College Monday wrap-up 4/28
It was a rough weekend for the top college prospects as nearly all of the pitchers struggled, and most of the top bats struggled as well. I put most of the pitching lines up, but the hitting side is a little limited in this week’s report. There still were some impressive performances like Gordon Beckham (when isn’t he impressive) and Justin Smoak, but as we close in on the draft some guys might want to start to step up their game.
Batters
Pedro Alvarez Vanderbilt 4-12, 2 2B (9), RBI
Gordon Beckham Georgia 5-10, 2 2B (16), HR (20), 3 R, 2 RBI, 2 BB, 2 SB (16)—- unbelievable season
Justin Smoak South Carolina 6-12, 2B (16), 2 HR (18), 3 R, 3 RBI, 4 BB—–5 homer week for Smoak
Brett Wallace Arizona State 5-11, HR (12), 7 R, 4 RBI, 3 BB, SB (13)
Reese Havens South Carolina 4-12, 2 2B (10), 4 R, RBI, 5 BB
Conor Gillaspie Wichita State 6-11, 2B (10), 3B (7), 3 HR (6), 6 R, 8 RBI, 3 BB—– doubled his home run total this weekend
Pitchers
Brian Matusz San Diego 7 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 9 K—-establishing himself as the draft’s top pitcher
Aaron Crow Missouri 6 IP, 6 H, 5 R, 5 BB, 6 K—–3 straight rough starts
Shooter Hunt Tulane 7 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 5 BB, 12 K—–i guess he didn’t fix his control
Tanner Scheppers Fresno State 6.2 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 5 BB, 13 K—–walks have really gone up last few starts
Christian Friedrich Eastern Kentucky 7 IP, 5 H, 2 R, 3 BB, 6 K
Josh Fields Georgia 1.2 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 5 K—-can you pitch any better than that?
Lance Lynn Mississippi 5 IP, 6 H, 4 R, 1 ER, 5 BB, 6 K
Zach Putnam Michigan 7 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 2 BB, 6 K
Aaron Shafer Wichita State 8 IP, 9 H, 2 R, 1 BB, 6 K
Filed under: 2008 MLB draft
erik
azruavatar
fewgoodcards
roarke49
I’d almost say that Josh Fields could step up the day after the draft and immediately be plugged in the MLB bullpen…
I have a hunch Fields might be taken pretty high. I think Houston may take him, as they are notoriously cheap in the draft and Fields should come pretty cheap, being a senior. That, and Valverde has really struggled.
I would like Gillaspie in the sandwich round, if he’s still there.
i would think the brewers are really hoping fields makes it to them, but i agree with you guys he could be long gone by then. casey weathers went 8th overall as a dominating senior closer from the SEC last year, and i think fields is just as good as weathers.
Erik, I would love to have Gillaspie with the sandwich pick. MVP of the Cape Cod League and produced every year at Wichita State. However, do you see him as a 3B? I read a scouting report that said he had an average arm and average range, and looking at his stats he only has a .920 fld %. He also doesn’t have a big power bat you like to have at your corner INF or OF spots so could he project as a 2B?
I would wait til round 2-3 for Gillaspie. I don’t see him as being much more than a #6-7 hitter in a big league lineup and like you said, there are questions about him sticking at 3rd base.
If he doesn’t make it to round 2-3, I’d go for Ricky Oropesa from Etiwanda High School(CA). Really I’d go for Oropesa anyway. The Cardinals have #6-7 hitting 3rd basemen in Freese and Craig. They need to roll the dice on a guy who could possibly be a middle of the order 3rd baseman. Oropesa has the power potential to be that type of hitter. Of course his hitting is a little raw(there had to be a reason he’s not going top 15)., but he should stick at 3rd base which is a big plus. He also has a 94 MPH heater and decent curveball off the mound so he could be moved to the hill if he fails in the box.
i have heard the brewers were really checking into gillaspie, so i think it is possible they take him with one of their sandwich picks and he doesn’t even make it to 39.
Hot damn, Colby’s 2 for 2 with 2 home runs. Here comes the boom.
Few I bet a lot of teams are looking at Gillaspie as an early pick. He’s a pretty safe college selection and is a fantastic player. The scouts I’ve talked to love him. They say he’s a throwback player. Not sure if he really projects to be the middle of the order hitter I want the Cardinals to get with one of their first two picks, though. I wouldn’t really have a problem if the Cardinals took him, but I’m not sure he offers much more than Freese or Craig do.