First look: 2010 Draft Prospects (College infielders)

By John Klima
September 30, 2009

Moving onto infielders, this list is mostly drawn from the clubs Baseball Beginnings had a look at on the Cape. As we stated in our high school lists for pitchers, infielders, outfielders and catchers, and our college list of pitchers, our college lists are not meant to be taken as definitive this early in the process. As Letterman used to say, please, no wagering in the audience (unless you’re an agent or a team).

(more…)

First look: 2010 Draft Prospects (College pitchers)

By John Klima
September 29, 2009

The Baseball Beginnings pre-draft 2010 college list isn’t made up of Boras Babies and Baseball America Beauties. Instead, we go by the players we have seen in person on the Cape or out West here in California. This list is being published in September 2009, eight full months before the June 2010 MLB Draft. As we stated in our high school lists for pitchers, infielders, outfielders and catchers, our college lists are not meant to be taken as definitive this early in the process. Don’t live or die by anything this early, as some guys will sink and some will swim. If you want hype, well, I’m not your kind of scout. As we say here at Baseball Beginnings, the players will rank themselves.

(more…)

The Covey Chronicles: First look at RHP Dylan Covey

By John Klima
September 28, 2009

Dylan Covey’s first outing of the 2010 draft season was something to see. Pitching for Angels Elite, you couldn’t miss Covey’s stuff, and he’s going to battle with the rest of the big name guys across the country to become the first high school right-handed pitcher drafted in 2010. Here’s the first look at Covey on the next page.

(more…)

First look: 2010 Draft Prospects (High School catchers)

By John Klima
September 25, 2009

Catching prospects for the 2010 MLB Draft do not begin and end with Bryce Harper. As we conclude our Fall Preview of the 2010 draft here in September 2009, here’s a look at some of the catchers nationwide who will receive interest from scouts. As we said in our Fall previews of pitchers, infielders and outfielders, September previews are meant to be road maps rather than definitive lists. Some will rise, some will fall, and some names that are not listed here will come out of nowhere.

(more…)

First look: 2010 Draft Prospects (High School outfielders)

By John Klima
September 24, 2009

As we continue our early look at the June 2010 draft here in September 2009, here’s a look at some of the outfielders to follow. As with our pitchers and infielders list, this is a follow sheet and not a ranking service. We’ll give you the basics and let the kids be the final say on what players they become.

(more…)

First look: 2010 Draft Prospects (High School infielders)

By John Klima
September 23, 2009

Continuing our sneak peak at the 2010 MLB Draft here in September, eight months before the draft, here is the first look at infielders. We’ve divided up the prospects by first basemen, third basemen and middle infielders. As we said in our 2010 High School Pitchers Draft Prospect List, always take follow-lists with a grain of salt simply because of the nature of baseball. Some will rise, some will fall, and some will come out of nowhere, guys who should be here, that we haven’t seen or heard of yet.

(more…)

First look: 2010 Draft Prospects (High School pitchers)

By John Klima
September 22, 2009

Baseball Beginnings is pleased to unveil our first NATIONAL look at the June 2010 draft here in September, 2009, eight months before the first name is called.

In the scouting world, every quality player is on a follow list. It’s a good bet that most of these players are already on such lists, but it’s important to remember that things will change over the next eight months – no list, no matter this one or one by a team should be considered definitive at this time of year, but should instead be regarded as a road map.

Some players who are not on this list will be hot and others who were hot in summer and fall will lose some luster in spring. That’s why you won’t see rankings here, because Baseball Beginnings works like a major league team. We’re not ranking players right now. And when we do, we keep them in-house. The world is full of people who will rank players. A good scout NEVER tells.

Every single player on this list has been seen by our scouting staff IN PERSON, meaning we don’t take our information from secondary sources. It’s on us.

(more…)

Covey shines at Angels Elite InterSqaud

By John Klima
September 21, 2009

Right-hander Dylan Covey pitched so impressively in his first outing for Angel Elite last Wednesday that one scout quipped, “He broke all our guns.”

Covey was outstanding. He only threw a bullpen at the Area Codes and pitched well at Aflac, but he was better here, specifically because his good curveball was great. (more…)

2009 Angels Elite Roster

By John Klima
September 19, 2009

Here’s the initial lineup of Southern California’s exclusive scout league team, Angels Elite. If the kid is here, the kid is expected to be drafted. Check back Monday when we provide a full report on the first Intersquad.

(more…)

Scouting video, RHP Jorge Reyes

By John Klima
September 18, 2009

Jorge Reyes’s month-long stint pitching for Orleans in the Cape Cod League is what drove his price and led him into pro ball. Reyes had substantially better stuff on the Cape than he did during the Pac-10, according to scouts I spoke to.

Reyes created more power. He struck out 40 in 34 innings on the Cape, which was a better ratio than the 75 strikeouts in 81 innings he compiled for Oregon State in the spring. Reyes signed and made three starts for short-season Eugene (Northwest League) and continued to show power, striking out 12 and walking two in 13 innings. Reyes went 1-1 with a 1.38 ERA.

Reyes slipped to the Padres in the 17th round of the 2009 draft, which probably isn’t what he had in mind when the college season began. This is why the Cape is so valuable for players who want to sign after their junior years, but didn’t go where they wanted in June. Reyes pitched with his fastball at 89-91 when I saw him in July, with a first inning bump to 92. His slider was 82-84 with sweeping action on right-handers. See his video on the next page.

(more…)