St. Louis Cardinals

Players signed indicated in Bold

Round Overall Player Position School State Bonus
1 13 Brett Wallace 1B Arizona State Ariz. $1,840,000
Four of the top hitters in the college draft class--Wallace, Stanford's Jason Castro, California's David Cooper and South Carolina's Jay Darnell--played together for NorCal Baseball's travel team in high school. Wallace was a bad-bodied third baseman then, tipping the scales at close to 260 pounds. Many scouts still see him as a bad-body third baseman waiting to move to first, but others see more. Many see the best natural hitter in the West. Wallace has a strong swing with above-average bat speed; his swing path stays in the zone a long time and he has outstanding plate discipline. Defensively, Wallace had made just eight errors at third in 50 games, and he has at least average arm strength to go with nifty feet. While he's cleaned up his body, he still has huge thighs that make it hard for him to get low enough to properly field groundballs. Scouts that think he could stay at third compare him to 2007 Indians first-rounder Beau Mills, who also had questionable skills at third. Those that don't care for him cite his body and the short careers of players built similarly, such as Bob Hamelin. Wallace's bat should get him drafted in the first round regardless, and most scouts give him at least above-average raw power grades.
1s 39 Lance Lynn RHP Mississippi Miss. $938,000
Lynn is somewhat the opposite of his Ole Miss teammate Cody Satterwhite. At 6-foot-5 and 250 pounds, Lynn is described as a big-bodied and durable starter who consistently produces quality starts game in and game out. None of the pitches in his repertoire are overwhelming, but he possesses three average to fringe-average offerings. His fastball is typically between 90-92 mph, and his slider comes in around 81 mph. He also throws a curveball and changeup, both of which are fringe-average at best. Lynn mixes all four pitches with command and pitchability, making him a safe bet to be a fourth or fifth starter and an innings-eater in the major leagues within a few years. Lynn was drafted by the Mariners in the sixth round of the 2005 draft and should improve on that this year. Lynn pitched for the U.S. National Team last summer, striking out 26 batters in 25 innings and compiling a 2-1,1.80 mark in four starts. While never stellar, scouts are impressed with his undeniable track record of success.
2 59 Shane Peterson OF 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.
3 91 Niko Vasquez SS Durango HS, Las Vegas Nev. $423,000
Vasquez emerged as a potential high draft pick at last summer's Area Code Games as he started turning his raw tools into performance, using his strong hands and good bat speed to blister good velocity. He also showed good defensive tools during a January Under Armour event, with a strong, accurate arm and better hands and actions. However, his season has been wildly inconsistent, starting with an academic suspension in February that cost him a month's worth of games. When he returned, Vasquez was inconsistent defensively, and most scouts see him moving either to third base or second due to his below-average speed and lack of range at shortstop. However, his bat and perceived signability should get him drafted in the first three rounds. A skilled hitter, he has excellent hands and a good swing path, helping him lash line drives from gap to gap. He was at his best when the scouting heat was on this spring. Some scouts want to try him behind the plate, while others think he'll hit enough and has enough arm (it's average at best) to handle third base. His academic issues didn't hinder his Oregon State commitment, but he's considered signable.
4 125 Scott Gorgen RHP UC Irvine Calif. $250,000
Gorgen, whose twin brother Matt is California's closer, was a second-team All-Freshman choice and had an even better season as a sophomore, helping pitch UC Irvine to the College World Series. His numbers are better again in 2008; opponents were hitting just .159 against him as he responded to a lighter workload. Gorgen's fastball generally scrapes 90 but sits more comfortably in the 86-88 range with excellent command. His circle changeup is a plus pitch he locates at will, and it has late tumble, making it resemble a split-finger fastball. Gorgen's breaking ball and body are both short but he competes, is athletic and has shown durability, having surpassed 320 innings already in college. On the down side, he has little projection left. The track record should still prompt a team to bite in the first five rounds.
5 155 Jermaine Curtis 3B UCLA Calif. $181,000
Curtis had academic issues as a sophomore and got off to a difficult start as a junior before rallying. He's lauded by opponents and scouts for his leadership skills and gritty play. He'll have to learn a new position as a pro, moving to second base, because he lacks the arm strength and power for third. His other tools grade out as average at best but play up because of his effort and hustle.
6 185 Eric Fornataro RHP Miami-Dade CC Fla. $150,000
At 6-feet, 195 pounds, Fornataro is an undersized righthander with powerful stuff. His fastball has been up to 95 mph and consistently sits between 90-93. His mechanics are clean as is his arm action as his delivery is effortless. Fornataro's second best pitch is a late-dropping changeup. His slider is in need of work and lacks consistency.
7 215 Anthony Ferrara LHP Riverview HS, Sarasota, Fla. Fla. $150,000
Blessed with an electric left arm, Ferrara has been a well-known prep prospect for the past three years. At 6-foot-3, 190 pounds, Ferrara is lanky and projectable, with an ideal pitcher's frame. Ferrara also has a pitcher's mind and shows advanced maturity on the mound. He throws three pitches, all of which could be average or better. His fastball sits between 89-91 mph now, and his curveball and changeup are advanced as well. He shows plus command and is a competitor on the mound. Teams' main concern will be with his injury history. After having issues with his shoulder last year, Ferrara visited Dr. James Andrews but only required rest, not surgery. He did have to sit out the Aflac Classic at the end of the summer. Committed to South Florida, Ferrara would likely step right into the weekend rotation if he doesn't go pro.
8 245 Ryan Kulik LHP Rowan (N.J.) N.J. $58,000
Rowan lefty Ryan Kulik dominated Division III competition as a senior this spring, going 10-2, 1.72 with 144 strikeouts and 24 walks in 94 innings. Kulik is undersized but strong at 5-foot-11, 200 pounds. He has an average 89-91 mph fastball that touches 93, and he maintains his velocity deep into outings. Some scouts believe he could throw 94-95 in short stints in the bullpen, making him more attractive than Corey Young to some. His curveball and changeup are fringy, but he makes up for it with his competitiveness and ability to pound the zone. Like Young, Kulik should be drafted between the seventh and 12th rounds.
9 275 Aaron Luna OF 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.
10 305 Alex Castellanos 2B Belmont Abbey (N.C.) N.C. $70,000
11 335 Devin Shepherd OF 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.
12 365 Michael Swinson OF 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.
13 395 Mitch Harris RHP Navy Md.
A senior at Navy, Harris has been one of the top pitchers in the Patriot League for the past two years and entered this season as the league's top draft prospect. He has been a two-way standout for the Midshipmen, but he is strictly a pitcher for pro consideration. Blessed with an ideal pitcher's frame, Harris is athletic and consistently pitches in the low 90s. He has plus command of three pitches--fastball, slider and changeup--and all three have potential to be major league average. He sustained a minor shoulder separation in a pre-season intrasquad scrimmage after hitting a home run, tripping over first base and landing awkwardly on his right arm. He didn't make his first start until the end of March, but quickly regained form when he returned to action. Of more concern to teams is his military commitment, which is five years unless the Navy changes its mind. Some Navy athletes have served just two years active duty, but even that would drive Harris down draft boards. Naval officials were still considering options for Harris, who hoped to have an arrangement worked out by draft day. He would be a lock for the first five rounds on talent, but his service commitment makes him a huge question mark.
14 425 Charlie Cutler C California Calif.
15 455 Scott McGregor RHP Memphis Tenn.
16 485 Miguel Flores RHP Cerritos (Calif.) JC Calif.
17 515 Josh Hester RHP Freed-Hardeman (Tenn.) Tenn.
18 545 Jared Bradford RHP Louisiana State La.
19 575 Xavier Scruggs 1B Nevada-Las Vegas Nev.
Scouts and opposing coaches were impressed by Scruggs' improvement this season over last, reflected in his outstanding performance. Scruggs ranked among the national leaders in the triple-crown categories (.389-20-65) as well as slugging percentage (.778) and on-base percentage (.489), and he and was named the Mountain West Conference player of the year. He's strong and fairly short to the ball, and has greatly improved his plate discipline, allowing him to get into hitter's counts and sit on a particular pitch. He has good plate coverage and loft power and realizes he's strong enough that he doesn't have to pull everything to hit the ball hard. Scruggs didn't help his draft value by moving off third base and playing mostly first this season, though he's a better fit at first defensively. At 6-foot-1 he's a shade short for the position.
20 605 Luis Mateo SS Jose Rojas Cortez Superior HS, Orocovis, P.R.
21 635 Matt Rigoli 1B Pace (N.Y.) N.Y.
22 665 Colt Sedbrook SS Arizona Ariz.
23 695 Jonny Bravo LHP Azusa Pacific (Calif.) Calif.
24 725 Zach Pitts RHP Louisville Ky.
25 755 Jason Buursma RHP Bucknell Pa.
Bucknell's Jason Buursma won Patriot League player of the year honors for his two-way prowess, and he won all four of Bucknell's Patriot playoff games out of the bullpen, working 10 combined scoreless innings. Buursma throws from a low-three-quarters slot that isn't quite as low as O'Neil's, though he doesn't have O'Neil's velocity, working in the 85-88 mph range with his sinker. He also commands a fringy slider that gives him another weapon against righthanded hitters. Buursma is a winner who knows how to pitch, and he should get a look after the 15th round.
26 785 Chris Swauger OF The Citadel S.C.
27 815 George Brown LHP St. John's N.Y.
Lefthander George Brown went 9-0, 2.73 with a 58-9 K-BB ratio in 86 innings this spring, but he gets results with his competitiveness and command more than his stuff. Brown works between 82-88 mph with his fastball and has an above-average changeup with excellent fading action. His curveball is fringy at best but is effective against lefthanded hitters.
28 845 Matt Frevert RHP Missouri State Mo.
Righthander Matt Frevert was spectacular as a sophomore, allowing just one earned run all season while averaging 15.6 strikeouts per nine innings. He was bothered by forearm tightness that dogged him in the Cape Cod League as well, but he wasn't as dominant after getting healthy again this spring. Frevert's stuff is still good, as he gets good hop on a 90-91 mph fastball that tops out at 93 and can chew up hitters with his slider. A reliever at Missouri State, he'll continue in that role as a pro.
29 875 Brett Lilley 2B Notre Dame Ind.
30 905 Brett Bruening RHP Grayson County (Texas) CC Texas
Brett Bruening didn't contribute much in Grand Junction, getting just two outs in his lone start, but he's the Vikings' best prospect. He's 6-foot-6, 215 pounds and capable of reaching 95 mph with his fastball--rare territory for a lefthander. He's still struggling with his delivery and his command, but he's also in just his second year of pitching after missing two years in high school following elbow surgery.
31 935 Justin Leith LHP Collier HS, Naples, Fla. Fla.
32 965 Sam Freeman LHP Kansas Kan.
33 995 Kevin Thomas RHP Stephen F. Austin State Texas
34 1025 Jack Cawley C Pace (N.Y.) N.Y.
Pace's Jack Cawley is solid hitter for average with a strong arm behind the plate and plenty of athleticism--he's an above-average runner.
35 1055 Shane Boras 2B Serra HS, San Mateo, Calif. Calif.
36 1085 Chris Notti RHP Moorpark (Calif.) JC Calif.
37 1115 Danny Jimenez LHP St. Charles (Ill.) North HS Ill.
Lefthander Danny Jimenez has emerged as the second-best high school pitching prospect in Illinois. The 6-foot-4, 205-pounder threw 88-89 mph as a sophomore before dipping to 83-85 as a junior. He was back up to the high 80s this spring thanks to improved conditioning, which can be partially attributed to playing for the St. Charles North basketball team. Jimenez shows good command of four pitches, though none of his secondary offerings is particularly impressive. He's considered signable and will play at Logan (Ill.) CC if he doesn't turn pro.
38 1145 Dan Richardson RHP Delaware Del.
39 1175 Curt Smith 1B Maine Maine
Maine Black Bear Curt Smith played the middle infield his first couple of years at Maine but struggled defensively and split time between left field and first base as a senior. He had his best offensive season, batting .403/.498/.722 with 11 homers, 37 RBIs and 12 steals in 14 attempts, but he's undersized at 5-foot-10 and won't ever hit enough to play left field or first base down the line. He does have good gap power and average speed, but his arm is below-average even for a left fielder.
40 1205 Paul Cruz OF Tampa Fla.
41 1235 Kevin Siegrist LHP Palm Beach (Fla.) CC Fla.
42 1265 Blake Murphy C Western Carolina N.C.
43 1295 Joe Babrick OF King HS, Tampa Fla.
44 1325 Santo Maertz RHP St. Peter's (N.J.) N.J.
45 1354 Chris Taylor C Charlotte N.C.
46 1382 Brandon Sizemore 2B Charleston S.C.
47 1409 Ray Asaro OF UC Irvine Calif.
48 1436 Adam Prange RHP South Mountain (Ariz.) CC Ariz.
49 1463 Adam Veres RHP St. Petersburg (Fla.) JC Fla.
50 1490 Danny Miranda LHP Miami Killian HS Fla.

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