Looking Ahead at the Draft 03/26/09
Here is our continuing look at local college baseball and players that the St. Louis Cardinals will have an eye on in June’s MLB First Year Player Draft.
The Missouri Tigers look like they are beginning to right their ship after struggling out of the gate. The Tigers did not play the gracious hosts taking two of three from highly ranked Texas A&M. Kyle Gibson was his usual stellar self, striking out 16 in a complete game win over the Aggies on Friday night. The junior right-hander is now 4-1 with a 1.15 ERA along with 54-to-9 strikeout to walk ratio. For his efforts, Gibson was named the Big 12 Pitcher of the Week for the second consecutive week.
The Southeast Redhawks will be hosting UT-Martin this weekend after sweeping Tennessee Tech in its last OVC series. Catcher Jim Klocke is slugging .608 and has made only one error behind the plate. Plus, he has a team high five saves.
Arizona State’s Mike Leake had the game of his career against rival Arizona over the weekend. Leake struck out 15 Wildcats in gaining a complete game victory while giving up only five hits on the night.
Ryan Berry did earn his fourth win of the season but he wasn’t nearly as sharp as he had been previously. In Rice’s victory over Southern Miss, the right-hander allowed three runs in five innings. For the season, Berry is 4-0 with a 1.96 ERA. (See video of Berry above)
A new player I add to the board this week is Kentucky’s James Paxton. When he was signed as a high school senior, the southpaw stood 6′1 but now possesses a 6′4 frame. The native Canadian is racking up the strikeouts with 47 in 30 innings so far in 2009. He is a perfect 4-0 and is holding the opposition to a .231 average.
Though he struggled over the weekend, D.J. LeMahieu is still hitting .368/.479/.553 for the LSU Tigers. I don’t know if he will still be available at 13 but he is becoming one of my faves.
Miami’s Ryan Jackson seems to be falling down draft boards with his struggles at the plate. The slick fielding shortstop is hitting .277/.354/.400 on the season. Though scouts question his bat none question his ability to stay at short.
Baylor’s Kendal Volz continues to struggle with his command with a 28-to-15 strikeout to walk ratio. Volz has a big arm and superb mound presence but the control issues are what are hampering at this time. Reminds me a lot of what was being said about Shooter Hunt this time last year.
Two Texas A&M pitchers are causing headaches for the Big 12. Right-hander Alex Wilson has 49 strikeouts compared to only eight walks in 31.2 innings. Left-hander Brooks Raley has racked up 34 Ks in 33 innings of work. Plus, Raley is leading the Aggies in BA, OBP, SLG, OPS, TB, extra base hits, and steals.
Things have started slowly for Mike Minor but he still has himself positioned as a first round pick. The lefty has posted a solid 3.41 ERA while allowing only five extra base hits in 31.2 innings.
Two outstanding high school lefties are featured at MLB.com this week. Matthew Purke and Tyler Matzek both should hear their names early in the 2009 draft. Purke, a Texan, can dial his fastball up to 95 while the Californian, Matzek, can touch 94. Zach Wheeler is one of the top prep right-handers has a projectable frame with the ability to run his fastball to the plate at 95.
Dustin Mattison
dustin@whiteyball.com
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Filed Under: Baseball • Baseball Stadiums • Cardinal Prospects • College Baseball
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