Kansas Scouting Reports

By Jim Callis
May 30, 2006

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

Kansas is one of the few states that has provided pleasant surprises for scouts this spring. Wichita State lefthander Kris Johnson returned sooner and better than expected from 2005 Tommy John surgery, pitching his way into supplemental-first-round consideration. Barton County righthander Chad Lee, who had a knee injury the year before, emerged as the nation's top juco prospect whose rights aren't held by a major league team. And righthander Don Czyz, the closer on Kansas' surprising Big 12 Conference tournament championship club, improved his stuff to become one of the more attractive senior signs available.

National Top 200 Prospects

1. Kris Johnson, lhp, Wichita State
2. Chad Lee, rhp, Barton County CC
3. Aaron Breit, rhp, Garden City CC (CONTROL: Padres)

Other Players Of Note

4. Don Czyz, rhp, Kansas
5. Brad Miller, ss/rhp, Cowley County CC (CONTROL: Brewers)
6. Ryan Jones, of, Bishop Carroll HS, Wichita
7. Gus Milner, of, Kansas
8. Jared Goedert, 1b/3b, Kansas State
9. Zach Murry, ss, Chanute HS
10. Sean Land, lhp, Kansas
11. Nate Hedrick, rhp, Barton County CC
12. Sam Sharpe, rhp, St. Thomas Aquinas HS, Stilwell
13. Gabe Medina, rhp, Emporia State
14. Derek Schermerhorn, 1b/3b, Wichita State
15. Ricky Fairchild, rhp, Kansas
16. Joe Roundy, of, Kansas State
17. Adam Cowart, rhp, Kansas State
18. Kodiak Quick, rhp, Kansas
19. Barrett Rice, of, Kansas State
20. Chase Mitchell, rhp, Kansas State

1. Kris Johnson, lhp (National rank: 45)
School: Wichita State. Class: So.
Hometown: Blue Springs, Mo.
B-T: L-L. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 185. Birthdate: 10/14/84.
Scouting Report: With a month to go before the draft, Johnson's stock was rising as much as any player's. He went a combined 10-0 in his first two seasons at Wichita State and looked poised to succeed Mike Pelfrey as Wichita State's next ace. But then Johnson blew out his elbow, requiring Tommy John surgery in April 2005. He returned to the mound in February, with Wichita State nursing him along with short stints in midweek games. By May, the velocity on his 88-93 mph fastball and his hard curveball had returned. His changeup is a solid third pitch, and while his command and feel aren't all the way back, he's still well ahead of schedule for Tommy John survivors. Few lefthanders in this draft can match Johnson's stuff, so he could sneak into the end of the first round. The Orioles, who pick 31st, are known to like him.

2. Chad Lee, rhp (National rank: 76)
School: Barton County CC. Class: So.
Hometown: Oklahoma City
B-T: L-R. Ht.: 6-4. Wt.: 195. Birthdate: 12/20/85.
Scouting Report: The top junior college prospect who's not under control to a big league club, Lee would have been a strong draft-and-follow candidate in 2005 had he not torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a rundown drill in fall practice. He came back in April 2005 but wasn't at full strength until this spring, when he made noise by unveiling a 91-95 mph fastball and an 80-81 mph power curve. His mechanics improved as well, as he shortened his arm action in back. But with several scouts on hand to watch him in an early April start, Lee felt a twinge in his forearm and walked off the mound. Used in relief afterward, he didn't pitch well down the stretch. While he maintained his velocity, his curveball and approach weren't as good as they were earlier. He had a chance to go in the second round before that setback, and now Lee probably is looking at the third or fourth round. If he doesn't sign, he'll attend Oklahoma.

3. Aaron Breit, rhp National rank: 145)
School: Garden City CC. Class: So.
Hometown: Hays, Kans.
B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-3. Wt.: 180. Birthdate: 4/19/86.
Scouting Report: The Padres have taken Breit in each of the last two drafts--in the 46th round out of high school in 2004 and in the 12th round a year ago. One of the top draft-and-follows from 2005, he ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the Jayhawk League last summer. He concluded his juco career with a Garden City-record 15 strikeouts in a regional playoff game. Breit has grown an inch and added 25 pounds in two years with the Broncbusters, and his stuff has grown as well. He now consistently throws his fastball at 91-94 mph, and he has good command of an average curveball. His third pitch is a splitter that functions as a changeup. If San Diego fails to sign Breit, he'll re-enter the draft as a potential fifth-rounder. He has committed to Kansas in case he doesn't turn pro.

Resurgent Jayhawks Program Starts Producing Talent

Righthander Don Czyz led NCAA Division I with 18 saves entering the regional playoffs, including one in the 9-7 victory over Nebraska that capped Kansas' upset Big 12 Conference tournament championship. As a senior, Czyz boosted his fastball velocity to 91-93 mph while also improving his slider and changeup. His 6-foot-2, 200-pound body and arm action aren't ideal, but he throws strikes and competes like a bulldog. He could go in the fifth to seventh round as a senior sign. His younger brother Nick, a freshman lefty for the Jayhawks, should be a decent pick in a couple of years.

Shortstop/righthander Brad Miller also has a relative playing college baseball, as his cousin Drew Miller has thrown 92-96 mph heat all spring for Seminole State (Okla.) Junior College. Both are top draft-and-follows, as Brad was a 39th-round pick by the Brewers in 2005. He's a rangy shortstop with solid offensive potential, speed and arm strength. When he has taken the mound, he has thrown in the low 90s and commanded his curveball well. He has committed to Oklahoma State in case he doesn't sign this summer.

Outfielder Ryan Jones, who led Bishop Carroll to the state 5-A title in 2005 and a third-place finish this spring, is the state's high school athlete of the year. He's a 6-foot, 180-pound athlete with solid tools across the board. He's not considered signable away from Wichita State and should make an immediate impact as a freshman next year.

Gus Milner looks the part of a big league outfielder, with a 6-foot-5, 245-pound frame and power, speed, range and arm strength. But scouts wish he'd show more at the plate against good competition, as he has hit just .221 and .282 in Big 12 play during his two seasons at Kansas. He's a streaky hitter who sometimes struggles to make contact. A 47th-round pick of the Indians in 2005, he'll go considerably higher as a senior this June.

Jared Goedert has an impressive athletic resume. He led Kansas high school quarterbacks in passing yards as a junior, broke a Cloud County (Kan.) Community College record with 73 hits as a freshman in 2004 and earned first-team Summer All-America honors with a strong Jayhawk League performance in 2005. Kansas State's most dangerous hitter, Goedert would enhance his pro chances if he were a better defender at the hot corner. But he's probably going to have to play first base at the next level.

Shortstop Zach Murry is another Kansas prospect whose stock has soared this spring. Though he has committed to Oklahoma State, he's considered signable and could go as high as the seventh round. The son of Neosho County Community College head coach Steve Murry, Zach has good instincts, a nice lefthanded swing and some speed and gap power. He projects as more of a second baseman as a pro.

Coming off a solid performance in the Cape Cod League last summer, Sean Land figured to go in the first five rounds. But his fastball dipped from 90-91 mph on the Cape to 86-89 for most of the spring, and his slider and command also regressed. He's still a 6-foot-5, 230-pound lefthander with arm strength, and a team that believes he'll be more effective against wood bats still could take him in the first 10 rounds.

Chad Lee isn't the only intriguing prospect not under control at Barton County. Freshman Nate Hedrick is a 6-foot-10, 215-pound righthander who has plenty of projection. He didn't get much previous exposure because he was home-schooled in Kansas City. Hedrick is still figuring out his mechanics, but his arm works well. He throws in the upper-80s and has a Frisbee slider. While Lee's stuff drew more attention, Hedrick had a far better ERA (2.70 vs. 5.02) and twice as many saves (10 vs. five) for the Cougars.

Kansas' best high school pitcher, righthander Sam Sharpe, didn't play high school baseball because of a dispute with his coach. He does most of his pitching for the Kansas City Sluggers program that has produced big leaguers Albert Pujols, Joey Devine and Shaun Marcum. Sharpe, whose brother Steven pitches in the Athletics system, has an 88-92 mph fastball and a sharp curveball. The biggest knock on him is that there's not much projection remaining in his 6-foot-2, 200 pound frame. Sharpe is strongly committed to Nebraska.