I did not see Baker in a game, so I cannot provide a scouting report. In fact, when I first saw Baker throwing down the line, all I knew was that I liked this guy. When you’re running around on the Cape trying to scout 40 players at once, you don’t always have the time to stop and ask yourself, “Hey, is this the same guy from Ole Miss?”

Indeed, Baker gave us a lot to like, even from a distance. Physically, Baker had the body you want in a starting pitcher. This was a bullpen session, so Baker wasn’t going full speed. One thing about scouting is a guy will always show you what he’s best at right away. In Baker’s case, he was smooth and is working on getting full extension, which is going to enhance his stuff. He uses his backside and his back leg to come through. The ball had life coming out of his hand, which serves to verify the 69 strikeouts in 67 innings he had in 2009 for Ole Miss.

Have a look at Baker’s bullpen video, here:

Baker comes from baseball blood. His grandfather, right-handed pitcher Chuck Daniel, got into one game for the 1957 Detroit Tigers and won in double figures in five of seven minor league seasons.

After signing, Baker got his feet wet this summer pitching for State College in the New York-Penn League, where he worked 16 innings and gave up 11 hits. He had nine strikeouts and finished with a 1.69 ERA, a pretty good sign for a college guy who will likely survive as a pro without dominating stuff but with command, changing speeds, and using his frame to create downhill deception. Baker, a product of Cordova HS (Memphis, Tenn.) should have a chance to quickly advance through the Pirates system if he performs. He’s worth watching, and thankfully, I’ll never have to stand next to a garbage can in Yarmouth-Dennis to film again. Baker, pitching alongside a trash can in this video, I’m sure would agree.

Games Seen 2, Innings 18 (Seen playing for Orleans, Cape Cod League, July 2009)

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Good body, tall and lanky, some athleticism and yet to fill out.

ABILITIES: Slight upper-cut in swing, armsy type hitter. Some power projection.

WEAKNESSES: Had trouble repeating swing in games I saw; didn’t adjust to off-speed; same swing for each pitch.

SUMMARY: Good athlete with physical projection who may project into everyday corner or extra outfielder. Swing can improve with instruction and experience — interesting player just scratching surface of his abilities.

GRADES: Hit: 3/5 Power: 4/5 Arm: 4/5 Field: 4/5 Run:  4/4 OFP = 48

What the Grades Mean

Watch Alex Hassan Video
Read Alex Hassan Q&A

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: (Read March 2009 report)

STRENGTHS: Overall arm speed and arm action much improved from March 2009 report. FB 88-90, occasional bump to 91, free and easy delivery, finds life and creates some deception. Velocity 4/5, Movement 4/5, Command 4/5. CB 84-86, more consistent, 12/6 action. Grades out as 55-60 ML pitch and will be best ML weapon. CH down to 75, profiles as second best ML off-speed pitch, 4/5 grade. Creates downhill plane, gets most out of body, good athlete, good balance and coordination. Feel for pitching, competitive. Has enough stuff to get outs and has enough savvy to make hitters get themselves out. Nice combination required for ML starter.

WEAKNESSES: Do not see this as a power pitcher, so know what you are buying. Can get away with 6-2 height as LHP, should continue to refine both CB and CH as pro to create more separation and deception. Has never thrown a slider when I’ve seen him; not convinced he needs it; would worry that SL takes from CB and not be beneficial for his arm slot. Will need to develop more overall consistency with both pitches and get them into games earlier on a consistent basis.

SUMMARY: Ability to pitch with three average-to-slightly above-average ML pitches and advanced feel for what he has on given day gives Lyons chance to become solid middle-rotation ML starter. Durable body type and arm action lends itself to workload. Believe CB profiles as his best ML pitch; believe he’s got some good ML games in him when all three work. Believe his aggressive nature will play well on pro side. Wouldn’t rule out occasional All-Star year in future. Will compete with what he has on a given night; other reason he should be given strong consideration as ML prospect. Lot to work with; good luck in pro ball.

 GRADES (Present/Future)

Delivery       40/50
Fastball        45/50
Curveball    40/55
CH                  40/55
SL                   DNS
Control        45/55
Command   50/55
Add 1 to OFP for kid’s make-up and feel.

Overall Future Potential: 53

What the Grades Mean

Read Tyler Lyons Q&A
Watch Tyler Lyons Cape Cod League bullpen video
Watch Tyler Lyons Cape Cod League game video
Watch Tyler Lyons vs. Cory Vaughn
Read Tyler Lyons scouting report from March in Palm Springs
Watch Tyler Lyons video from March in Palm Springs

(photo: UA)

Brad Glenn, 3B
Arizona (2009 Draft)
6-3, 225
Bats: Right, Throws: Right
Games seen: 1, Innings: 9 (plus BP)
(700th overall pick, 2009 Draft, Toronto Blue Jays)

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Compact, muscular body. Strong forearms, large hands, strong grip. Thick muscular legs and thighs, built like Matt Stairs.

STRENGTHS: Above-average raw power, mostly pull, though shows power to all fields. Sturdy body, 1B or LF, AL-type.

WEAKNESSES: Below-average athletic actions at 1B, 3B or LF. Average arm, release and accuracy. Below-average speed.

SUMMARY: Above-average raw power, likes to get his hands extended. Will need to prove he can get his hands inside the good fastball, if he does as pro, he’s got a chance to raise raw frequency to ML standards. Will have to work hard to upgrade complementary tools. Could be an everyday player and provide 20 HR power, but needs to show more to fit into pro ball. Power can carry him a long, long way if he can prove he has just enough of everything else.

Grades
Hit          30/40
Power   40/65 (raw 4/7, frequency 3/7)
Run       40/40
Arm      40/40
Field     40/40

Overall Future Potential: 45

What the Grades Mean

Read Brad Glenn Q&A
Watch Brad Glenn video

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Medium build, thick legs and torso. Average height and weight.

STRENGTHS: Commands fastball, changes speeds and possesses feel and know. FB 90-93, max 94. Commands FB at 90-93; shows cutter action and four-seam late life. Two kinds of CB: 12/6 rot. Occ. Bite and 1/5 or 1/7 knuckle-curve. Believe knuckle-curve is best put-away off-speed pitch.

WEAKNESSES: First inning struggler; flew open day I saw him; struggled to contain mechanics. No single pitch is an overmatching weapon, but FB command compensates for premier velocity.

SUMMARY: Looks can be deceiving. Should be middle rotation three-pitch MLB starter; can’t see as staff ace but believe this is an excellent third starter on an excellent staff. Possesses ability to achieve beyond grades; pitchers like this tend to hang around.

GRADES
Delivery              40/50
Fastball               40/50
Curveball           40/50
Knuckle-curve 45/60
Changeup           40/50
Control                40/55
Command          40/60

Overall Future Potential:  53

What the Grades Mean

Watch Brad Boxberger Scouting Video
Read Reds sign Boxberger

Nolan Arenado, INF
El Toro HS (2009 Draft)
6-2, 215
Bats: Right, Throws: Right
Games seen: 1, Innings: 5
(59^th overall pick, 2009 Draft, Colorado Rockies)

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Tall, thick bones, strong framed player, probably best suited for catching. Strong hands, long fingers, thick forearms.

STRENGTHS: Raw power and raw arm strength. Likes to gets hands extended, will need to show he can stay inside the good fastball, should have above-average ML power. Arm is above-average, release adequate, will need time to develop defensively.

WEAKESSES: Below-average runner, probably won’t be impact player as average hitter. Won’t be nimble enough to remain in middle infield, but will be athletic enough to play every day.

SUMMARY: Should hit enough to play every day, arm and power are best game-changing tools. Good body for the long haul; likes to play; should only get stronger. Both tools should play in ML down the road; good luck in pro career.

GRADES
Hit          35/55
Power   35/65
Run        30/30
Arm       55/60
Field      40/50

Overall Future Potential: 52

What the Grades Mean

Read Nolan Arenado Q&A
Watch Nolan Arenado Scouting Video

Jake Marisnick, CF
Riverside Poly HS (2009 Draft)
6-3, 190
Bats: Right, Throws: Right
Games seen: 4, Innings: 30

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Long, lean, loose and athletic body; has yet to physicall mature. Above-average athletic actions.

STRENGTHS: Graceful athlete. Good first step, above-average speed when underway, fluid runner, stolen base threat. Closes the gaps left and right, range to go in front and behind, aggressive defender; not afraid to dive for a ball or run into a wall. Above-average arm, average accuracy, good arm action, quick release, and whippy arm. Instinctive and aggressive base runner; takes large leads; pressures defenses. Extremely fast hands with bat; should be able to get hands inside the good fastball.

WEAKNESSESS: Trying to do too much offensively in games I saw; fell out of straight-away and opposite field approach – all correctable. Power needs a few years to come in. First-inning struggler in games I saw.

SUMMARY: Smooth and graceful athlete yet to physically mature. Struggled against good pitching in spring after good summer against good pitching. Too toolsy to ignore. Likes to play. Comparable to Torii Hunter or Devon White.

GRADES
Hit          35/60
Power   30/60
Run        60/65
Arm       60/65
Field      60/65
 
Overall Future Potential:  63

What the Grades Mean

Read Jake Marisnick Q&A
Read Jake Marisnick signs
Read Jake Marisnick Catchup
Watch Jake Marisnick Scouting video
Watch Matt Hobgood vs. Jake Marisnick Video
Hobgood vs. Marisnick game
Jake Marisnick Drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays

(photo: ASU)

Jason Kipnis, CF
ASU
6-0, 180
Bats: Left, Throws: Right
Games seen: 1, Innings: 9

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Kirby Puckett-type body; strong and stocky physique.

STRENGTHS: Strong, hard-nosed everyday player. Slightly above-average runner, good first step, good underway. Average power and hit, enough bat speed to play, swing a little long the day I saw him; should be correctable with wood at-bats. Aggressive player who has learned to harness emotions, should get most out of what he has. Physically durable, well-built for baseball grind. Above-average defender with adequate range. Savvy base runner. Aptitude for adjustments.

WEAKNESSES: Won’t wow with one tool, knows how to play. Will need to prove he can he inside the good fastball as a pro. Too pull-oriented when I saw him but did show ability to use entire field.

SUMMARY: Best hitting approach is when going left-center field. No one tool is a jaw-dropper, but should have organizational value and could be a sleeper as a pro. Very solid, competitive player; should add value as extra outfielder on first-division team or starter on second-division ML team. Could become Brian Downing type; will have to earn it at each stop. Good Luck in pro career.

GRADES
Hit           40/55
Power    40/55
Run         55/55
Arm       50/50
Field      55/55
 
Overall Future Potential: 52

What the Grades Mean

Read Jason Kipnis Q&A
Watch Jason Kipnis Scouting video
Jason Kipnis Drafted by the Cleveland Indians

(photo: Baseball Beginnings)

Jonathan Singleton, 1B
Long Beach Millikan HS (2009 Draft)
6-2, 210
Bats: Left, Throws: Left
Games seen: 1, Innings: 7

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Large frame and strong features, baby face, still physically maturing. Strong torso, large hands, strong forearms. Physical player, trim waist, lean torso. Has the room to fill out.

STRENGTHS: Physical presence at the plate and VERY aggressive. Power present but DNS (did not see) in HS game; HS game too slow for him. Strong and will get stronger. Armsy hitter with two-hand finish and upper-cut follow; swing generates torque and momentum, like spinning a top.

WEAKNESSES: Too many inside-out swings for player of his nature in HS game. Below-average arm action and arm strength make him 1B, LF or DH AL-type player. Average footwork around bag, rough hands; all correctable.  Below-average runner, slow first step, better underway. All should improve with conditioning.

SUMMARY: Better athlete than he’s given credit for, should allow him to grade up other tools to satisfactory ML levels. Power is the thing. Raw and strong; looks uncomfortable with metal bat. Pressing when I saw him; will need to prove his hands work in pro ball. Will never hit for high average, will strike out some, but should be a regular 1B with 20-pls home run power at ML level. Good Luck in future.

Grades:
Hit           30/50
Power    40/70
Run        35/50
Arm       30/40
Field      30/50

Overall Future Potential: 53

What the Grades Mean

Read Jonathan Singleton Q&A
Watch Jonathan Singleton Scouting video
Jonathan Singleton Drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies

(photo: Baseball Beginnings)

Joe Kelly, RHP
UC Riverside (2009 Draft)
Games Seen: 1, Innings Pitched: 2

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Medium build, average height, rangy and athletic frame. Long arms and fingers, narrow legs.

STRENGTHS: Loose and easy arm action and delivery. Smooth and explosive tendencies, FB tops 94, average 92-93. Power Slider 87-88, improving, occasional bite. Above-average athlete for pitcher. Closer mentality.

WEAKNESSES: Inexperience; sometimes falls out of mechanics and front opens. Must develop consistency – correctable with innings and instruction.

SUMMARY: Live arm and great makeup for closer. Father former professional football player. Only third full year as a pitcher. Just scratching the surface. Should become two-pitch closer at ML level.

GRADES
Fastball       45/65
Slider           45/60
Control       40/50
Command  40/50
Delivery     40/50

Overall Future Potential:  56

What the Grades Mean

Read Joe Kelly Q&A
Watch Joe Kelly Scouting video
Joe Kelly Drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals