaha | Neb. | |
| 44 | 1315 | Kansas City Royals | Patrick Johnson | Colony HS, Ontario, Calif. | Calif. | |
| 44 | 1326 | Minnesota Twins | Colby Sokol | Emerald Ridge HS, Puyallup, Wash. | Wash. | |
| 44 | 1329 | Toronto Blue Jays | George Agyapong-Mensah | Western Texas JC | Texas | |
| 44 | 1333 | Detroit Tigers | Brian Wheeler | Childersburg (Ala.) HS | Ala. | |
| 44 | 1339 | New York Yankees | Evan Ocheltree | Wake Forest | N.C. | |
| 45 | 1342 | Tampa Bay Rays | Royce Bolinger | Chaparral HS, Scottsdale, Ariz. | Ariz. | |
| Bolinger has polish on the mound while lacking a present plus pitch. He's athletic enough to stick in the outfield and has a solid bat. He's a Gonzaga recruit who will play both ways for the Bulldogs. | ||||||
| 45 | 1344 | Kansas City Royals | Ray Anderson | Lassiter HS, Marietta, Ga. | Ga. | |
| 45 | 1347 | Florida Marlins | Fred Atkins | JC of Marin (Calif.) | Calif. | |
| 45 | 1365 | Arizona Diamondbacks | Jeremy Rathjen | Memorial HS, Houston | Texas | |
| Rice recruit Jeremy Rathjen got a lot of exposure as a junior at Houston's Memorial High, when scouts came to see eventual Blue Jays first-round pick Kevin Ahrens. Rathjen's bat isn't as advanced as Ahrens' was, and at 6-foot-4 and 175 pounds, he must get stronger. But he's athletic, a former two-way player in football for Memorial who has solid speed and arm strength. If his frame and power develop as expected, he could be a top-three-rounds pick in 2011. Because he's a good student and not ready for pro ball, he'll be difficult to sign away from the Owls. | ||||||
| 45 | 1368 | Cleveland Indians | Dean Lagonosky | Haverford (Pa.) | Pa. | |
| 46 | 1376 | Cincinnati Reds | Grant Hogue | Mississippi State | Miss. | |
| 46 | 1383 | Minnesota Twins | Lyndon Eusea | Hahnville HS, Boutte, La. | La. | |
| 46 | 1387 | Seattle Mariners | Alvin Rittman | Germantown (Tenn.) HS | Tenn. | |
| 46 | 1389 | New York Mets | Brian Gump | UC Santa Barbara | Calif. | |
| 47 | 1398 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Jordan Craft | Kennesaw Mountain HS, Kennesaw, Ga. | Ga. | |
| 47 | 1406 | Houston Astros | Nathan Metroka | Compton (Calif.) CC | Calif. | |
| 47 | 1407 | Texas Rangers | Lejuan Hill | Austin Peay | Tenn. | |
| 47 | 1409 | St. Louis Cardinals | Ray Asaro | UC Irvine | Calif. | |
| 47 | 1413 | Chicago Cubs | Chad Cregar | Western Kentucky | Ky. | |
| In his first season in the Sun Belt Conference, outfielder Chad Cregar led the league in homers (20) and RBIs (78, one shy of the Western Kentucky record) entering NCAA regional play. A transfer from Northwest Mississippi CC, he's a lefthanded hitter with size (6-foot-3, 221 pounds) and strength. He does have some holes in his swing that he'll have to close against more advanced pitching. | ||||||
| 48 | 1432 | Washington Nationals | Alex Dickerson | Poway (Calif.) HS | Calif. | |
| 48 | 1434 | Texas Rangers | Daniel Bowman | Ashby HS, Bridgewater, Va. | Va. | |
| 48 | 1437 | Minnesota Twins | George Springer | Avon (Conn.) Old Farms School | Conn. | |
| Avon Old Farms School outfielder George Springer is a athletic but raw five-tool talent with above-average speed and arm strength whose bat lags behind, and he figures to wind up at Connecticut this fall. | ||||||
| 48 | 1443 | New York Mets | Tyler Baisley | Gateway (Ariz.) CC | Ariz. | |
| 48 | 1446 | Arizona Diamondbacks | Cecil Richardson | Sacramento CC | Calif. | |
| 49 | 1454 | Baltimore Orioles | Hector Morales | Puerto Rico-Carolina | ||
| 49 | 1457 | Cincinnati Reds | Patrick White | West Virginia | W.Va. | |
| 49 | 1459 | Washington Nationals | B.J. Zimmerman | Osceola HS, Kissimmee, Fla. | Fla. | |
| 49 | 1472 | Colorado Rockies | Carl Uhl | UC Riverside | Calif. | |
| 49 | 1473 | Arizona Diamondbacks | Willie Argo | Assumption HS, Davenport, Iowa | Iowa | |
| 50 | 1479 | Pittsburgh Pirates | Craig Parry | South Dakota State | S.D. | |
| Craig Parry generates lefthanded power with an uppercut swing, and he has enough arm strength and athleticism that a team could consider making him a full-time catcher in pro ball. | ||||||
| 50 | 1483 | Florida Marlins | Colin Hoffman | St. Augustine HS, San Diego | Calif. | |
| 50 | 1484 | Cincinnati Reds | Kevin Leslie | Faulkner (Ala.) | Ala. | |
| 50 | 1486 | Washington Nationals | Fernando Frias | Washington HS, New York | N.Y. | |
| Outfielder Fernando Frias has plenty of raw power but a raw approach, though he could hit home runs by the bushel in junior college. | ||||||
| 50 | 1487 | Houston Astros | Jamal Austin | Harrison HS, Kennesaw, Ga. | Ga. | |
| 50 | 1497 | New York Mets | Kameron Brunty | Gulf Breeze (Fla.) HS | Fla. | |
| 50 | 1501 | Los Angeles Angels | Joey Belviso | American Heritage HS, Plantation, Fla. | Fla. | |
| Even with Adrian Nieto and Eric Hosmer on the roster, outfielder Joe Belviso led the team in home runs. Playing center field, Belviso is an inconsistent defender and might be forced to a corner position. He has a short power swing with a chance to hit at the next level. | ||||||
| 50 | 1503 | Cleveland Indians | Hector Acosta-Carillo | Junction City (Kan.) HS | Kan. | |
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