2013 Preseason High School All-America Team With Analysis

Compiled by Conor Glassey and Nathan Rode
February 13, 2013


The 2013 draft class is receiving low marks overall, but the high school side is strong on lefthander pitching and catchers, as evidenced by the All-America Teams. The race for first-team first baseman was a landslide with Dominic Smith (Serra HS, Gardena, Calif.) being the unanimous pick. The only other players to be unanimous first-team selections were outfielders Clint Frazier (Loganville, Ga., High) and Austin Meadows (Grayson HS, Loganville, Ga.). Ballots were sent to all 30 Major League Baseball scouting directors. Lefthander Chris Kohler pitched in a spring league in 2012, but returns to the Los Osos High (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) varsity for his senior season. Lefthander/first baseman A.J. Puk is from Iowa, which has a high school season that runs over the summer rather than in the spring.


Ian Clarkin, lhp
Madison HS, San Diego

Clarkin has a projectable frame at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds and athleticism to boot. He sits 89-92 with his fastball and can show good command. He has a big breaking ball in the low 70s and a solid changeup that sits 78-80. His summer team is the San Diego Show.

Yr.	W	L	ERA	G	SV	IP	H	BB	SO	Commitment
Sr.	8	2	0.58	—	2	68	27	27	106	San Diego

Stephen Gonsalves, lhp
Cathedral Catholic, San Diego

Team USA's ace in 2012, Gonsalves tweaked his windup at the Prospect Classic and took off from there. He has a long, projectable frame at 6-foot-5, 205 pounds and sits 89-91 mph with his fastball. He also has a sharp curveball. He is summer teammates with Clarkin on the Show.

Yr.	W	L	ERA	G	SV	IP	H	BB	SO	Commitment
Sr.	7	2	1.40	12	1	60	37	16	85	San Diego

Rob Kaminsky, lhp
St. Joseph Regional HS, Montvale, N.J.

Kaminsky isn't tall, but he has a muscular physique with an athletic, repeatable delivery. His fastball sits in the 88-90 mph range and tops out at 93. He has the best curveball in the class, a 79-81 mph hammer. He pitches for the Tri-State Arsenal in the summer and is committed to North Carolina.

Yr.	W	L	ERA	G	SV	IP	H	BB	SO	Commitment
Sr.	8	2	0.20	10	0	53	12	15	103	North Carolina

Jordan Sheffield, lhp
Tullahoma (Tenn.) HS

Sheffield isn't overly physical, but he has a lean, athletic build and a lightning-quick arm. He really opened some eyes by sitting in the mid-90s and topping out at 97 mph this fall and he mixes in a curveball and a changeup. He is a member of the Knights Baseball program.

Yr.	W	L	ERA	G	SV	IP	H	BB	SO	Commitment
Sr.	6	1	0.99	12	1	50	21	24	73	Vanderbilt

Kohl Stewart, lhp
St. Pius X HS, Houston

Also one of the top quarterback recruits in the country, Stewart stands at an athletic 6-foot-3, 195 pounds and can sit 88-92 mph and touch 93 with his fastball. He has a sharp slider in the mid-80s and shows feel for a changeup. He plays for the Houston Banditos in the summer.

Yr.	W	L	ERA	G	SV	IP	H	BB	SO	Commitment
Sr.	8	0	1.93	11	0	54	29	35	72	Texas A&M

Jonathan Denney, c
Yukon (Okla.) HS

Denney is this year's most physical catcher. He has good skills behind the plate, but stands out most for his thunderous righthanded power. One of the few players to hit a home run at the 2012 Area Code Games, Denney spends his summers playing for DBAT and Marucci Elite.

Yr.	AVG	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	Commitment
Sr.	.327	107	12	35	8	1	12	36	1	Arkansas

Dominic Smith, 1b
Serra HS, Gardena, Calif.

Smith is one of the best pure hitters in the class, with a knack for squaring up the ball, and he shows above-average power from the left side of the plate. Smith is also young for the class and won't turn 18 until a week after the draft. His summer team is Yak Baseball West.

Yr.	AVG	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	Commitment
Sr.	.551	78	36	43	8	4	9	49	7	So. California

J.P. Crawford, mif
Lakewood (Calif.) HS

With his lefthanded bat speed and all-fields approach, Crawford stands out for his ability at the plate, but his status is enhanced by his play up the middle too. The Yak Baseball participant is an average runner with a solid arm and smooth actions at shortstop.

Yr.	AVG	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	Commitment
Sr.	.459	98	37	45	8	8	1	31	22	So. California

Oscar Mercado, mif
Gaither HS, Tampa

Mercado has a lanky build at 6-foot-2, 175 pounds, but stands out for his defense. He is a plus runner, has smooth actions and a plus arm, giving a good chance to stay at shortstop. He has a line-drive swing and gap power. His summer team is Marucci Elite.

Yr.	AVG	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	Commitment
Sr.	.370	81	28	30	4	2	1	29	12	Florida State

Travis Demeritte, 3b
Winder-Barrow HS, Winder, Ga.

Demeritte has quick hands and strong wrists, producing above-average bat speed. He has an advanced approach at the plate and should grow into some power. A product of the East Cobb Braves, he is an athletic fielder with above-average arm strength.

Yr.	AVG	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	Commitment
Sr.	.405	79	29	32	4	2	9	29	3	South Carolina

Ryan Boldt, of
Red Wing (Minn.) HS

Boldt is a speedy center fielder with a smooth lefthanded swing. He shows an ability to spray the ball from gap-to-gap and could be the highest-drafted high school player from Minnesota since Joe Mauer. Boldt spends his summers with the Ohio Warhawks.

Yr.	AVG	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	Commitment
Sr.	.423	78	23	33	7	5	3	28	16	Nebraska

Clint Frazier, of
Loganville (Ga.) HS

Frazier has an average build at 6 feet, 190 pounds, but he is an explosive athlete with quick-twitch actions. He is a plus runner with an excellent and projects well in center field. A member of Team Elite in the summer, he has tremendous bat speed and uses the whole field.

Yr.	AVG	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	Commitment
Sr.	.424	118	55	50	7	2	24	58	14	Georgia

Austin Meadows, of
Grayson HS, Loganville, Ga.

The top draft prospect in the country, Meadows makes the game look easy. He has a quick, smooth swing from the left side that generates plus power to all fields and he projects to hit for average too. A summer teammate of Frazier's, Meadows is at least a plus runner while his arm is average.

Yr.	AVG	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	Commitment
Sr.	.390	105	33	41	10	1	4	28	19	Clemson

Trey Ball, ut
New Castle (Ind.) HS

As an outfielder, Ball shows the potential for five average or better tools and flashes impressive speed for his size. On the mound, he's typically in the 88-90 mph range.

Yr.	AVG	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB
Sr.	.438	89	45	39	14	5	5	28	21
W	L	ERA	G	SV	IP	H	BB	SO	Commitment
7	2	1.40	12	1	60	37	16	85	Texas

SECOND TEAM
Pos.	Player, School	Yr.	AVG	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	Commitment
C	Reese McGuire, Kentwood HS, Covington, Wash.	Sr.	.388	80	26	31	7	2	4	34	8	San Diego
Scouts always covet lefthanded power from an up-the-middle player and McGuire is a natural behind the plate. Summer team: Baden 18U.
1B	Rowdy Tellez, Elk Grove (Calif.) HS	Sr.	.568	81	31	46	8	3	7	47	11	Southern California
Massive lefthanded hitter is built like a tight end and shows solid feel for hitting and thunderous power. Summer team: NorCal Bulls.
MIF	Christian Arroyo, Hernando HS, Brooksville, Fla.	Sr.	.305	82	25	25	8	1	1	15	3	Florida
Doesn't have standout tools, but is a smart player who is solid across the board. Summer Team: FTB Pride.
MIF	Nicholas Gordon, Olympia (Fla.) HS	Jr.	.372	94	27	35	7	1	1	14	10	Florida State (Verbal)
Tom's son and Dee's brother, Nick has good actions at short, a quick bat and excellent arm strength.
3B	Cavan Biggio, St. Thomas HS, Houston	Sr.	.426	68	14	29	6	2	2	26	3	Notre Dame
Craig's son shows solid fundamentals and a sound hitting approach, but needs more arm strength to stay at third. Summer team: Houston Heat.
OF	Justin Williams, Terrebonne HS, Houma, La.	Sr.	.519	77	27	40	9	2	8	25	12	Louisiana State
Physical specimen has light-tower power from the left side of the plate, but will need to cut down strikeouts. Summer team: Marucci Elite.
OF	Cord Sandberg, Manatee HS, Bradenton, Fla.	Sr.	.358	95	22	34	6	0	1	17	9	Mississippi State
Premium athlete is committed to Mississippi State for quarterback; father played in Red Sox system from 1979-1981.
OF	Billy McKinney, Plano (Texas) West HS	Sr.	.446	56	13	25	8	1	3	17	3	Texas Christian
Athletic corner outfielder has a great feel for hitting with his smooth lefthanded swing. Summer team: DBAT Mustangs.
UT	A.J. Puk, Washington HS, Cedar Rapids, Iowa	Sr.	No High School Stats									Florida
A high school pitcher from Iowa has never gone in the first round. Puk has a chance with his 88-92 mph fastball. Summer team: Evoshield Canes.
Pos.	Player, School	Yr.	W	L	ERA	G	SV	IP	H	BB	SO	Commitment
RHP	Dustin Driver, Wenatchee (Wash.) HS	Sr.	9	0	1.20	10	0	—	12	22	65	UCLA
UCLA recruit has a durable frame and a fastball that reached 94 mph this summer with downhill plane and a sharp curveball.
RHP	Brett Morales, King HS, Tampa	Sr.	6	1	0.99	12	0	49	31	14	58	Florida
Florida recruit broke out this summer after he showed a 90-92 mph fastball, along with a very good curveball and changeup. Summer team: Orlando Scorpions.
RHP	Chris Oakley, St. Augustine Prep. HS, Richland, N.J.	Sr.	2	3	5.35	35	0	35	35	36	29	North Carolina
Big, physical righthander has a power arsenal, but will need to show better control. Summer Team: South Florida Bandits.
RHP	Touki Toussaint, Coral Springs (Fla.) Christian Academy	Jr.	5	0	1.01	12	4	28	13	21	42	Undecided
Just a junior, Toussaint has long, wiry limbs and sits low 90s with a nasty, power curveball.
LHP	Garrett Williams, Calvary Baptist HS, Shreveport, La.	Sr.	4	4	1.59	14	1	53	30	25	87	Oklahoma State
2007 Little League World Series star now has a lively 89-91 mph fastball and flashes a hammer curveball. Summer team: Marucci Elite.
UT	A.J. Puk, Washington HS, Cedar Rapids, Iowa	Sr.	No High School Stats									Florida
THIRD TEAM
Pos.	Player, School	Yr.	AVG	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	Commitment
C	Jeremy Martinez, Mater Dei HS, Santa Ana, Calif.	Sr.	.388	85	20	33	6	0	0	18	1	Southern California
On the prospect radar for a few years, Martinez stands out for his hitting and has a chance to stick behind the plate.
1B	Pete Alonso, Plant HS, Tampa	Sr.	.485	68	19	33	11	0	6	24	1	Florida
Righthanded slugger offers plenty of power and has a solid track record of success. Summer Team: All American Prospects.
MIF	Jan Hernandez, Beltran Baseball Acad., Florida, P.R.	Sr.	No High School Stats									Undecided
Exciting tools, most notably his above-average speed, rocket arm and fast, line-drive swing. Summer Team: Team Mizuno PR.
MIF	Andy McGuire, Madison HS, Vienna, Va.	Sr.	.397	63	18	25	6	0	4	18	7	Texas
Though he'll likely move to a corner, McGuire raked for Team USA last summer while battling a torn hip. Summer team: Evoshield Canes.
3B	Tucker Neuhaus, Wharton HS, Tampa	Sr.	.329	85	23	28	6	2	6	17	4	Louisville
Prototypical tools for third base—a good glove, strong arm and lefthanded power potential. Summer Team: Florida Hardballers.
OF	Josh Hart, Parkview HS, Lilburn, Ga.	Sr.	.373	126	44	47	4	1	2	19	30	Georgia Tech
Speed and defense are his best assets, but Hart can handle the bat, making him a top-of-the-order threat. Summer team: East Cobb Braves.
OF	Matt McPhearson, Riverdale Baptist, Upper Marlboro, Md.	Sr.	.354	96	47	34	6	3	0	22	68	Miami
One of the fastest players in the country, though there are questions about how much he'll hit. Summer Team: Canes Baseball.
OF	Willie Abreu, Mater Academy, Hialeah Gardens, Fla.	Sr.	.410	61	24	10	7	6	2	26	22	Miami
Physical outfielder likely moves to a corner, but has good strength in swing, an average arm and is an average to plus runner. Summer team: South Florida Elite.
UT	Chris Rivera, El Dorado HS, Placentia, Calif.	Sr.	.194	93	19	18	3	1	4	14	8	Central Arizona JC
Tools haven't matched performance, but Rivera's excellent arm strength intrigues at shortstop, catcher and on the mound. Summer team: Marucci Elite.
Pos.	Player, School	Yr.	W	L	ERA	G	SV	IP	H	BB	SO	Commitment
RHP	Hunter Harvey, Bandys HS, Catawba, N.C.	Sr.	7	0	1.81	10	0	54	36	15	106	Undecided
Son of nine-year big leaguer (Bryan) oozes projection in his thin frame and has a great feel for pitching. Summer Team: American Legion Post 66.
RHP	Clinton Hollon, Woodford County HS, Versailles, Ky.	Sr.	5	0	1.10	7	0	40	—	5	53	Kentucky
A sore elbow limited his summer outings, but he has a low- to mid-90s fastball and nasty slider. Summer team: Kentucky Baseball Club.
RHP	Connor Jones, Great Bridge HS, Chesapeake, Va.	Sr.	7	2	1.88	14	0	60	50	22	63	Virginia
Jones already has the Virginia mechanics to go with a low-90s fastball that has some of the best life in the class. Summer team: Evoshield Canes.
LHP	Chris Kohler, Los Osos HS, Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.	Sr.	No High School Stats									Oklahoma
Projectable lefthander fills up the strike zone with all of his pitches. Summer Team: ABD Bulldogs.
RHP	Casey Meisner, Cypress (Texas) Woods HS	Sr.	Stats Unavailable									Texas Tech
Very good athleticism for his long, lean frame and should add more velocity as he fills out. Summer Team: Ohio Warhawks.
UT	Chris Rivera, El Dorado HS, Placentia, Calif.	Sr.	3	0	0.64	7	1	11	9	3	12	Central Arizona JC