BaseballAmerica.com: Draft: Draft Dish: Updated Draft Top 50

Updated Draft Top 50

There's a familiar name at the top of the list

Staff Report
April 7, 2008

Previous ranking is in parentheses
1.	Pedro Alvarez, 3b, Vanderbilt (1)
Broken hamate bone can't diminish all he accomplished with the bat the previous two years, won't cost him in the draft.
2.	Brian Matusz, lhp, San Diego (2)
"He's the safest guy with upside at the top of the draft," says one scouting director.
3.	Aaron Crow, rhp, Missouri (3)
Has the best fastball in the draft for its total package of velocity, life and command; slider is also a quality pitch.
4.	Tim Beckham, ss, Griffin (Ga.) HS (4)
There isn't another high schooler who projects as a middle infielder who's anywhere close to being in his class.
5.	Eric Hosmer, 1b, American Heritage HS, Plantation, Fla. (8)
Has moved to the top of the stacked crop of first basemen; Scott Boras advises the top college (Alvarez) and prep bats.
6.	Justin Smoak, 1b, South Carolina (5)
Having an unexceptional junior season after a down summer with Team USA, but his switch-hitting power still sells.
7.	Buster Posey, c, Florida State (15)
Athletic catcher has boosted his stock by showing improvement at the plate; also showing a plus heater as a closer.
8.	Shooter Hunt, rhp, Tulane (17)
Needs to throw more strikes, but his fastball and slider have been unhittable (0.95 ERA, .101 opponent average).
9.	Tanner Scheppers, rhp, Fresno State (22)
Was more impressive than Matusz and Crow at USD Tournament in February.
10.	Tim Melville, rhp, Holt HS, Wentzville, Mo. (6)
Has yet to show the quality stuff he displayed last summer, but it's still early, especially for a Midwestern pitcher.
11.	Kyle Skipworth, c, Patriot HS, Riverside, Calif. (12)
Reached base in 25 straight plate appearances, including 16 hits; also has catch-and-throw skills.
12.	Gordon Beckham, ss, Georgia (24)
Proving his Cape home run title last summer was no fluke by drilling 15 homers in first 26 games this spring.
13.	Yonder Alonso, 1b, Miami (7)
Very polished hitter with tremendous approach, would rank higher if he showed more consistent home run power.
14.	Christian Friedrich, lhp, Eastern Kentucky (9)
Owns the best curveball in college class, and commands it better than he does his solid fastball.
15.	Aaron Hicks, of/rhp, Wilson HS, Long Beach (13)
Teams are still split on whether he'll be a hitter or pitcher; may have best tools package of outfielders in this draft.
16.	Ethan Martin, rhp/3b, Stephens County HS, Toccoa, Ga. (56)
Entered the year as a power-hitting prospect but has stood out more with a low-90s fastball and hard slurve.
17.	Dennis Raben, of, Miami (19)
Recovered from a strained back, he has shown his trademark power and cemented himself as the top college outfielder.
18.	Joshua Fields, rhp, Georgia (44)
Has recaptured his sophomore form to rank as the best college senior prospect; should move quickly to the majors.
19.	Gerrit Cole, rhp, Lutheran HS, Orange, Calif. (11)
Lights up radar guns but has yet to resolve questions about his secondary pitches, command, mechanics and makeup.
20.	Jemile Weeks, 2b, Miami (25)
Rickie's little brother has helped his cause by showing more durability and power than he did a year ago.
21.	Brett Hunter, rhp, Pepperdine (10)
Made just two starts before getting shut down with a sore forearm, and his health is a huge question mark.
22.	Alex Meyer, rhp, Greensburg (Ind.) HS (20)
Bad weather wiped out his first start, and scouts are eager to see the big projectable righty who touches 96 mph.
23.	Sonny Gray, rhp, Smyrna (Tenn.) HS (26)
Scouts don't believe his listed 6-foot height, but they do believe in his plus fastball and power curveball.
24.	Kyle Lobstein, lhp, Coconino HS, Flagstaff, Ariz. (27)
Extremely polished for a prep southpaw, he has a smooth delivery, command of three pitches and projectability.
25.	Lance Lynn, rhp, Mississippi (31)
Can't match teammate Cody Satterwhite's pure stuff, but he does have a much better feel for pitching.
26.	Brett Wallace, 3b/1b, Arizona State (41)
Can make a case for being college baseball's best pure hitter and is moving up thanks to increased power production.
27.	Tyson Ross, rhp, California (32)
Regaining some momentum after missing two starts with a pulled lat muscle in his back.
28.	Tim Murphy, lhp, UCLA (47)
Former outfielder didn't start showing off his low-90s fastball and hammer curve until his sophomore year.
29.	Conor Gillaspie, 3b, Wichita State (37)
Cape Cod League MVP and batting champ has a line-drive stroke and should be able to stay at the hot corner.
30.	Brett DeVall, lhp, Niceville (Fla.) HS (30)
Blowing away hitters and doing nothing to hurt his rep for having the best usable stuff among high school lefties.
31.	Allan Dykstra, 1b/3b, Wake Forest (40)
While his move to third base this spring won't stick, his power and his patience are for real.
32.	David Cooper, 1b, California (95)
His ability to hit for average and drive the ball to all fields makes him another first baseman with first-round aspirations.
33.	Daniel Webb, rhp, Heath HS, West Paducah, Ky. (35)
His fastball sits at 92-94 mph, making him the best of four Kentucky high schoolers who could go in the first two rounds.
34.	Reese Havens, ss, South Carolina (34)
Adjustments made in the Cape League last summer are paying off this spring, though he probably won't stay at shortstop.
35.	Casey Kelly, ss/rhp, Sarasota (Fla.) HS (42)
The son of ex-big leaguer Pat, he's a multitalented athlete who has a scholarship to play quarterback at Tennessee.
36.	Ike Davis, 1b/lhp, Arizona State (68)
Another son of a former major leaguer (Ron), he has power in both his bat and his arm and can play the outfield.
37.	Colby Shreve, rhp, CC of Southern Nevada (NR)
The top juco prospect can sit at 94-96 mph and flash three plus pitches, but his stuff faded down the stretch in 2007.
38.	Ryan Perry, rhp, Arizona (16)
Continues to throw in the mid-90s but struggled as a starter and still fights his command, making him too hittable.
39.	Robbie Grossman, of, Cy-Fair HS, Cypress, Texas (38)
Speedy center fielder also has power potential, though he needs to show more consistency with the bat.
40.	Isaac Galloway, of, Los Osos HS, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. (29)
Surfaced as a top 2008 prospect early in his high school career; has five-tool potential but some rough edges at the plate.
41.	Jacob Thompson, rhp, Virginia (18)
His fastball has been down a tick for much of the spring, though he still commands it well and gets results.
42.	Zach Collier, of, Chino Hills (Calif.) HS (NR)
A sleeper because he wasn't on the showcase circuit last summer, he raised his profile with a homer against Hicks.
43.	Anthony Gose, lhp/of, Bellflower (Calif.) HS (60)
He missed a start with a sore shoulder, but he has topped out at 97 mph; also shows plus speed as a center fielder.
44.	James Darnell, 3b, South Carolina (36)
Gamecocks have three sluggers who could go before the second round; he has a strong arm to go with his power.
45.	Cody Satterwhite, rhp, Mississippi (23)
After reaching the upper 90s in the past, has worked more in the low 90s while getting knocked around some this spring.
46.	Zach Putnam, rhp/of, Michigan (77)
Has overcome early-season shoulder tenderness to display one of the heavier fastballs in this draft; projects as a reliever.
47.	Michael Palazzone, rhp, Lassiter HS, Marietta, Ga. (39)
Projectable righty starred on the showcase circuit last summer, touching 94 mph and flashing a nice curveball.
48.	Zach Stewart, rhp, Texas Tech (NR)
Juco transfer's stuff has played up after he moved to the bullpen; he's working at 92-96 mph with his sinker.
49.	Roger Kieschnick, of, Texas Tech (72)
Has some of the best lefthanded power in the draft, though pitchers can exploit his overaggressiveness.
50.	Chris Carpenter, rhp, Kent State (57)
His medical history (two elbow surgeries) will scare off some teams, but he can pitch at 94-96 mph when healthy.

Baseball America, 4319 South Alston Avenue, Suite 103, Durham, NC 27713. | Follow us on: