2010 Amateur Draft Fabulous Fifty

Colon's bat finally came to life last weekend

High School Catchers

Stefan Sabol (Aliso Viejo, CA) – Hasn’t gotten off to a blistering offensive start, but scouts love his make-up.

Jake Hernandez (Rancho Cucamonga, CA) - Underated Player who is moving up the charts quickly due to his bat.


College Catchers

Bryce Harper (CC of Southern Nevada) – Is playing some OF, but most importantly, continues to mash with a 1.300+ OPS as a 17yo against 19yo & 20yo in a wood bat conference. Clear #1 choice at this time.

Micah Gibbs (Louisiana State) – Possesses perhaps the best overall set of catching skills and make-up in the college ranks, and is off to a .959 OPS start.

Yasmani Grandal (Miami) – Gaining back some of the summer’s lost lusture with .989 OPS. Strikeouts remain a concern.

Rob Brantley (UC-Riverside) – Still just 20yo, Brantley is climbing up the charts with heady defemnsive performances and a .926 OPS.


High School Corner Infielders

Nick Castellanos (Davie, FL) – Castellanos has gotten off to a great start (17-25 with 4 home runs) and may be the best prep hitter in the draft.

Kris Bryant (Las Vegas, NV) – No more second fiddle to Harper in the Vegas area, Bryant has one of the most fundamentally sound prep-swings and is a likely first round choice.


College Corner Infielders

Zack Cox (Arkansas) – There isn’t a lot to choose from in this category, but Cox is off to a 1.037 OPS start for the Razorbacks.

Hunter Morris (Auburn) – Strike Zone Management issues remain a concern, but Morris has a .425/.462/.793 line with 8 home runs through 19 games.


High School Middle Infielders

Manny Machado (Hialeah, FL) –Plus shortstop defensive skills combined with above average offensive potential may make him the first prep hitter drafted. Hitting .650 on the young season.

Yordy Cabrera (Lakeland, FL) – Almost literally (19yo) a man among boys at the prep level.

Justin O’Conner (Muncie, IN) – Scounts won’t appreciate his ‘grinder’ approach, but he possesses plus offensive skills to go along with soft-hands, exceptional defensive instincts and a powerful arm.


College Middle Infielders

Christian Colon (Cal State Fullerton) – After hitting only .205 with 2 XBH in his first 13 games, Colon has been on fire lately and has brought his OPS up to .915, with 4 Home Runs in his last 4 games.

Josh Rutledge (Alabama) – Considered a defense-first shortstop when the season opened, Rutledge has a .387/.429/.627 line through 18 games.

Jedd Gyorko (West Virginia) – Is absolutely raking, to the tune of a 1.124 OPS with 6 home runs through 21 games.


High School Outfielders

Josh Sale (Seattle, WA) – One of the top two prep hitters in this year’s class.

Austin Wilson (North Hollywood, CA) – Scouts love his combo of tools and make-up.

Chavez Clarke (Marietta, GA) – Speed remains his best tool, but he is off to a good start on the season.

Ty Linton ( Mathews, NC) – One of the more ‘toolsy’ OFs in this year’s draft.



College Outfielders

Bryce Brentz (Middle Tennessee) – Was our #1 returning college hitter coming into the season and has posted a 1.105 OPS with 7 home runs through 19 games.

Todd Cunningham (Jacksonville State) – The top three college OFs are all from mid-major schools. Cunningham has a .338/.430/.613 through 19 games.

Michael Choice (Texas Arlington) – Off to a blistering .387/.525/.787 start through 21 games.

Austin Wates (Virginia Tech) – His .444/.535/.708 through 21 games has Wates moving up the charts.

Gary Brown (Cal State Fullerton) – Speedy athletic OF has to walk more (1BB in 92 ABs) to truly become a top of the order threat at the next level, but he has a .457/.479/.707 line on the season.

Kyle Parker (Clemson) – The Tigers’ football squad will be looking for a starting QB this fall because Parker’s .413/.527/.840 with 10 home runs start has vaulted him into first round consideration.

Leon Landry (Louisiana State) – Landry needs a big offensive showing this year and is off to a .373/.430/.597 start.

Jarrett Parker (Virginia) – While the Cavaliers have been one of the nation’s best teams this year, Parker’s .877 OPS with 1 home run has been a disappointment. Strikeouts (25%) may be a bigger concern.


High School Right-Handed Pitchers

Jameson Taillon (Woodlands, TX) – Taillon followed up his worst start in two years with a 19 strikeout, 7 inning no-hitter. With Ranuado still out, he is the consensus #2 pick.

A.J. Cole (Winter Springs, FL) – Isn’t yet back to where he was this summer.

Karsten Whitson (Chipley, FL) – Son of a former Major League pitcher, Whitson may be the most polished elite prep hurler in the class.

Dylan Covey (Pasadena, CA) – Opened the season with 12 of his 15 outs via the strikeout and hitting 96MPH.

Stetson Allie (Olmstead Falls, OH) – Control will ultimately determine how high he goes.

Kevin Gausman (Aurora, CO) – A low 90’s fastball and significant polish masks significant remaining upside.

Kaleb Cowart (Adel, GA) – His curve may be better than his low-90s fastball.

Deandre Smelter (Macon, GA) – Mixed results so far for this raw-athletic hurler.

A.J. Vanegas ( Alameda, CA) – Extremely polished pitcher with and advanced four-pitch repertoire that features a 90-mph fastball.


College Right-Handed Pitchers

Anthony Ranaudo (Lousiana State) – Set to finally make his debut on Sunday.

Deck McGuire (Georgia Tech) – With Ranaudo out, McGuire has posted arguably the best start among college hurlers in this class, posting a 1.15 ERA and a 39:8 K:BB ratio in 39IP.

Alex Wimmers (Ohio State) – Has one shaky outing in his 5-0 start, but still has posted a 2.12 ERA with a 41:11 K:BB ratio in 34 innings.

Brandon Workman (Texas) – Reviews for Workman are all over the board in his 2.94 ERA, 33:8 K:BB ratio in 33 innings.

Jess Hahn (Virginia Tech) – 1.34ERA and a 29:6 K:BB ratio in 33 innings over his first five starts.

Matt Harvey (North Carolina) – After a disappointing sophomore season, Harvey has his fastball back in the mid-90s and has posted a 1.97 ERA with a 37:14 K:BB ratio in 32 innings over five starts.

Chad Bettis (Texas Tech) – Has been shaky at times through five starts, but has 39Ks in 37IP.

Kyle Blair (San Diego) – Has 36Ks in 29 innings, but has struggled against better hitters.

Kevin Munson (James Madison) – Best college closer in this class, as he has allowed 1 earned run in 11 appearances and has 25 Ks in 16 IP.


High School Left-Handed Pitchers

Griffin Murphy (Redlands, CA) – Murphy is rocketing up the boards, using a low-90s fastball and two potentially plus secondary offerings en route to a 1.06 ERA and a 24-6 K:BB ratio.


College Left-Handed Pitchers

Drew Pomeranz (Mississippi) – Has been remarkably good through five starts, as he has posted a 1.23 ERA and a 49:9 K:BB ratio.

Chris Sale (Florida Gulf Coast) – Was dominant against Wichita State in his only true test so far this season, but has posted a 1.73 ERA with a 40:4 K:BB ratio in 26 innings over 5 starts.
James Paxton (Independent) – Paxton still has something to prove after an inconsistent 2009 and leaving Kentucky isn’t likely to help him do it.


Just Missed – Justin Grimm, RHP, Georgia; Anthony Wolters, SS, Vista, CA; Christian Yelich, 1B, Thousand Oaks, CA; Chad Lewis, 3B, Huntington Beach, CA; Drew Cisco, RHP, Mt. Pleasant, SC; Michael Lorenzen, RHP, Fullerton, CA; LeVon Washington, OF, Chipola JC; Drew Vettleson, OF, Tracyton, WA; Brett Eibner, RHP, Arkansas; Ricky Hague, SS, Rice.