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Thread: 2009 Draft Info

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    Back from my hiatus Mario-Rijo's Avatar
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    Re: 2009 Draft Info

    7th Round #209 Overall Josh Fellhauer OF Cal State Fullerton



    PG Crosschecker.com
    Josh Fellhauer OF Jr. L-L 5-11 175 Cal State Fullerton Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. Never drafted 3-24-88

    SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): The obvious knock on Fellhauer as a prospect is his size. None of his tools really stand out, either, but few players in this draft get more out of their natural ability than Fellhauer. Every tool he has plays higher than scouts will grade them. After hitting .335-7-40 as a sophomore for Cal State Fullerton and topping the Titans in hits (90) and total bases (138), Fellhauer was the steadiest outfielder for Team USA last summer as it went 24-0 and accomplished the first undefeated run in program history. He hit .299 with 15 RBIs (both second on the team) in 87 at-bats while seeing duty in all three outfield positions, but mostly in center and right field. At 5-foot-11 and 175 pounds, Fellhauer is undersized for right field at the next level, his lack of raw speed compromises his range and ability to play center and his modest power potential makes him ill-suited for any corner position. He profiles more as a fourth outfielder or a dangerous lefthanded bat off the bench, though he has a hitch in his swing that could be exposed with wood against some of the superior fastballs he'll face in the future. But it would be a mistake to sell Fellhauer short. He has superior instincts for the game, has speed and arm strength that are more than adequate, and it's entirely possible that he'll put up such impressive offensive numbers this spring as a junior at Cal State Fullerton that teams will simply not be in position to overlook him.-ALLAN SIMPSON
    Josh Fellhauer
    Class:
    Junior

    Hometown:
    Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.

    High School:
    Rancho Cucamonga HS

    Height / Weight:
    5-11 / 180

    Position:
    OF

    Birthdate:
    03/24/1988

    Experience:
    2V

    B/T:
    L/L

    US NATIONAL TEAM `08: Was one of three Titans (along with Christian Colon and Jared Clark) to play a key roll for the 2008 Team USA squad that finished a perfect 24-0 en route to the FISU World Championship gold medal in the Czech Republic • Posted the second-best batting average on the team at .299, and along with Colon, collected the most hits on the squad with 26 • Blasted a pair of home runs, hit a team-leading six doubles, tallied 15 RBI and stole two bases while playing all three outfield positions.

    TITANS `08: Was named to the All-Big West Conference Second Team as the Titans' everyday centerfielder • Started 62 of the Titans' 63 games • Set career highs in most every offensive category including leading the team in hits (90) and total bases (139) • Had the second longest hitting streak of the year for Fullerton, posting a 10-gamer from Feb. 24 to Mar. 9, when he hit .465 (20-for-43) with seven doubles, a home run and six RBI; also had two six-game hitting streaks in 2008 • Hit in 21 of the first 25 games of 2008, good for a .411 batting average • Led the squad with 20 multi-hit games, collecting three hits on seven occasions and a career-high four hits, three times • Had 12 multi-RBI efforts driving in two runs on 10 occasions and tied his career-high twice with three RBI in a game • Stole a career high 17 bases in 23 attempts, and swiped a pair of bags on two occasions (Feb. 22 at TCU and Apr. 6 at UC Irvine). Ranked 2nd in the Big West Conference in runs scored (62), 3rd in hits (90), 3rd in doubles (20), 6th in triples (4), 2nd in total bases (139), 9th in stolen bases (17) and 1st in plate appearances (301) and at bats (269).

    TITANS `07: Started off as a platoon outfielder, but ended up as the everyday left fielder after blossoming into one of the team's best hitters • Played in 56 of the team's 63 games, making 39 starts (38 in left, one in center) • Picked up his first career hit in his first official at bat (was HBP in first plate appearance) on Feb. 2 vs. Stanford • Did not pick up his first career RBI until Mar. 11 at East Carolina with a 3-for-4, 2 RBI effort • Hit his first career home run on May 8 at home vs. Loyola Marymount • Had 14 multi-hit games, and five times picked up a season-best three hits • Posted nine multi-RBI efforts, three of which he tallied three runs driven in • Had a seven-game hitting streak from May 2 to May 12 when he went 13-for-26 (.500) with seven RBI and 8 runs scored • Was 6-for-12 with a home run and 3 RBI in the San Diego Regional, earning him all-tournament honors • Threw out UC Irvine's potential winning run with one out in the bottom of 13th inning in the longest game in College World Series History (5:40) to hold off the Titans' elimination for one more batter • Was 9-for-32 (.281) in the Titans' seven postseason games.

    RANCHO CUCAMONGA HS: Was a three-year letterman for Head Coach Sean Sullivan at Rancho Cucamonga High School in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. • Was a three-time All-Baseline League first-teamer, posting a career .388 batting average with seven wins and 101 strikeouts from the mound • Helped the Cougars win the Baseline League championship in 2004, hitting .348 with a home run and 23 RBI • Received All-Inland Valley recognition his junior season (2005) when he hit .392 with a pair of home runs, 11 RBI and nine stolen bases for the Cougar offense, while collecting two wins and 48 strikeouts in 33.2 innings on the mound • Put up his best numbers his senior year (2006) hitting .430 with seven home runs and 23 RBI while collecting three wins and 45 strikeouts in 46.1 innings from the hill • Earned first-team All-CIF recognition in 2006 as well as being named to the All-Inland Valley team for a second time • Was also a three-year varsity football letterman earning league MVP honors his senior season.

    PERSONAL: Born on March 24, 1988, in Pomona, Calif. • Parents are Robert and Juliette Fellhauer • Full name is Josh Nicholas Fellhauer • Nickname is Felly • Has one older brother (Justin) • Majoring in American Studies • His favorite sports thrill was throwing out UC Irvine's Taylor Holiday (the winning run) at home plate in the bottom of the 13th inning at the College World Series • Comes from good baseball genes: His grandfather, Richard, pitched for the St. Louis Browns and his father, Robert, was a 6th round draft pick by the A's as a shortstop • Favorites include: 300, The Dark Knight and Step Brothers (movies), Boston, Lil Wayne, Kanye West (musical artists), The DaVinci Code (book), facebook.com and baseballamerica.com (websites), Heath Ledger and Johnny Depp (actors), bowling, golfing (hobbies), Boston Red Sox (team).

    FELLHAUER'S CAREER HIGHS
    At Bats - 7, June 18, 2007 vs. UC Irvine
    Runs - 4, Mar. 9, 2008 vs. Southern Miss
    Hits - 4 (3 times), Last on May 16, 2008 vs. San Diego State
    RBI - 3 (5 times), Last on Apr. 4, 2008 at UC Irvine
    Home Runs - 1 (10 times), Last on May 25, 2008 at Long Beach State
    Doubles - 2 (5 times), Last on May 2, 2008 at UC Santa Barbara
    Stolen Bases - 2 (3 times), Last on Apr. 6, 2008 at UC Irvine
    "You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one."

    --Woody Hayes


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  3. #32
    Back from my hiatus Mario-Rijo's Avatar
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    Re: 2009 Draft Info

    8th Round #239 Overall Juan Silva OF Puerto Rican Baseball Academy



    Power Showcase HR derby Juan Silva's Page (lots of good pics & some info)
    Power Showcase Player Profile: Juan Silva
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kfj-B...e=channel_page

    Juan Silva OF Sr. L-R 6-1 180 PR Baseball Acad. Yabucoa, P.R. 1-8-91

    SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): By Puerto Rican standards, the 2009 draft is considered above-average. The strength of the island's talent is most evident in the crop of young outfielders, particularly Reymond Fuentes and Ruben Sierra Jr. Though he plays at the renowned Puerto Rico Baseball Academy and is that school's top prospect in the Class of 2009, Silva has largely been overshadowed by the fleet-footed Fuentes and multi-talented Sierra. But Silva has made a lot of strides to close the gap in the last year, and he is a very athletic-looking and projectable talent in his own right. His run and throw tools are in the plus area. He has been timed at 6.5 seconds in the 60 and shows a right-field type arm. Silva's speed comes into play most prominently in the outfield, where he has outstanding range. His jumps and routes are advanced for a player his age. Offensively, the lefthanded-hitting Silva has a level, line-drive swing and the ability to drive balls to all fields. He has a slight uppercut with good acceleration through the ball, and should continue to add power as he gets stronger. Silva was impressive in a workout for top Puerto Rican players in early February that attracted a flock of scouts from the mainland, but another set of coordinated workouts in Puerto Rico in early May, a major stage for evaluating Puerto Rican players, will more firmly establish where he stands in relation to Fuentes and Sierra, and other prospects in this year's Puerto Rico crop.-DAVID RAWNSLEY
    PR Showcase Draws Huge Throng

    Allan Simpson
    Tuesday, February 03, 2009

    While awaiting the start of the 2009 high school and Division I college seasons state-side, a huge delegation of scouts was in Caguas, Puerto Rico, Jan. 28-29 to take in a showcase of the island’s top prospects for the 2009 draft.


    Some 20 scouting directors, 30-35 crosscheckers and 30 area scouts were on hand for an event, organized by noted Puerto Rican scout Frankie Thon (brother of former big leaguer Dickie Thon), that attracted every top prospect in Puerto Rico.


    “I have never seen an event in Puerto Rico receive this much coverage—ever,” said a scout with strong ties to Puerto Rico. “It surely had to do with the weather, but also with the class of players in Puerto Rico this year. It’s the deepest I have ever seen.”


    The workout segment of the showcase was held on the first day at Caguas’ Sola Morales Stadium (home of the Puerto Rican Winter League’s Caguas Creoles), and featured the standard 60-day yard dash, infield-outfield and batting practice for position players. The following day, a game was played between players from the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy and non-Academy players.


    Though it’s unlikely that Puerto Rico will produce a first-round pick in this year’s draft, there were as many as 12-14 players in attendance who positioned themselves as potential picks in the first 10 rounds. A year ago, only eight Puerto Ricans went in the first 10 rounds, and just two in the top five rounds—led by Puerto Rico Baseball Academy outfielder Javier Rodriguez, a second-round pick of the New York Mets.


    The star attractions at the showcase, by most accounts, were outfielders Reymond Fuentes and Ruben Sierra Jr. Fuentes ranks No. 99 on PG Crosschecker’s ranking of the top 500 prospects for the 2009 draft, while Sierra improved to No. 126 off his showing in Puerto Rico.


    Fuentes has been the most consistent player in Puerto Rico all year, and ran a 6.3-second 60 in the workout—just surpassing Sierra (who some scouts had at 6.4) for the fastest time at the workout. He also showed an improved arm from center field, which had been his only glaring weakness. Offensively, Fuentes had a good showing in BP at the workout. Despite his slight 6-foot, 160-pound frame, the ball jumped off his bat. In the game, the lefthanded-hitting Fuentes showed a good approach at the plate, hitting a single on the first pitch of the game between shortstop and third against Hector Hernandez, the island’s top-ranked lefthander. He also stole a couple of bases by getting good jumps.


    Sierra, son of the former big league outfielder, may have helped himself more than anyone off his performance in the showcase portion of the event. He ran the 60 just a tick slower than Fuentes, displayed the best arm on the island and had an eye-opening BP—spraying line drives all over the field and hitting a few balls over the right-field fence on the occasions he chose to pull the ball. He had a clean, easy and effortless swing, with increasing power. Sierra also showed an improved approach to hitting. While he had only one hit, he had good at-bats, taking pitches that were not to his liking, and not biting on balls on the outside corner, which had been a problem in the past.


    Scouts were split whether Fuentes or Sierra now ranks as the better prospect for the 2009 draft, but generally conceded both should be selected by the third round. While Fuentes generally has performed better in game situations, the 6-foot-2, 180-pound Sierra has the better skill-set and higher ceiling.


    Righthander Raul Rivera remains the top pitching prospect on the island, though he didn’t show scouts the velocity they were expecting to see in a two-inning stint. He worked mostly at 87-90 mph, topping at 91.


    Outside of Sierra, the two players who may have helped themselves the most were shortstop Robert Perez, an Oklahoma State signee, and outfielder Jonathan Garcia—both fifth-to-seventh round talents.


    Perez ran the 60 in 6.5-6.6 seconds, despite a sore hamstring. He also hit the ball well to the opposite field, and showcased his above-average arm, his best tool, while demonstrating to scouts that may have the range and quickness to remain at shortstop in the long term.


    The 5-foot-10 Garcia showed plus power in BP, hitting several balls out, including a couple that cleared both fences at the stadium. He also has an above-average outfield arm that ranks behind only Sierra.


    Most of Puerto Rico’s top prospects in recent years have come from the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy, which produced a draft-record 14 players in 2005. But most of the elite players this year—namely Fuentes, Rivera and Sierra—do not attend the academy. Hernandez, who was clocked at 87-88 mph, and outfielder Juan Silva, who struggled at the plate, are considered the academy’s top prospects.


    Generally, Puerto Rico’s top prospects show measurable improvement over the course of the spring leading up to the draft, and scouts will get another chance to see the same players in May at Puerto Rico’s annual Excellence Games.

    --ALLAN SIMPSON
    Last edited by Mario-Rijo; 06-14-2009 at 11:11 AM.
    "You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one."

    --Woody Hayes

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    Re: 2009 Draft Info

    9th Round #269 Overall Brian Pearl RHP University of Washington



    MLB.com
    Brian Pearl
    RHP | Washington
    Weight: 190 lbs.
    Height: 6-1

    Summary: Pearl is one of the bigger wild cards in this draft as a converted third baseman with just 11 career innings before 2009. He worked a full season in relief for U-Dub, and his fastball sat mostly around 90-92 mph, but as you might expect from a guy new to the mound, he would hit 94 one outing and then top out at 88 the next time out. He was better this past summer in the Northwoods League, where he hit 95 in the All-Star Game and struck out 32 men in 21 innings against just six walks. He doesn't have a consistent second pitch, with a mid-70s curve that can have some depth and a low-80s slider that at its best has a very hard, late break. His arm is quick, but he drifts off the rubber too quickly and may cost himself some velocity in the process. I've pegged him as a second-round talent, but the industry consensus has him a round or two later than that.

    Player Grades
    PRESENT FUTURE LOW (MPH) HIGH (MPH)
    Fastball 50 55 90 94
    Slider 45 55 80 82
    Curveball 40 45 73 78
    Changeup ?? ??
    FB Movement 45 45
    Command 40 50
    Control 40 50
    Feel for Pitching 35 45
    PG Crosschecker.com
    Brian Pearl RHP Jr. L-R 6-1 190 Washington Everett, Wash. Never drafted 5-17-88

    SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): A talented two-way player, Pearl spent most of his first two seasons at Washington on the left side of the infield. He hit .274-3-23 in 123 at-bats as a freshman, playing mostly at shortstop. As a sophomore, he saw most of his action at third, though an injury to start the 2008 season limited him to just 99 at-bats. Between the two seasons, he made only 12 pitching appearances for the Huskies, all in relief, and worked in just 12 innings. It became graphically apparent during a summer season in the Northwoods League, though, that Pearl's future is much brighter on the mound. As the closer for Green Bay, he went 2-0, 0.84 with nine saves. In 21 innings, he walked six while allowing 12 hits and striking out 32. Pearl displayed surprisingly smooth, easy mechanics for a conversion player, but his lightning-quick arm was so impressive that he soon became the premier power closer in the Northwoods League. His fastball sat in the low- to mid-90s and produced good movement, but it also topped out on occasion as high as 96 mph. Pearl's secondary stuff isn't as impressive or effective as his fastball, but his breaking ball has good, late movement and he commands it so well that he doesn't necessarily need a third pitch-especially if he continues in his role as a short reliever. Pearl also continued to play a position in the field during the summer, and his conversion to full-time closer only began in earnest last fall. With an opportunity to concentrate on pitching only, his fastball reached 97. But with only 12 innings as a college pitcher on his resume, Pearl still has plenty to prove to scouts this spring before he can be anointed as one of the better closer prospects for the 2009 draft.-ALLAN SIMPSON

    UPDATE (5/15): At his best, Pearl has the kind of raw stuff that warrants being taken in the first round. His fastball has been up to 95 mph, and his slider can literally disappear on a hitter. But he was wildly inconsistent with all his pitches for Washington this spring, and he may be hard-pressed to squeeze into the fourth or fifth rounds as a result. Some scouts claim they never saw him throw a fastball anywhere near the mid-90s, and that his slider was often flat-and hittable. The Huskies weren't sure what to do with Pearl. They tried to start him, but that didn't work out. He did save eight games when installed as the team's closer, but he wore out his welcome in that role, too. In 23 appearances (2 starts), he worked 38 innings, walked 17 and struck out 40. A club that saw him at his best this spring (or last summer) could pop him by the third round, but others say that would be way too rich for a pitcher that didn't even demonstrate he was suitable for either a starting or closing role, and was little more than a set-up man.-ALLAN SIMPSON
    PERSONAL
    Born in Seattle ... son of Robert and Chris Pearl ... has an older sister, Jamie ... majoring in sociology.

    WASHINGTON
    2008 (Sophomore) - Split time between third base and the bullpen ... began the year as strictly a pitcher due to an injury that kept him from swinging a bat ... ended up making 10 appearances on the mound, all in relief ... started 25 game at third base ... as a pitcher, allowed only two runs over 9.1 innings in his 10 outings ... picked up a save in the season's fourth game, holding UC Riverside scoreless in one inning ... got second save with a one-batter performance at USC May 2 ... lone victory of the season was March 22 vs. Portland, when he worked 0.2 innings ... didn't make first start as a hitter until March 15, but came out of the gate in his second game, when he went 2-for-4 with a double and six RBI March 16 vs. Holy Cross ... 2-for-4 with a home run and two RBI March 21 vs. Utah Valley ... 2-for-4 with a double and three RBI April 1 vs. Portland ... 3-for-4 with a double, a home run and two batted in against BYU on April 12 ... went 3-for-4 April 20 at Cal ... 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI May 9 vs. Washington State ... played summer ball for the Green Bay (Wis.) Bullfrogs in the Northwoods League ... hit and pitched for the Bullfrogs ... posted nine saves in nine chances, finishing the summer 2-0 with a 0.84 ERA (two ER in 21.2 IP), allowing only 12 hits and six walks while striking out 32. 2007 (Freshman) - Played in a total of 45 games, starting 38, in his freshman season .. started 30 at shortstop, four at second base and four at third base ... also appeared in relief on the mound twice ... first career hit came in the season's third game, and his first start, Feb. 18 at Cal Poly, when he was 1-for-5 with an RBI double ... solo homer March 5 vs. Southern Utah ... 2-for-5 with a double, a triple and two RBI in game one of the March 10 doubleheader vs. Pacific ... 4-for-12 with four RBI in Pacific series ... 1-for-4 with three RBI vs. Northridge on March 16 ... led the way as the Huskies finished off a three-game sweep of Northridge, going 2-for-4 with a double and a two-run homer in a 9-2 win on March 18 ... 3-for-8 with a triple and two RBI in two starts at Washington State ... 3-for-5 in two games vs. Arizona State ... two hits in each of the last two games of the UC Riverside series sweep ... 2-for-3 with a solo homer May 8 vs. Portland ... 2-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI at Arizona ... 2-for-5 May 26 vs. Cal ... pitched in two games: March 3 vs. UC Irvine (game two of doubleheader) and May 19 at Arizona ... didn't give up an earned run in either game ... played summer ball for the Bend (Ore.) Elks ... hit and pitched for the Elks, playing in 23 league games as an infielder while making 13 relief appearances in league play ... went 2-1 with a 2.35 ERA and four saves on the mound ... struck out 17 in 15.1 innings.

    CASCADE HIGH SCHOOL
    Earned two letters under coach Pat Opel at Cascade ... as a junior, batted .460 with 19 runs batted in as the Bruins tied for the league title and finished fourth in the state tournament ... batted .390 as a senior, when he was team captain ... set Cascade career stolen bases record with 44 ... named honorable mention All-WesCo as a second baseman and as a pitcher.

    Pearls Pitching/Hitting Stats (scroll down)
    "You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one."

    --Woody Hayes

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    Re: 2009 Draft Info

    10th Round #299 Overall Tucker Barnhart C Brownsburg (Ind.) HS



    PG Crosschecker:
    Tucker Barnhart C Sr. B-R 5-11 180 Brownsburg Brownsburg, Ind. Georgia Tech 1-7-91

    SCOUTING PROFILE (3/1): Barnhart is a switch-hitting catcher with a middle infielder's body and quickness. In fact, Barnhart played primarily shortstop in his early teen years before moving behind the plate, and still plays second and third base at times. There isn't a position on the field that he's not capable of playing, and he even pitches on occasion. He's a baseball rat and scouts applaud his baseball IQ. His athleticism behind the plate is similar to a middle infielder's, and it makes Barnhart one of the top defensive catchers in the country. He is quick at shifting in either direction, and has a very accurate arm and instant release that regularly delivers pop times in the 1.8-second range-and as low as 1.76 at Perfect Game's National Showcase in Minneapolis last June. Barnhart should be able to continue to switch-hit at the upper levels of the game, as he has sound hitting skills and bat speed from both sides of the plate. He has more power and better extension and smoothness from the left side, while his righthanded swing is compact and more line-drive oriented. Brownburg hit .500-11-38 as a junior at Brownsburg High, and is a career .417 hitter and ranks third among career home-run leaders at the school with 25. Brownsburg High has been a state power in Indiana for years, and Barnhart should be one of two products from that school in the 2009 draft-joining Stanford righthander Drew Storen, a former teammate and potential first-rounder..-DAVID RAWNSLEY
    Quote Originally Posted by Az. Reds Fan View Post
    10th rd - Tucker Barnhart





    Brownsburg's Tucker Barnhart Sets the Standard
    By duncan @ 5:46 PM :: 1823 Views
    By Mike Moreci

    Go to any game in Brownsburg’s conference and you will likely to see junior catcher Tucker Barnhart in the stands. He’s the one watching every hitter with intense concentration, breaking his focus only to jot down the occasional note.

    “I study our biggest conference teams whenever we don’t have a game,” Barnhart said. “I go to games and I chart stuff, I watch hitters, take notes. I like to know how hitters react in counts.”

    Talking to Barnhart you get the impression that you’re speaking more to an assistant coach than a player. But don’t be mistaken: Barnhart’s a player. Quite possibly the best catcher in the state. Yet he’s also what many would call a student of the game, even though that phrase doesn’t quite do justice for the 5-foot-10, 182-pound Barnhart.

    He’s a baseball junkie, carrying on a strong familial tradition. Both his grandfather and father played baseball, as well as his uncles. Some of Barnhart’s fondest childhood memories, in fact, were of watching ball games on his grandmother’s television while keeping score.

    Brownsburg coach Pat O’Neil has had his eye on Barnhart since he was in seventh grade. What really stood out to O’Neil, even at that age, wasn’t so much Barnhart’s talent. It was his pure love for the game, which has only grown since.

    “He’s a baseball rat,” O’Neil said. “Whatever we do, he’s the first one there and the last one to leave.”

    Barnhart’s passion has certainly paid off. According to O’Neil, he’s been getting attention from high schools and scouts since he was 11 years old, back when he was considered one of the best shortstops in the country. Since then, he’s only gotten better. In 2007, the switch-hitting Barnhart batted .417 with 10 homers, 9 doubles and 39 RBI. He had a .986 fielding percentage and forced runners to think twice about attempting to steal against his consistent sub-1.9 pop time. In recognition for his stellar play, Louisville Slugger honored him with a spot on their 2008 pre-season All-American roster.

    “With everything that’s been going on, it can be overwhelming,” Barnhart said. “The nomination threw more weight on the season, though I try to put that stuff on the backburner. It’s great to have that title, but I have to worry about the season.”

    This spring will mark Barnhart’s third season on Brownsburg’s varsity roster. Barnhart has always played up in age; it’s an experience he’s now using to help Brownsburg’s underclassmen adjust to life in varsity ball.

    “We have some underclassmen who are going to play big role for us,” Barnhart said. “I took them aside and told them to relax and play the game; they’re here because they can play.”

    Meanwhile, Barnhart has his own game that he’s always working on, striving for perfection. He wants to be an All-State catcher, he wants to hit .450, even .500. And, most of all, he wants to lead his team. Last season, Brownsburg was ranked No. 4 in the state but was upset in sectional play. With a host of talent returning—including LHP-CF Alex Berlin and Indiana State-bound RHP Mark Conover—Barnhart may be within arms reach of another goal: state champion.
    Last edited by Mario-Rijo; 06-14-2009 at 10:23 AM.
    "You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one."

    --Woody Hayes

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    Re: 2009 Draft Info

    "You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one."

    --Woody Hayes

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    Re: 2009 Draft Info

    A good read on Leake.

    Project Prospect

    An objective look at Mike Leake
    by Ryan Fay
    June 11, 2009

    The Cincinnati Reds selected Arizona State righthander Mike Leake with the eighth overall pick in the 2009 Major League Baseball Draft.

    Leake instantly becomes the top pitching prospect in an organization that is heavy on hitting prospects and his rise through the minors could be a quick one.

    “Though Leake has created little of the national intrigue in his career that (Stephen) Strasburg did this season, he is every bit as far along in his development and could even challenge his former Team USA teammate to be the first pitcher in the Class of 2009 to reach the big leagues,” wrote Allan Simpson of Perfect Game Crosschecker.

    Cincinnati senior director of scouting Chris Buckley agrees that Leake, 21, already has well-developed abilities.

    “He's a very polished college pitcher. He's got four pitches, and his numbers are off the chart,” Buckley told The Associated Press.

    Those numbers – 30.4% K and 4.3% BB as of June 7th – continue to be piled up as Leake's season continues in the College World Series.

    The stats are backed up by plus-plus command of an impressive arsenal that includes an 88-94 MPH fastball, a slider and an average curveball. None of his offerings top his plus changeup, a pitch that he'll throw at any point in the count.

    Most pitchers would be intimidated by pitching in Cincinnati's Great American Ballpark, one of the more homer-friendly parks in the majors. Luckily for Leake, ASU's highest-drafted player since 1998, it may not be as much of a problem.

    “I'm a groundball pitcher. When I get groundballs, I know I'm doing well. That's what I can do, when I can work down in the zone,” he told The Associated Press.

    Leake doesn't have a prototypical pitcher's frame. Listed at 6-foot, 185 pounds, Leake says he's actually 5-foot-10, and despite being undersized, he's held up well over his college career.

    "If he were 6-foot-2, he would have for sure gone before us. [Dustin] Pedroia is 5-foot-8. Sometimes they come in smaller packages," Buckley told MLB.com.

    Leake, a finalist for the Golden Spikes Award given to the nation's top college player, is expected to sign by the August 15th deadline for a figure between $2-3 million.

    "The sooner we can get it done, the better," he told MLB.com.

    Attitude and make-up are crucial factors in the development of a prospect, but Leake has the right mindset.

    "This is a great time in my life right now with fantastic opportunities and obstacles along the way. I will embrace the opportunities with open arms and will stay humble wherever the road takes me," he blogged on MLB.com.

    Leake could begin his professional career in a full-season league and has a chance to be in the big leagues relatively quickly.

    One of the safer bets for major league success in this year's draft class, Leake might lack the fastball that light up radar guns, and he may not be as big as some people would like him to be, but he's close to being the complete package. A good mix between certainty and ceiling, he could eventually settle in as a No. 2-3 starter at the major league level.
    "You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one."

    --Woody Hayes

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    Re: 2009 Draft Info

    Silva looks a bit like Barry Larkin in the face.

    of all the videos that I saw, Silva's was the best and he doesn't even run in the video. I've got video companies hawking their services to parents of 11 year-old soccer players that I'm coaching... youth sports have really changed.

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    Re: 2009 Draft Info

    I should have added this part with the above post on Silva, info from the link listed above for him (bottom of that page). I'll add it here in case the 'ole link is hard to find down the road a ways. Might I add this kid looks like a real strong selection, could be a future starting OF for the Reds. An OF of he/Duran/Yorman and Bruce (amongst many others), wow.

    ATHLETIC INFORMATION

    Showcase State: PR
    Height: 6'2"
    Weight: 190
    Primary POS:CF
    Secondary POS: 1B
    Bat: L
    Throw: L
    Arm Strength (MPH): 88
    BTA: .442
    Stolen Bases: 16
    Home Runs Hit: 6
    Strike Outs: 7
    Run Time
    60: 6.7


    INDIVIDUAL ATHLETIC HONORS

    2008 MVP of Big League World Series

    Double AA Juvenile Baseball
    Last edited by Mario-Rijo; 06-15-2009 at 05:30 PM.
    "You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one."

    --Woody Hayes

  10. #39
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    Re: 2009 Draft Info

    Quote Originally Posted by princeton View Post
    Silva looks a bit like Barry Larkin in the face.

    of all the videos that I saw, Silva's was the best and he doesn't even run in the video. I've got video companies hawking their services to parents of 11 year-old soccer players that I'm coaching... youth sports have really changed.
    Too me depending on the picture he looks a little like Rafeal Furcal and/or Alex Rios. No doubt his video is a strong one, pretty well done. As a player he looks something like Beltran too me.
    "You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one."

    --Woody Hayes

  11. #40
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    Re: 2009 Draft Info

    Thought I'd add this here as well some good stuff in that thread.

    Reds Picks MLB draft 2009

    Quote Originally Posted by OnBaseMachine View Post
    Reds unite Valaika Bros. through Draft
    Cincy selects younger sibling of shortstop prospect on Day 2
    By Mark Sheldon / MLB.com

    06/10/09 8:51 PM ET

    CINCINNATI -- Among the litany of names and players selected by the Reds on Day 2 of the 2009 First-Year Player Draft on Wednesday, one seemed very familiar.

    It was Matt Valaika, who was taken in the 20th round (599th overall) by Cincinnati. The second baseman from the University of California-Santa Barbara is the younger brother of Reds shortstop prospect Chris Valaika.

    Like his little brother, Chris, Valaika was also a Gaucho. He was a third-round pick by the Reds in 2006 and is currently with Triple-A Louisville.

    "He's a good, hard-nosed guy like Chris," Reds senior scouting director Chris Buckley said. "He's a line-drive hitter and more of a true second baseman. He can really swing the bat. It's just a good baseball family."

    In 50 games this season for UC-Santa Barbara, Matt Valaika batted a team-leading .343 while also hitting six homers with 45 RBIs during his junior season. He had an on-base percentage of .341.

    Assuming he signs, Matt Valaika will be assigned to the same Rookie-level team in Billings as his older brother. During his first professional season in the Pioneer League, Chris Valaika batted .324 and set a league record with a 32-game hitting streak.

    Currently, Chris Valaika is batting .161 for Louisville and is on the disabled list with a broken right hand. Last year, the organization named him as winner of the Chief Bender Award as its Minor League Player of the Year.

    "Chris is hurt now, but has done well since we picked him," Buckley said.

    Here is the roundup of the Reds' picks from Rounds 4-30 on Wednesday:

    Round 4, 119th overall, C Mark Fleury:
    A left-handed-hitting junior catcher selected from the University of North Carolina, Fleury batted .315 with 12 home runs and 59 RBIs in 63 games. He spent last summer playing in the well-regarded Cape Cod League, which is a wooden-bat league.

    Round 5, 149th overall, RHP Daniel Tuttle:
    From Randleman High School in North Carolina, Tuttle's scouting report shows him having a plus-slider and a fastball that can reach 94 mph. His delivery is considered unorthodox, which has kept him from having consistent command.

    Round 6, 179th overall, RHP Mark Serrano:
    A fifth-year senior at Oral Roberts University, Serrano was 9-1 with a 2.50 ERA in 20 games, including nine starts, this season. In 86 1/3 innings, he walked 25 and struck out 132 batters.

    Round 7, 209th overall, OF Joshua Fellhauer:
    A junior at college baseball powerhouse Cal State Fullerton, Fellhauer batted .399 with six homers and 55 RBIs in 58 games this season. What was most interesting was that he was hit by 16 pitches while drawing 26 walks with only 25 strikeouts. He bats and throws left-handed.

    Round 8, 239th overall, OF Juan Silva:
    Buckley liked Silva's tools and is a strong, athletic center fielder from the Puerto Rico Baseball Academy.

    Round 9, 269th overall, RHP Brian Pearl:
    A junior reliever at the University of Washington, Pearl was 1-5 with a 3.05 ERA in 23 games, including two starts. He also had eight saves in his 38 1/3 innings pitched.

    Round 10, 299th overall, C Tucker Barnhart:
    From Brownsburg High School in Indiana, Barnhart is a switch-hitter, and Buckley considered him a "very polished high school catcher and a high-energy kid."

    Round 11, 329th overall, RHP Jacob Johnson:
    He was selected from the Trinity Christian Academy in Florida. For a high school kid, he's already got some size at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds. Already committed to Wake Forest University, Johnson earned all-county and all-state honors during both his junior and senior seasons.

    Round 12, 359th overall, OF Joshua Garton:
    A sophomore from Volunteer State Community College in Tennessee, Garton batted .386 with 16 homers and 39 RBIs in 44 games this season.

    Round 13, 389th overall, RHP Nick Christiani:
    A senior at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., Christiani was a 32nd-round pick by the Indians last year. This season, he was 6-6 with a 5.00 ERA in 18 games, including 10 starts. In 68 1/3 innings, he walked 19 and struck out 69.

    Round 14, 419th overall, RHP Timothy Crabbe:
    A junior at Westmont College in California, Crabbe was 3-8 with a 5.35 ERA in 16 games, including 12 starts in 2009. In 72 1/3 innings, he walked 61 and struck out 65.

    Round 15, 449th overall, IF James Walczak:
    Now a senior at Mercyhurst College in Ohio, Walczak batted .352 as a junior and led his team in hits and runs scored.

    Round 16, 479th overall, C Chase Fowler:
    He was selected from South Forsyth High School in Georgia.

    Round 17, 509th overall, SS Deven Marrero:
    With the American Heritage School in Miami this season, Marrero batted .400 with eight homers and 25 RBIs this season and was named the Broward County high school baseball Player of the Year by the Florida Sun Sentinel.

    Round 18, 539th overall, SS Stephen Perez:
    Another high school infielder from Gulliver Prep School in Florida, here is what the MLB.com Draft Tracker had to say about him: His plus instincts help him maximize his skills, which include some definite hitting ability from both sides of the plate, a solid glove and arm from shortstop. Whoever drafts him could be getting a high schooler with a better understanding of how to play the game than most prepsters.

    Round 19, 569th overall, LHP Mitchell Clarke:
    The southpaw was taken from the Forest Heights Collegiate Institute in Ontario, Canada.

    Round 20, 599th overall, 2B Matt Valaika:
    The brother of top Reds infield prospect Chris Valaika, Matt followed in his brother's footsteps and attended college at UC-Santa Barbara. In 50 games, he led the Gauchos while batting .343 with six homers and 45 RBIs this year during his junior season. He had an on-base percentage of .341.

    Round 21, 629th overall, RHP Jonathan Reed:
    With Tulsa Memorial High School this season, Reed posted a 5.60 ERA in just 10 innings over three games. Also a third baseman, he batted .380 in 31 games with eight homers and 30 RBIs.

    Round 22, 659th overall, 1B David Stewart:
    He attended Grayson County College in Missouri.

    Round 23, 689th overall, 1B Chris Richburg:
    A senior at Texas Tech University this season, Richburg batted .341 in 57 games, with 14 home runs and 60 RBIs. He had a .454 on-base percentage.

    Round 24, 719th overall, 1B Derrick Lowery:
    This season in 47 games, Lowery batted .361 with seven homers, 39 RBIs and a .418 on-base percentage during his sophomore year at Young Harris College in North Carolina.

    Round 25, 749th overall, RHP Michael Monster:
    The right-hander was taken from the Rutland Secondary School in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada.

    Round 26, 779th overall, C Vernon Manz:
    In 46 games during his senior season with the University of South Florida, Manz batted .293 with six homers and 24 RBIs. According to his college media guide, Manz likes movies, fishing and cooking.

    Round 27, 809th overall, LHP Stefan Del Pino:
    The lefty was picked from Dorman High School in South Carolina.

    Round 28, 839th overall, SS Derek Poppert:
    In 56 games this season during his junior year at the University of San Francisco, Poppert batted .252 with one homer and 52 RBIs. He also stole 16 bases in 19 attempts. Defensively, the numbers appear raw. Poppert committed 22 errors for a .919 fielding percentage.

    Round 29, 869th overall, RHP Jason Braun:
    A senior at Corban College in Oregon, Braun was 2-8 with a 3.46 ERA in 13 games this season, including 11 starts. He walked 25 and struck out 60 in 78 innings.

    Round 30, 899th overall, C Yovan Gonzalez:
    A second-year player at Wabash Valley College, Gonzalez batted .429 with 16doubles, 10 homers and 47 RBIs in 54 games this season.

    On Thursday, the Draft will conclude with Rounds 31-50.

    http://cincinnati.reds.mlb.com/news/...=.jsp&c_id=cin
    "You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one."

    --Woody Hayes

  12. #41
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    Re: 2009 Draft Info

    From PGcrosschecker.com

    Marrero & Perez story link

    Shortstops Deven Marrero and Stephen Perez

    Anup Sinha
    Updated: Thursday, July 02, 2009

    MIAMI, FL- Most Florida high schools are done with their season, but there are still a handful of prospects in the playoffs. This weekend, regional finals were played statewide; three-game series to determine the four teams in each classification (6A down to 1A) that would go to the state championship tournament in Port St. Lucie beginning Wednesday, May 20th.

    Friday night (May 15th), I trekked down to Florida International University to watch a great matchup of shortstops: Gulliver Prep’s Stephen Perez (PGX #114)and American Heritage’s Deven Marrero (PGX #97). Both are projected early-round talents with poor signability where we have them ranked most recently. While there were a handful of area scouts in attendance, it wasn’t nearly the scout-fest one would expect in a pressure-packed playoff game that featured two such talented middle infielders.

    I’ve blogged on both of these players in the past and I didn’t see much to change what I’d reported on earlier. The game served more as a confirmation.

    Perez showed his lightning quick hands and smooth actions in the pregame, then carried them into the game. Perez is one of those fast-twitch athletes who doesn’t run a particularly good 60 yard-dash. Perez didn’t run it at our National Showcase last June and in various other workouts he’s been in the 7.1-7.3 range. But Perez has the feet to give him a chance to play a big league shortstop and he definitely has the hands, the balance, and the plus arm-strength.

    A switch-hitter, Perez’s bat is not as advanced as his glove and it will likely take the requisite 4-6 years to develop into big league caliber, in the eyes of most scouts. Perez, at 5-10,170, doesn’t yet have the physical strength to generate average MLB bat-speed and raw power with wood and for most scouts he doesn’t project into a power hitter. But he has a smooth stroke from both sides (hitting only lefty today) which he’ll grow into, and his approach is sound for a high school kid. On the day, Perez went 0-2 with a walk. In his first at-bat, Perez struck out chasing a fastball low and out of the zone. He then grounded out to the first baseman and earned his walk in his third at-bat.

    Marrero also has a lot of fast twitch muscles. His hands are almost as quick as Perez’s on defense and Marrero’s arm is close to a plus as well (55). And like Perez, Marrero doesn’t give good times going home-to-first or in 60 yard-dashes though he did run a laser-timed 6.79 at the Perfect Game National last June.

    If Perez has a little edge defensively, Marrero swings a stronger bat. His bat-speed is already major league caliber and his line-drive power is close to the same. At a wiry 6-0 ˝, 180 lbs, Marrero is going to get stronger and generate more pop out of his swing.

    On the day, Marrero went 1-3. He grounded out to second in his first at-bat and he lightly jogged to first base which gave an unreliable time of 5.13 seconds. In his second at-bat, Marrero hit a solid flyout to center on the second pitch. In at-bat #3, Marrero hit a hard single to center field on the first pitch he saw.

    Marrero has the hitting tools to become a run producer in the long run, it’s merely a matter of developing a professional approach and learning the pitchers on the way up the ladder. I can see his bat coming faster than the typical 4-6 year plan to the bigs, given that he continues to work hard at the craft and make adjustments.

    Perez is signed with Miami while Marrero plans to attend Arizona State, barring the draft.

    Perez’s Gulliver squad won this first game 3-0, but American Heritage came back to win the next two and advance to the state championship tournament in Port St. Lucie next week. It will give scouts another look at Deven Marrero if they so desire.
    "You can't let praise or criticism get to you. It's a weakness to get caught up in either one."

    --Woody Hayes

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    Re: 2009 Draft Info

    Another article on Barnhart...

    http://sports.espn.go.com/highschool...ory?id=4159304

    Barnhart keeps working on big league dreams
    By Mike Grimala
    ESPN RISE Magazine
    (Archive)

    Updated: June 29, 2009, 11:30 AM ET
    Comment / Email / Print One of Tucker Barnhart's earliest baseball revelations came at age 7, when he and his father were watching the 1997 MLB All-Star Game.


    [+] EnlargeESPN RISE Magazine

    Tucker Barnhart has signed with Georgia Tech but was also drafted by the Cincinnati Reds.

    Larry Walker, a left-handed batter for the National League team, was facing American League pitcher Randy Johnson. The 6-foot-10 lefty with an intimidating presence and sometimes-wild control, threw the first pitch behind Walker's head. Walker responded by flipping his helmet around, getting in the right-handed batter's box and eventually drawing a walk.



    For most viewers, it was a humorous exhibition. For Barnhart, it was a learning experience.



    "That's when we had the big idea for me to start switch-hitting," he says.



    It's a telling anecdote for the Brownsburg (Ind.) senior, who is now rated the state's No. 1 player by Baseball America. Barnhart's entire career has been about expanding his game to maximize his ability, and the results are undeniable. He has developed himself into one of the nation's top prospects, a process that started when that light bulb went on at age 7.



    A natural left-handed hitter (and right-handed thrower), he worked on developing his stroke from the other side of the plate. The effort has paid off, as Barnhart clocked 25 home runs in his first three seasons as Brownsburg's starting catcher.



    "He's always looking for ways to get better," says Brownsburg coach Patrick O'Neil. "He's the type of kid that's first to practice, last to leave, always trying to improve."



    Barnhart has always had baseball on the brain. He grew up with a ball and glove in his crib (literally), and his father and grandfather -- standouts in their day -- were eager to teach him the game. Besides playing the guitar, he has trouble naming many other hobbies or interests away from the diamond.



    For someone whose dream has always been reaching the major leagues, Barnhart couldn't have asked for a better situation. The Brownsburg community takes its baseball seriously, and Barnhart's 12-year-old all-star team almost reached the Little League World Series.



    His pitching and play at shortstop were key to the team's success, but when O'Neil watched those Little League games, he came away with other ideas for his future star. It was clear to O'Neil that Barnhart was a natural catcher.



    "He had the quick feet, strong arm, the leadership qualities -- everything you need at catcher," says O'Neil. "His skill level was so far ahead back then, you could see him as a great defensive catcher."



    O'Neil served as the Midwest scouting supervisor for the Tampa Bay Rays from 1995-98, so his opinion carried extra weight with Barnhart, who even back then was looking for the best path to the big leagues.



    When Barnhart arrived at Brownsburg as a freshman, he estimates he had spent five percent of his career behind the plate. But O'Neil was right in his assessment -- the transition was seamless. O'Neil trusted him to be the starting catcher from the first practice, and Barnhart repaid him by recording 26 assists on the season.



    "I've always prided myself on defense no matter where I played," says Barnhart. "Playing shortstop, you have to have quick feet, good hands and be agile going side to side. All of that is the same as a catcher. I embraced it."



    At 5-foot-10, 182 pounds, Barnhart has modeled his defensive style after the similarly built Ivan Rodriguez. Barnhart once struck out 18 batters while throwing a perfect game in Little League, and he still has the big arm. O'Neil says his catch-and-throw skills are major league caliber right now, and he rates Barnhart as the best defensive catcher in the country. His offense isn't far behind. Barnhart batted .500 last year, and he can hit for power from both sides of the plate. He drilled 11 home runs in 2008 and has a pair of three-homer games to his credit. Barnhart spent the offseason packing 15 pounds of muscle onto his frame, and he hopes to hit for even more power this season.



    "I'm never going to be 6-foot-5, 220, hitting home runs every at-bat," Barnhart says, "but I want to get the most out of myself. I just try to hit everything up the middle and drive the ball. And when you're making good contact, that's when you hit home runs."


    Tucker Barnhart Favorites
    TV Show: "24"
    Actor: Kevin Costner
    Movie: "Gladiator"
    Musical Artist: Journey




    Beyond that, there's still the matter of Barnhart's ultimate goal. He's signed a letter of intent to Georgia Tech, a school that has produced switch-hitting catchers like Jason Varitek and Orioles top prospect Matt Wieters, but the dream of being a pro ball player may come true before he sets foot on campus.

    Barnhart was selected in the 10th round in the MLB draft by the Cincinnati Reds.

    "I chose Georgia Tech because of the program's history of developing players," Barnhart says. "But if a situation comes up and it makes more sense for me to sign with a major league team, then I'd like to get my career started as soon as possible. I want to play major league baseball more than anything. It's going to be a tough decision."

    Barnhart says he hasn't put a number on what it would take to lure him from his commitment to Georgia Tech, but he is being advised by a Beverly Hills sports consulting firm. It's no surprise Barnhart is weighing his options carefully. He has wanted to be a professional baseball player since he was 7 years old, watching that All-Star Game with his dad. Now, because of his willingness to adapt his game and do whatever it takes, he may have a chance to make it happen.

    "Tuck's main goal is to play in the majors," O'Neil says. "He's got the bat speed and power, and defensively he's as good as it gets. If he stays healthy, he's going to be a solid major league player."


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