John Simms

Simms beat crosstown rival Jameson Taillon (the No. 2 overall pick in 2010) as both a junior and senior in suburban Houston high school matchups, and his seven-figure asking price was the only reason he lasted 39 rounds in the 2010 draft. He looked on track to be a 2013 first-rounder after starring in the Cape Cod League following his freshman season, but the 6-foot-3, 210-pounder has gone backward since then. Simms will open games at 90-93 mph with his lively fastball, but it quickly dips to 87-89 mph. His slider can be a solid pitch when he stays on top of it, though he gets around it too often. He also mixes in a curveball and splitter, though both rate as below-average. Neither his pitches nor his command is anything special, and scouts aren't confident they'll be able to sign him away from his senior season at Rice.