Brett Hayes

Hayes is one of the best pure baseball players in the country, with makeup and a feel for the game that scouts already say could make him a future manager. He has a baseball background, as his father Tim was a draft pick of the Royals and his great-grandfather once played for the Indians. Hayes is so versatile and athletic that one scout predicted he could play all nine positions for Nevada and be the best defender at every one, with the possible exception of shortstop--though he has played there in a pinch. As a member of Team USA last year, he played seven different positions. Built along the lines of Craig Biggio and Mike Lieberthal, smaller-framed catchers who were first-round picks, he profiles best behind the plate, where he can make best use of his savvy and take-charge ability. He has sound catch-and-throw and blocking skills, with a pop time normally below 1.9 seconds. He has a good approach to hitting, with quick hands. He stays inside the ball well but doesn't show much present power. He's wiry strong and could eventually hit 10-15 home runs a season. He's been remarkably steady at the plate in three years at Nevada, hitting .365-8-63 as a freshman, .337-8-48 as a sophomore and .318-6-40 this season. Hayes' tools don't grade out as a first-rounder, but his position and his intangibles will tempt teams nonetheless.