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Area Code Games Top 20 Prospects
By Josh Boyd August 13, 2002
The top 20 draft prospects in the high school class of 2003 who attended the Area Code Games in Long Beach, Calif., as judged by Baseball America in conjunction with scouts.
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Player |
Pos. |
Ht. |
Wt. |
School |
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1. |
James Houser |
LHP/OF |
6-5 |
190 |
Sarasota (Fla.) HS |
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Simply dominated the competition with command of a 91-mph fastball and hammer. |
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2. |
Jared Hughes |
RHP |
6-6 |
215 |
Margarita HS, Laguna Niguel, Calif. |
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An imposing presence on the bump, he's projectable and already working in the low-90s. |
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3. |
Ryan Sweeney |
OF/LHP |
6-4 |
200 |
Xavier HS, Cedar Rapids, Iowa |
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Scouts are split on his future position because they love his arm and his bat. |
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4. |
Craig Whitaker |
RHP |
6-4 |
180 |
Lufkin (Texas) HS |
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He blew hitters away with command of his 93-mph heat and frisbee breaking ball. |
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5. |
Cain Byrd |
RHP |
6-3 |
185 |
Southwood HS, Shreveport, La. |
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Impressive last year as a rising junior, Byrd threw 90-91 with a hard 77-mph slider. |
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6. |
Scott Maine |
LHP |
6-3 |
170 |
Dwyer HS, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. |
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Wiry lefthander with a quick arm and deception reached 90 mph with a slider and changeup. |
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7. |
Brennan Boesch |
1B/OF |
6-3 |
195 |
Harvard HS, Los Angeles |
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Earned the nickname "Bash" by raking all week with a sweet stroke and tremendous bat speed. |
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8. |
Sean Rodriguez |
SS |
6-1 |
175 |
Coral Park HS, Miami |
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Displayed outstanding natural actions and a solid-average arm at shortstop. |
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9. |
Robert Valido |
SS |
6-1 |
180 |
Coral Park HS, Miami |
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Compared favorably to Marlins 2001 second-rounder Robert Andino. |
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10. |
Quentin Andes |
RHP |
6-2 |
185 |
Cibola HS, Albuquerque |
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Three potential plus pitches with movement including a slider and nasty changeup. |
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11. |
Brant Rustich |
RHP |
6-5 |
210 |
Grossmont HS, El Cajon, Calif. |
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Big physical hurler touched 90 with run and sink and spun his breaking ball for strikes. |
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12. |
Cory VanAllen |
LHP |
6-2 |
170 |
Clements HS, Sugar Land, Texas |
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Shouldn't be long before his effortless delivery has his velocity up into the low-90s. |
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13. |
Dallas Buck |
RHP |
6-2 |
190 |
Newberg (Ore.) HS |
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Live-armed righty hit 90 mph with easy arm action, and showed a slider with hard tilt. |
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14. |
JoJo Reyes |
LHP |
6-2 |
215 |
Riverside (Calif.) Poly HS |
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Big body causes some concern among scouts, but he already has a feel for three pitches. |
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15. |
Daniel Bard |
RHP |
6-3 |
175 |
Christian HS, Charlotte, NC |
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He didn't throw as well as he did at the East Coast Showcase, but he showed raw arm strength and life. |
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16. |
Colin Curtis |
OF |
6-2 |
185 |
Isasaquah (Wash.) HS |
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Advanced approach at the plate with solid all-around tools. |
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17. |
Dylan Gonzalez |
RHP |
6-3 |
175 |
American Heritage HS, Weston, Fla. |
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His father scouts for the Giants, but he earned his way onto the list on his own merit. |
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18. |
Donald Veal |
LHP |
6-2 |
180 |
Buena (Ariz.) HS |
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Nobody makes it look easier than Veal, who reminds some scouts of Marlins minor leaguer Dontrelle Willis. |
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19. |
Greg Reynolds |
RHP |
6-5 |
200 |
Terra Nova HS, Pacifica, Calif. |
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Has a gangly frame with projection written all over it; his fastball will climb from 89 mph. |
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20. |
Ryan Smith |
RHP |
6-4 |
195 |
Enumclaw (Wash.) HS |
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One of the top arms in the Northwest, Smith has a good body and 92-mph fastball. |
Top Five Underclassmen
1. Justin Upton, ss, Hickory (Va.) HS, (2005)
2. Trevor Bell, of/rhp, Valley HS, La Crescenta, Calif. (2005)
3. Homer Bailey, rhp, LaGrange (Texas) HS (2004)
4. Stephen Porlier, rhp, Elkins HS, Missouri City, Texas (2004)
5. Dallas Trahern, rhp, Owasso (Okla.) HS (2004)
East Coast Showcase Top 10
For more information on this year's Area Code Games, check out www.studentsports.com.
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