2005 Draft Scouting Reports: West Virginia

By Alan Simpson
June 3, 2005

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THIS YEAR'S CROP
*****	One for the books
****	Banner year
***	Solid, not spectacular
**	Not up to par
*	Nothing to see here

West Virginia enjoyed some success on the national stage this spring when West Virginia State advanced to the Division II World Series and Potomac State made its second straight appearance at the Junior College World Series. Winthrop outfielder Daniel Carte, a West Virginia native who is the state’s high school career home run leader, is a potential first-round pick. But that’s as close as it will get in the draft as the state won't have any other players with West Virginia connections go in the first 10 rounds.

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(National ranking in parentheses)

Potential First-Round Picks

None

Potential Second-Fifth Round Picks

None

Others Of Note

1. Enrique Garcia, rhp, Potomac State JC 2. Chris Cummings, rhp, Marshall U. 3. Lee Fritz, of, West Virginia U. 4. Alex Wilson, 3b/rhp, Hurricane HS 5. Stan Posluszny, 1b, West Virginia U.

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OTHERS TO WATCH
(Numbers in parentheses indicate rank in West Virginia)

Six-foot-7, 225-pound freshman RHP Enrique Garcia (1) made a big impression on scouts this spring—if you saw him on the right day. He threw one no-hitter and was taken out of another potential no-hitter when he reached his pitch count. Raw when he enrolled in school, Garcia still lacks polish but he shows the makings of three pitches, including a 90-91 mph fastball that touches 94. He also has a slider and a split-finger he uses for a changeup.

Six-foot-2, 230-pound RHP Chris Cummings (2) was expected to be West Virginia’s first pick on the basis of a strong 2004 summer season in the Great Lakes League, but he went backward, compiling a 3-4, 6.27 record with 61 walks and only 40 strikeouts in 60 innings. His velocity, which was 90-94 mph in short bursts as a reliever in 2004, backed up to 87-90, though he was plagued with biceps tendonitis. He was used in a starting role this year, but projects as a reliever.

West Virginia University’s best picks should be senior OF Lee Fritz (3), who led the team with a .379 average, and junior 1B Stan Posluszny (5), who was drafted in the 21st round by the Angels a year ago. Posluszny, who has explosive power and has hit some of the longest home runs in school history, pressed so much to raise his profile that he went into a major slump at the start of the year. He rallied to finish the year at .286-12-50.
RHP Alex Wilson (4) is the state’s only bet to be drafted from among a thin high school crop. He dominated weak competition this spring with a 90-91 mph fastball, going 6-1, 0.75 with more than 100 strikeouts. Like Carte, also a Hurricane High product, Wilson has committed to Winthrop.