The 2004 Draft

[dieselboy]

Re: The 2004 Draft

Anyone else know any top prospects from the draft?

[skitch]

Re: The 2004 Draft

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
dieselboy said:
Anyone else know any top prospects from the draft?

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

Here are the top players..

Jered Weaver (RHP) - Long Beach St.
Justin Verlander (RHP) - Old Dominion
BJ Szymanski (OF) - Princeton
Jeff Niemann (RHP) - Rice
Stephen Drew (SS) - Florida St.
Homer Bailey (RHP) - LaGrange (Texas) High School
Josh Fields (3B) - Oklahoma St.

*information found in the latest issue of Sporting News

[skitch]

Re: The 2004 Draft

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
dieselboy said:
Anyone else know any top prospects from the draft?

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

Here are the top players..

Jered Weaver (RHP) - Long Beach St.
Justin Verlander (RHP) - Old Dominion
BJ Szymanski (OF) - Princeton
Jeff Niemann (RHP) - Rice
Stephen Drew (SS) - Florida St.
Homer Bailey (RHP) - LaGrange (Texas) High School
Josh Fields (3B) - Oklahoma St.

*information found in the latest issue of Sporting News

[skitch]

Re: The 2004 Draft

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
dieselboy said:
Anyone else know any top prospects from the draft?

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

Here are the top players..

Jered Weaver (RHP) - Long Beach St.
Justin Verlander (RHP) - Old Dominion
BJ Szymanski (OF) - Princeton
Jeff Niemann (RHP) - Rice
Stephen Drew (SS) - Florida St.
Homer Bailey (RHP) - LaGrange (Texas) High School
Josh Fields (3B) - Oklahoma St.

*information found in the latest issue of Sporting News

[mjb2124]

Re: The 2004 Draft

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
PadresFan said:
The link below shows Powell as one of the top catchers in the draft...

http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/draft/player-capsules

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

There's also a HS Catcher who lives pretty close to me who should go in the top 10. His name is Neil Walker.



Info

[mjb2124]

Re: The 2004 Draft

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
PadresFan said:
The link below shows Powell as one of the top catchers in the draft...

http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/draft/player-capsules

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

There's also a HS Catcher who lives pretty close to me who should go in the top 10. His name is Neil Walker.



Info

[mjb2124]

Re: The 2004 Draft

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
PadresFan said:
The link below shows Powell as one of the top catchers in the draft...

http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/draft/player-capsules

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

There's also a HS Catcher who lives pretty close to me who should go in the top 10. His name is Neil Walker.



Info

[skitch]

Re: The 2004 Draft

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
joeboo said:
</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
PadresFan said:
The link below shows Powell as one of the top catchers in the draft...

http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/draft/player-capsules

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

There's also a HS Catcher who lives pretty close to me who should go in the top 10. His name is Neil Walker.



Info

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

After I browsed that site for awhile, I found this article.. goodness gracious..

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/leagues/HS_amateur/040527krecord.html

[skitch]

Re: The 2004 Draft

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
joeboo said:
</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
PadresFan said:
The link below shows Powell as one of the top catchers in the draft...

http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/draft/player-capsules

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

There's also a HS Catcher who lives pretty close to me who should go in the top 10. His name is Neil Walker.



Info

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

After I browsed that site for awhile, I found this article.. goodness gracious..

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/leagues/HS_amateur/040527krecord.html

[skitch]

Re: The 2004 Draft

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
joeboo said:
</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
PadresFan said:
The link below shows Powell as one of the top catchers in the draft...

http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/draft/player-capsules

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

There's also a HS Catcher who lives pretty close to me who should go in the top 10. His name is Neil Walker.



Info

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

After I browsed that site for awhile, I found this article.. goodness gracious..

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/leagues/HS_amateur/040527krecord.html

[snivlem]

Re: The 2004 Draft

this is from mj hindman(texas minor league writer guru)http://www.dickiethon.com/~eczajka/draft_preview.htm
He got most of his info from BA. It concerns the Ranger's pick at #10 but it runs down some picks that could be there at 10 and should be interesting for everyone:

Candidates @   #10

Homer Bailey:   (RHP — LaGrange, TX)

It seems fairly clear that, if Homer Bailey is still there at #10, he will be a Ranger.   Grady Fuson has gone to see the 6'4", 185 pound righty throw two times this spring and the fact that he decided to see him a second time probably suggests that it was to confirm what he saw the first time around.  Bailey sports a power three-quarters breaking ball and locates his fastball exceedingly well, bringing it in the low 90's, but touching 96 on occasion.   Scouting reports invariably talk about an "easy" or "smooth" or "picture perfect" delivery and Baseball America ranks him as the "closest to the majors" of all high school pitchers in the draft.   Through 66 innings this spring, Bailey had fanned 157 and walked only 9. 

 
Jeff Niemann (RHP — Rice University):

Last year, Niemann--who tied an NCAA Division I record by going 17-0 as he helped the Owls win the 2003 College World Series--probably figured as a slam dunk to go in the first three picks.  He probably will, but arthroscopic elbow surgery last fall and a pulled groin this year have slowed him and may have dampened enthusiasm for the 6'9" flamethrower among some decision makers.    Projections have him going anywhere from #1 overall to somewhere beyond the top ten picks.   He is pure power, relying on a 92-97 MPH fastball and a slider that, when healthy, he throws at 87 MPH and which has been called the best breaking pitch in the draft by B.A.'s Jim Callis.    Niemann almost certainly will be gone by the time the Rangers pick at #10, but B.A.'s John Manuel has told me that there is some chance he could slide, given his troubled season.   If he is there, he is probably too good to pass on.


Jeremy Sowers:   (LHP — Vanderbilt University):

Sowers was Cincinnati's first round pick out of a Louisville high school back in 2001, but the son of a physician whose twin brother is a top Ivy League pitcher at Yale opted for a college career at Vanderbilt where he has been among the SEC's top arms for three seasons.     He is routinely referred to as the quintessential "pitchability" guy who has tremendous command of his three pitch arsenal (fastball, curve, change).   His four-seam fastball tops out at 92 and his sinking two-seamer normally sits at 88-89.  His pickoff move allegedly evokes images  of Kenny Rogers.   Sowers is smart, polished and would be very hard to pass up if neither of the first two are still on the board at #10.   Through 95 innings this spring, Sowers had fanned 89 and walked 18, with a 3.14 ERA in the tough SEC.

 
Philip Humber:   (RHP — Rice University):

Of the three top pitching prospects in the Rice rotation, Carthage, Texas native Philip Humber is perhaps the shortest on raw ability and the longest on pitchability.   He is a horse, evidently capable of throwing endlessly without showing any signs of wear and tear.   Humber features a 92-94 MPH fastball, a plus curve (which BA ranks as the third best breaking ball in the draft)  and a splitty that serves as his sparingly-used change.  As of May 20, Humber had a nice 119 / 27 K-to-walk ratio.

 
Scott Elbert: (LHP — Seneca, Missouri H.S.)

As with Bailey, scouts love the 6'2", 175 lb. Elbert's well-repeated, loose and effortless delivery.   His fastball sits at 90-93.  His slider is a second plus pitch, an 80-84 mph number that bites hard, down and in on righties (ranked second best slider at last summer's Area Code Games) and he subtracts nicely on his change.     If none of the above are available at #10--and its entirely possible that none of them will be--here is a darkhorse candidate to go at #10.  As of May 20, he had a 114 /14 K-to-walk  ratio and a 0.52 ERA through 54 innings of work.

 
Thomas Diamond: (RHP — University of New Orleans)
 
Diamond is a 6'2", 230 lb. power pitcher featuring a heavy 93-97 mph fastball that he locates well and has been clocked as high as 96 in the ninth inning this spring.    His slider has been described as "late, quick and hard at 83-84."   And what makes him especially appealing is his plus change which he subtracts to  79-82 with sinking action.  He has fanned 125 hitters while walking only 38 in 98 innings this spring.

 
Wade Townsend: (RHP — Rice University):


The third of the Owls' dominant starters is Townsend who many project as a reliever.  He is essentially a two-pitch guy, with a fastball that sits in the high 80's to 90 and a curve that he sometimes has trouble controlling.  In spite of the fact that he   He is tough to hit, loves to compete and his fiery intensity leads many to view him as a closer.  The Cape Cod League's official survey of scouts tabbed Townsend as the summer circuit's best prospect in 2003.

[snivlem]

Re: The 2004 Draft

this is from mj hindman(texas minor league writer guru)http://www.dickiethon.com/~eczajka/draft_preview.htm
He got most of his info from BA. It concerns the Ranger's pick at #10 but it runs down some picks that could be there at 10 and should be interesting for everyone:

Candidates @   #10

Homer Bailey:   (RHP — LaGrange, TX)

It seems fairly clear that, if Homer Bailey is still there at #10, he will be a Ranger.   Grady Fuson has gone to see the 6'4", 185 pound righty throw two times this spring and the fact that he decided to see him a second time probably suggests that it was to confirm what he saw the first time around.  Bailey sports a power three-quarters breaking ball and locates his fastball exceedingly well, bringing it in the low 90's, but touching 96 on occasion.   Scouting reports invariably talk about an "easy" or "smooth" or "picture perfect" delivery and Baseball America ranks him as the "closest to the majors" of all high school pitchers in the draft.   Through 66 innings this spring, Bailey had fanned 157 and walked only 9. 

 
Jeff Niemann (RHP — Rice University):

Last year, Niemann--who tied an NCAA Division I record by going 17-0 as he helped the Owls win the 2003 College World Series--probably figured as a slam dunk to go in the first three picks.  He probably will, but arthroscopic elbow surgery last fall and a pulled groin this year have slowed him and may have dampened enthusiasm for the 6'9" flamethrower among some decision makers.    Projections have him going anywhere from #1 overall to somewhere beyond the top ten picks.   He is pure power, relying on a 92-97 MPH fastball and a slider that, when healthy, he throws at 87 MPH and which has been called the best breaking pitch in the draft by B.A.'s Jim Callis.    Niemann almost certainly will be gone by the time the Rangers pick at #10, but B.A.'s John Manuel has told me that there is some chance he could slide, given his troubled season.   If he is there, he is probably too good to pass on.


Jeremy Sowers:   (LHP — Vanderbilt University):

Sowers was Cincinnati's first round pick out of a Louisville high school back in 2001, but the son of a physician whose twin brother is a top Ivy League pitcher at Yale opted for a college career at Vanderbilt where he has been among the SEC's top arms for three seasons.     He is routinely referred to as the quintessential "pitchability" guy who has tremendous command of his three pitch arsenal (fastball, curve, change).   His four-seam fastball tops out at 92 and his sinking two-seamer normally sits at 88-89.  His pickoff move allegedly evokes images  of Kenny Rogers.   Sowers is smart, polished and would be very hard to pass up if neither of the first two are still on the board at #10.   Through 95 innings this spring, Sowers had fanned 89 and walked 18, with a 3.14 ERA in the tough SEC.

 
Philip Humber:   (RHP — Rice University):

Of the three top pitching prospects in the Rice rotation, Carthage, Texas native Philip Humber is perhaps the shortest on raw ability and the longest on pitchability.   He is a horse, evidently capable of throwing endlessly without showing any signs of wear and tear.   Humber features a 92-94 MPH fastball, a plus curve (which BA ranks as the third best breaking ball in the draft)  and a splitty that serves as his sparingly-used change.  As of May 20, Humber had a nice 119 / 27 K-to-walk ratio.

 
Scott Elbert: (LHP — Seneca, Missouri H.S.)

As with Bailey, scouts love the 6'2", 175 lb. Elbert's well-repeated, loose and effortless delivery.   His fastball sits at 90-93.  His slider is a second plus pitch, an 80-84 mph number that bites hard, down and in on righties (ranked second best slider at last summer's Area Code Games) and he subtracts nicely on his change.     If none of the above are available at #10--and its entirely possible that none of them will be--here is a darkhorse candidate to go at #10.  As of May 20, he had a 114 /14 K-to-walk  ratio and a 0.52 ERA through 54 innings of work.

 
Thomas Diamond: (RHP — University of New Orleans)
 
Diamond is a 6'2", 230 lb. power pitcher featuring a heavy 93-97 mph fastball that he locates well and has been clocked as high as 96 in the ninth inning this spring.    His slider has been described as "late, quick and hard at 83-84."   And what makes him especially appealing is his plus change which he subtracts to  79-82 with sinking action.  He has fanned 125 hitters while walking only 38 in 98 innings this spring.

 
Wade Townsend: (RHP — Rice University):


The third of the Owls' dominant starters is Townsend who many project as a reliever.  He is essentially a two-pitch guy, with a fastball that sits in the high 80's to 90 and a curve that he sometimes has trouble controlling.  In spite of the fact that he   He is tough to hit, loves to compete and his fiery intensity leads many to view him as a closer.  The Cape Cod League's official survey of scouts tabbed Townsend as the summer circuit's best prospect in 2003.

[snivlem]

Re: The 2004 Draft

this is from mj hindman(texas minor league writer guru)http://www.dickiethon.com/~eczajka/draft_preview.htm
He got most of his info from BA. It concerns the Ranger's pick at #10 but it runs down some picks that could be there at 10 and should be interesting for everyone:

Candidates @   #10

Homer Bailey:   (RHP — LaGrange, TX)

It seems fairly clear that, if Homer Bailey is still there at #10, he will be a Ranger.   Grady Fuson has gone to see the 6'4", 185 pound righty throw two times this spring and the fact that he decided to see him a second time probably suggests that it was to confirm what he saw the first time around.  Bailey sports a power three-quarters breaking ball and locates his fastball exceedingly well, bringing it in the low 90's, but touching 96 on occasion.   Scouting reports invariably talk about an "easy" or "smooth" or "picture perfect" delivery and Baseball America ranks him as the "closest to the majors" of all high school pitchers in the draft.   Through 66 innings this spring, Bailey had fanned 157 and walked only 9. 

 
Jeff Niemann (RHP — Rice University):

Last year, Niemann--who tied an NCAA Division I record by going 17-0 as he helped the Owls win the 2003 College World Series--probably figured as a slam dunk to go in the first three picks.  He probably will, but arthroscopic elbow surgery last fall and a pulled groin this year have slowed him and may have dampened enthusiasm for the 6'9" flamethrower among some decision makers.    Projections have him going anywhere from #1 overall to somewhere beyond the top ten picks.   He is pure power, relying on a 92-97 MPH fastball and a slider that, when healthy, he throws at 87 MPH and which has been called the best breaking pitch in the draft by B.A.'s Jim Callis.    Niemann almost certainly will be gone by the time the Rangers pick at #10, but B.A.'s John Manuel has told me that there is some chance he could slide, given his troubled season.   If he is there, he is probably too good to pass on.


Jeremy Sowers:   (LHP — Vanderbilt University):

Sowers was Cincinnati's first round pick out of a Louisville high school back in 2001, but the son of a physician whose twin brother is a top Ivy League pitcher at Yale opted for a college career at Vanderbilt where he has been among the SEC's top arms for three seasons.     He is routinely referred to as the quintessential "pitchability" guy who has tremendous command of his three pitch arsenal (fastball, curve, change).   His four-seam fastball tops out at 92 and his sinking two-seamer normally sits at 88-89.  His pickoff move allegedly evokes images  of Kenny Rogers.   Sowers is smart, polished and would be very hard to pass up if neither of the first two are still on the board at #10.   Through 95 innings this spring, Sowers had fanned 89 and walked 18, with a 3.14 ERA in the tough SEC.

 
Philip Humber:   (RHP — Rice University):

Of the three top pitching prospects in the Rice rotation, Carthage, Texas native Philip Humber is perhaps the shortest on raw ability and the longest on pitchability.   He is a horse, evidently capable of throwing endlessly without showing any signs of wear and tear.   Humber features a 92-94 MPH fastball, a plus curve (which BA ranks as the third best breaking ball in the draft)  and a splitty that serves as his sparingly-used change.  As of May 20, Humber had a nice 119 / 27 K-to-walk ratio.

 
Scott Elbert: (LHP — Seneca, Missouri H.S.)

As with Bailey, scouts love the 6'2", 175 lb. Elbert's well-repeated, loose and effortless delivery.   His fastball sits at 90-93.  His slider is a second plus pitch, an 80-84 mph number that bites hard, down and in on righties (ranked second best slider at last summer's Area Code Games) and he subtracts nicely on his change.     If none of the above are available at #10--and its entirely possible that none of them will be--here is a darkhorse candidate to go at #10.  As of May 20, he had a 114 /14 K-to-walk  ratio and a 0.52 ERA through 54 innings of work.

 
Thomas Diamond: (RHP — University of New Orleans)
 
Diamond is a 6'2", 230 lb. power pitcher featuring a heavy 93-97 mph fastball that he locates well and has been clocked as high as 96 in the ninth inning this spring.    His slider has been described as "late, quick and hard at 83-84."   And what makes him especially appealing is his plus change which he subtracts to  79-82 with sinking action.  He has fanned 125 hitters while walking only 38 in 98 innings this spring.

 
Wade Townsend: (RHP — Rice University):


The third of the Owls' dominant starters is Townsend who many project as a reliever.  He is essentially a two-pitch guy, with a fastball that sits in the high 80's to 90 and a curve that he sometimes has trouble controlling.  In spite of the fact that he   He is tough to hit, loves to compete and his fiery intensity leads many to view him as a closer.  The Cape Cod League's official survey of scouts tabbed Townsend as the summer circuit's best prospect in 2003.

[mjb2124]

Re: The 2004 Draft

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
Kredit said:
</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
joeboo said:
</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
PadresFan said:
The link below shows Powell as one of the top catchers in the draft...

http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/draft/player-capsules

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

There's also a HS Catcher who lives pretty close to me who should go in the top 10. His name is Neil Walker.



Info

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

After I browsed that site for awhile, I found this article.. goodness gracious..

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/leagues/HS_amateur/040527krecord.html

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

Wow. That kid threw a heck of a lot of pitches in a short span. I bet the Arizona State coach (where he's going after HS) wasn't too thrilled to hear about that!!

[mjb2124]

Re: The 2004 Draft

</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
Kredit said:
</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
joeboo said:
</font><blockquote><font class="small">Quote:</font><hr />
PadresFan said:
The link below shows Powell as one of the top catchers in the draft...

http://www.sportsline.com/mlb/draft/player-capsules

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

There's also a HS Catcher who lives pretty close to me who should go in the top 10. His name is Neil Walker.



Info

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

After I browsed that site for awhile, I found this article.. goodness gracious..

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/leagues/HS_amateur/040527krecord.html

<hr /></blockquote><font class="post">

Wow. That kid threw a heck of a lot of pitches in a short span. I bet the Arizona State coach (where he's going after HS) wasn't too thrilled to hear about that!!