2005 Draft Scouting Reports: Missouri
By Jim Callis
May 30, 2005
| THIS YEAR'S CROP |
| ***** |
One for the books |
| **** |
Banner year |
| *** |
Solid, not spectacular |
| ** |
Not up to par |
| * |
Nothing to see here |
Missouri is one of the nation's underrated producers of baseball talent.
It has neither two first-rounders as it did a year ago with high schoolers
Scott Elbert and Blake DeWitt, nor the stunning depth of 2003, but it
still has plenty to offer. NCAA Division II Central Missouri State alone
has five pitchers who could go on the first day of the draft, and the
University of Missouri will provide several draft picks after its best
season since 1996. Mizzou offers even better things to come because ace
Max Scherzer, a sophomore, should be one of the first selections in the
2006 draft.
(National ranking in parentheses)
| Potential First-Round Picks |
| None |
| Potential Second-Fifth Round Picks |
1. Nick Webber (92), rhp, Central Missouri State U.
2. Danny Powers (184), rhp, Central Missouri State U. |
| Others Of Note |
3. James Boone, of, U. of Missouri
4. Mike Phelps, rhp, Central Missouri State U.
5. Aaron Shafer, rhp, Troy Buchanon HS, Moscow Mills
6. David Phelps, rhp, Hazelwood West HS, Hazelwood
7. Josh Outman, lhp/of, Central Missouri State U.
8. Jason Schutt, rhp, Central Missouri State U.
9. Blake Tekotte, of, Hickman HS, Columbia
10. Doug Mathis, rhp, U. of Missouri
11. Andrew Johnston, rhp, U. of Missouri
12. Scott Van Slyke, of, John Burroughs HS, St. Louis
13. Scott Turmail, rhp, Hazelwood Central HS, Florissant
14. Jake Blackwood, 3b, Maple Woods CC
15. Kevin Turmail, rhp, St. Louis CC-Forest Park (CONTROL: Marlins)
16. Will Pujols, of, Fort Osage HS, Independence
17. Bruce Galloway, lhp, Missouri Valley College
18. Taylor Parker, lhp, U. of Missouri
19. Lee Martin, rhp, Crowder CC
20. Owen Reid, rhp/ss, Moberly HS
21. Tom Stilson, lhp, Ozark HS
22. Travis Pyatt, rhp, St. Louis CC-Meramec
23. Shawn Toler, rhp, Parkway South HS, Manchester
24. Adam Hall, rhp, Pacific HS, Gray Summit
25. Shawn Callahan, 3b, Central Missouri State U. |
1. NICK WEBBER, rhp (National rank 92)
School: Central Missouri State.
Hometown: Lee's Summit, Mo.
B-T: R-R.
Ht.: 6-7.
Wt.: 210.
Birthdate: May 9, 1984.
Previously Drafted: Never.
Scouting Report: Webber is the closer on a dominant Central Missouri State staff that set an NCAA Division II record with 15 shutouts this year. The Mules could have as many as five pitchers taken in the first 15 rounds, with Webber going ahead of Danny Powers, Mike Phelps, Josh Outman and Jason Schutt. He has one of the best fastballs in the draft. It sits at 91-94 mph and touches 96, and it stands out even more with its outstanding life. One observer said it had "Wiffle ball movement" last summer in the Cape Cod League. Webber's second pitch is a decent slider, which he commands well but lacks a sharp break. As a pro, he may need to scrap the slider in favor of a splitter. He posted a 0.49 ERA in his first 37 innings, as opponents managed to bat just .099 with two extra-base hits. Webber has the strong body and resilience to try starting as a pro, but he has pitched almost exclusively in relief at Central Missouri State and may remain in that role. He hasn't thrown a changeup, which he'd need to move into a rotation.
2. DANNY POWERS, rhp (National rank: 184)
School: Central Missouri State.
Hometown: Carl Junction, Mo.
B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 195. Birthdate: July 24, 1982.
Previously Drafted: Never.
Scouting Report: Powers not only is the ace on a Central Missouri State staff that carried a 55-7, 2.88 record into the NCAA Division II College World Series, but he also is fast becoming one of the more attractive senior signs in the entire draft. Tied for the Division II lead in wins (14-1, 1.81) entering the series, he won the opener 5-2 against Florida Southern. He has the best track record of success on the Mules staff, and he earned the win in the championship game of the CWS in 2003. Powers' out pitch is an 81-85 mph slider, and his 87-90 mph fastball features plenty of run and sink. He commands both of those offerings and his changeup well. He could go in the fifth round based on talent, perhaps higher to a team that focuses on his impressive statistics and/or wants to save money with a college senior.
OTHERS TO WATCH
(Numbers in parentheses indicate rank in Missouri)
Beyond Webber and Powers, Central Missouri State has three more pitchers who'll go in the early rounds. Sophomore-eligible RHP Mike Phelps (4) had a scary beginning to his season, getting hit in the head by a throw from his catcher in the Mules' opener and missing five weeks with a fractured skull. He couldn't crack the deep rotation once he returned and is considered a tough sign because he could be an early pick if he returns and has a healthy 2006. He's the least refined of Central Missouri State's pitching prospects, but Phelps is projectable (6-foot-4, 195 pounds) and has three pitches that have the potential to be at least average: a 90-91 mph fastball, a slider and a changeup. His changeup may be his best present pitch, as he commands it better than his fastball.
When LHP Josh Outman (7) was at St. Louis Community College-Forest Park--where current Mules head coach Darin Hendrickson was coach for Outman's freshman season--scouts said he had the most unorthodox delivery they had ever seen. With a fastball clocked at 86-88 mph, Outman tied for the Division II national juco lead with 110 strikeouts in 100 innings. Central Missouri State has remade his arm action, and he has gained 5 mph on his fastball. He's still unpolished and needs to further refine his slider. Outman also has hit .345 and shown impressive bat speed as a part-time outfielder.
RHP Jason Schutt (8) has heavy sink on his 89-92 mph fastball, making it difficult for hitters to center. He still needs to refine his secondary pitches, but he locates them well in the strike zone.
Clubs passed on OF James Boone (3) when he was a draft-eligible sophomore in 2004, and now he has blossomed into the state's top position player. He's a switch-hitting center fielder with power, speed and arm strength. He may need time to hit with wood bats, however, as he swings and misses too much, especially as a righthanded hitter. A pinched nerve in his back sidelined him for a couple of weeks and slowed him down the stretch.
RHP Aaron Shafer (5) has been up and down all spring, partly because he spent the winter playing basketball and has started at shortstop when he's not on the mound. Once he focuses full-time on pitching, he could take off. At 6-foot-4 and 189 pounds he has a lively 90-91 mph fastball and a good curveball when he's on. He's also not afraid to pitch inside. If he doesn't turn pro, he could develop nicely at Wichita State.
RHP David Phelps (6), Mike's younger brother, may be unsignable because he has committed to Notre Dame. Phelps looked great last summer, sitting at 88-92 mph and touching 93-94 with his four-seam fastball, showing nice sink on his two-seamer and throwing a good curveball. He has shown that stuff only sporadically this spring and needs to put more weight on his 6-foot-2, 170-pound frame.
OF Blake Tekotte (9) is the state's top prep hitter, but he probably won't be drafted high after tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee while playing quarterback for Hickman High last fall. Though his knee is only at 80 percent, he has played baseball this spring. One scout calls him a shorter version of Blake DeWitt, a Dodgers first-round pick out of Missouri's high school ranks in 2004, albeit with less power and arm. Tekotte seems certain to attend Miami.
The real gem on Missouri's pitching staff is Max Scherzer, but RHPs Doug Mathis (10) and Andrew Johnston (11) will get a look this June. Drafted twice out Central Arizona Junior College, Mathis has pitched better as a reliever than as a starter this spring. He has an 88-91 mph fastball and is effective when he throws his slider and curveball for strikes. Johnston is mainly a one-pitch guy, but that one pitch is a nasty sinker that has been clocked as high as 94 mph. He's a 6-foot-5, 215-pounder who's tough to pick up from his low three-quarters arm slot. Though he's just 5-foot-10 and 142 pounds, LHP Taylor Parker (18) has thrived as co-closer with Johnston thanks to a tremendous curveball, lots of savvy and the ability to locate his 88-89 mph fastball.
After current Cardinals star Albert Pujols slipped through the cracks and went in the 13th round in 1999, scouts want to make sure they don't make the same mistake with his cousin. But they had a hard time seeing OF Will Pujols (16) at Fort Osage High (Albert's alma mater) this spring because he had arthroscopic knee surgery and got a late start. Will isn't a top prospect yet, but he's a strong 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds and bears some resemblance to Albert. His bloodlines won't be ignored, and he'll at least be a draft-and-follow. Pujols has committed to Maple Woods Community College, which was Albert's next step on his path to stardom.
A former Cardinals star also has a relative who'll be drafted out of a Missouri high school this June. OF Scott Van Slyke (12), the son of Andy, likely will head to Mississippi rather than sign. He could be an early pick in three years, once he strengthens his 6-foot-5, 210-pound frame and shortens his swing. He has good actions and all-around athleticism. His older brother Scott, a University of Kansas outfielder, should be drafted this year as well.
The Phelps' aren't the only Missouri brother combo in the draft. RHP Scott Turmail (13) has a projectable 6-foot-4, 170-pound frame and a clean arm action. His fastball ranges from 85-91 mph and he could develop into a quality prospect at Long Beach State. RHP Kevin Turmail (15), who's under control to the Marlins as a 26th-round pick from 2004, has a similar build (6-foot-4, 190) and is a sinker/slider pitcher. He usually works at 88-89 and will pitch at Central Missouri State if he doesn't sign.
Maple Woods has another slugging third baseman. Jake Blackwood (14) isn't the next Albert Pujols, but he does rank second among national juco players with 19 homers. He has a strong arm but hasn't been effective when he has taken the mound.
Baseball America
