Top 10 Draft Prospects At 2012 PG National Showcase

By Conor Glassey
June 29, 2012



The 2013 high school draft class is looking a little lighter than most years, but there were still several impressive players on display in the Metrodome at the 2012 Perfect Game National Showcase June 14-18. After talking to scouts, here are the top 10 prospects from the event. . .

1. Austin Meadows, of, Grayson HS, Loganville, Ga.
Standing 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, Meadows looks like a better version of David Dahl, who went 10th-overall to the Rockies. Meadows doesn't have Dahl's arm strength, but he's a better runner, grading out as a 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale. A lefthanded hitter, Meadows shows excellent bat speed at the plate without compromising balance. The Clemson commit has a quiet setup at the plate and puts together quality at-bats, showing the ability to turn on fastballs and keep his hands back on breaking balls.

2. Clint Frazier, of, Loganville (Ga.) HS
Frazier may have led the nation with his 24 home runs last season. You wouldn't know it by looking at him, as he has an average build at 6 feet and 190 pounds, but Frazier has quick-twitch athleticism and is loaded with tools. He's an above-average runner and, even though he's spent a lot of time at high school at shortstop and third base, his speed plays well in the outfield. He has above-average arm strength, too. At the plate, he shows exceptionally quick hands and consistently makes loud contact. The Georgia recruit has a balanced swing and the ball jumps off his bat for power to all fields.

3. Rob Kaminsky, lhp, St. Joseph Regional HS, Montvale, N.J.
Though he's not tall, Kaminsky has a muscular, 6 foot, 190-pound build. With an athletic delivery that he repeats well, Kaminsky features a fastball that sits in the 88-90 mph range and touched 93. He showed the ability to throw his fastball for strikes to both sides of the plate and loves to challenge hitters inside. In addition to his fastball, Kaminsky mixes in a sharp 76-79 mph curveball and a solid 77 mph changeup. Kaminsky carved at this event, striking out seven batters in two innings of work after one reached base on a dropped third strike.

4. Reese McGuire, c, Kentwood HS, Kent, Wash.
McGuire has something teams love—lefthanded power from an up-the-middle player. Hitting from a wide base, McGuire gets good loft and shows intriguing bat speed. He has impressive power to his pull side, but also shows the ability to drive the ball the other way. With good athleticism and agility for the position, McGuire looks like an natural behind the plate. He shows soft hands and above-average arm strength. He has fringe-average speed, but shows awareness on the bases and plays the game hard. McGuire helped Kentwood win Washington's 4A state title in 2012 and is verbally committed to San Diego.

5. Oscar Mercado, ss, Gaither HS, Tampa
In a class without many true shortstops, Mercado stands out with his lanky 6-foot-2, 175-pound body, his soft hands and his smooth infield actions. Mercado has the best chance of any high school player in this class to remain at shortstop and shows a strong arm across the diamond. The Florida State recruit has a line-drive swing with gap power and showed above-average speed after being clocked at 6.61 seconds in the event's 60-yard dash.  The biggest area where Mercado needs to improve is just adding strength to his wiry frame.

6. Rowdy Tellez, 1b, Elk Grove HS, Sacramento
Though his given name is Ryan, Rowdy is a fitting nickname for the 6-foot-4, 230-pound mammoth. Another one of the few underclassmen at last year's Area Code Games, Tellez has been on the prospect scene for a while now. The Southern California recruit has a good feel for hitting, but his calling card is his tremendous lefthanded power. Tellez generates easy loft and the ball jumps off his bat. He put on a show to win the event's BBCOR home run derby, including several jaw-droppers into the Metrodome's upper deck.

7. Chris Okey, c, Eustis (Fla.) HS
Okey has an average build for a catcher with an athletic 6-foot, 175-pound frame. The Clemson recruit stands out as a polished defender behind the plate with some offensive upside. Okey receives and blocks with ease. He also has a strong throwing arm and shows good leadership and makeup for the position. As a hitter, he has a balanced righthanded swing with very little head movement. Even in a strong year for prep catchers, Okey stands out as one of the best.

8. Stephen Gonsalves, lhp, Cathedral Catholic HS, San Diego
Gonsalves has a lot for scouts to dream on. First of all, he's a 6-foot-5, 205-pound lefthander with good athleticism and a clean, effortless delivery, though his arm action can get a little long in the back. His fastball sits in the 89-91 mph range, but his secondary stuff needs further development. Gonsalves, who is committed to San Diego, throws a soft curveball in the 70-71 mph range and mixes in an occasional 76 mph changeup.

9. Brett Morales, rhp, King HS, Tampa
Even though he spent the season playing with a supplemental first rounder (White Sox first baseman Keon Barnum), Morales didn't get a lot of scouting attention as a pitcher this spring. A two-way player, Morales had to spent most of his season at second base, after the team's regular second baseman got suspended. But after his performance at this event, it's clear that Morales' future is on the mound. He throws his fastball in the 90-92 mph range and touches 93. He has a very good 78-79 mph circle changeup and a mid-70s curveball with 12-6 break. Morales was uncommitted at the event, but soon after committed to Florida.

10. Justin Williams, of, Terrebonne HS, Houma, La.
Like Tellez, Williams is a physical specimen with impressive power from the left side. A better athlete at 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, Williams has broad shoulders and a tapered waist. He plays some third base for his high school, but profiles best as a corner outfielder. Williams is a fringe-average runner, but should be able to man right field thanks to his solid arm strength. His arm should improve, too, as he gets on a throwing program and learns how to crow hop. At the plate, the Louisiana State recruit shows a keen eye for the strike zone. He has some of the best raw power in the class, but it's unclear how much of that he'll be able to tap into because he swings and misses a lot and tends to slow his bat down on offspeed pitches.