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	<title>Baseball Beginnings &#187; Alex Balog</title>
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	<link>http://baseballbeginnings.com</link>
	<description>Scouting professional prospects and identifying future major leaguers</description>
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		<title>First look: 2010 Draft Prospects (High School pitchers)</title>
		<link>http://baseballbeginnings.com/2009/09/22/2010-high-school-pitchers</link>
		<comments>http://baseballbeginnings.com/2009/09/22/2010-high-school-pitchers#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:18:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Klima</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[2010 Draft]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[A.J. Vanegas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Aaron Sanchez]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Adam Duke]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Albert Minnis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Alex Balog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Andrew Cole]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Artie Lewicki]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Austin Kubitza]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Brando Tessar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Brandon Moore]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cameron Bedrosian]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chris Roglen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Christian Pfaff]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cito Culver]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cody Buckel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Colby Suggs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[DeAndre Smelter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dylan Covey]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eric Stevens]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Evan Hudson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Forrest Koumas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Griffin Murphy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jake Cole]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jameson Taillon]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jason Adam]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jesse Biddle]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jesus Valdez]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[John Simms]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Jordan Shipers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Josh Mason]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kaleb Cowart]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Karsten Whitson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kevin Gausman]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kevin Ziomek]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kyle Richter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Luke Taylor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mason Justice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nathan Foriest]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nicholas Frey]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nick Kingham]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Peter Tago]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Robbie Aviles]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Robby Rowland]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Sam Wilson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scott Frazier]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Stetson Allie]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Taijuan Walker]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Trevor Teykl]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tyler Shreve]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tyrell Jenkins]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Zach Lee]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://baseballbeginnings.com/?p=2809</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[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 [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>Baseball Beginnings</strong> 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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p>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 <strong>Baseball Beginnings</strong> 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.</p>
<p>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.</p>
<p><span id="more-2809"></span></p>
<p><strong>High School Pitchers (June 2010 draft prospects)</strong></p>
<p><strong>Jason Adam, RHP, 6-2, 225 (Blue Valley HS, Overland Park, KS)</strong><br />
Big body, FB 86-90, CB 72, has room for improvement</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://baseballbeginnings.com/tag/stetson-allie"><span style="color: #0d19d6;">Stetson Allie</span></a>, RHP, 6-4, 225 (St. Edwards HS, Olmsted Falls, OH)</strong><br />
Three-pitch workhorse, sound delivery, plus command: FB 92-94, CH 79, CB 77-80</p>
<p><strong>Robbie Aviles, RHP, 6-4, 190 (Suffern HS, Suffern, NY)</strong><br />
FB 88-92, CB 75-76, CH 83; wiry and loose, needs to corral mechanics, has projection</p>
<p><strong>Alex Balog, RHP, 6-4, 210 (Archbishop Mitty HS, Saratoga, CA)</strong><br />
FB 89-92, big body, closer type, raw, college best and follow from there.</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://baseballbeginnings.com/tag/cameron-bedrosian"><span style="color: #0d19d6;">Cameron Bedrosian</span></a>, RHP, 6-0, 195 (East Coweta HS, Senoia, GA)</strong><br />
Stocky w/high hips, power frame, multiple weapons: FB 90-96, CB 75-76, SL 84-89</p>
<p><strong>Jesse Biddle, LHP, 6-5, 225 (Germantown Friends HS, Philadelphia, PA)</strong><br />
FB 91-93, CB 73, CH 85: Power build, gets extension, live arm, FB run, projects.</p>
<p><strong>Cody Buckel, RHP, 6-1, 170 (Royal HS, Simi Valley, CA)</strong><br />
FB 90-91, gets downhill despite height, aggressive, power lower half. Makes most of it.</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://baseballbeginnings.com/tag/andrew-cole/"><span style="color: #0d19d6;">Andrew Cole</span></a>, RHP, 6-5, 190 (Oviedo HS, Winter Springs, FL)</strong><br />
Tons of projection; premium HS guy, FB 91-94, CB 76, SL 78-81, Split 84-86, CH 83</p>
<p><strong>Jake Cole, RHP, 6-3, 220 (Sahuaro HS, Tucson, AZ)</strong><br />
Good balance and extension, easy life, room for projection. FB 88-90.</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://baseballbeginnings.com/tag/dylan-covey"><span style="color: #0d19d6;">Dylan Covey</span></a>, RHP, 6-2, 190 (Maranatha HS, Pasadena, CA)</strong><br />
Premium! FB 92-96, CB 81-86, CH 81-83, great frame, arm, power; all elements here.</p>
<p><strong>Kaleb Cowart, RHP, 6-3, 190 (Cook County HS, Adel, GA)</strong><br />
Easy, loose gas, aptitude and pitch-ability. FB 90-93, CB 73, SL 87, Cutter 84, CH 75 </p>
<p><strong>Cito Culver, RHP, 6-1, 167 (Irondequit HS, Rochester, NY)</strong><br />
Build is a concern, athleticism is not; raw and quirky actions; FB 90-91.</p>
<p><strong>Adam Duke, RHP, 6-2, 180 (Spanish Fork HS, Salem, UT)</strong><br />
Fast arm, stays closed, good frame, room for development: FB 89-91, CB 75.</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://baseballbeginnings.com/tag/scott-frazier/"><span style="color: #0d19d6;">Scott Frazier</span></a>, RHP, 6-6, 205 (Upland HS, Upland, CA)</strong><br />
FB 89-91 with 87-88 SL, no true off-speed pitch; Great frame still putting all together.</p>
<p><strong>Nicholas Frey, RHP, 6-4, 170 (The Woodlands HS, Woodlands, TX)</strong><br />
Great baseball athlete, also SS: rangy, loose and easy arm &amp; body, FB 89-91 easy.</p>
<p><strong>Nathan Foriest, LHP, 6-2, 190 (Harpeth HS, Kingston Springs, TX)</strong><br />
Lot to like: FB 91-93, SL 83-84, Avg. command, loose body, fast arm, athletic enough</p>
<p><strong><span style="color: #0d19d6;"><a href="http://baseballbeginnings.com/tag/kevin-gausman/"><span style="color: #0d19d6;">Kevin Gausman</span></a></span>, RHP, 6-4, 180 (Grandview High School, Centennial, CO)</strong><br />
Raw stuff in a big body, HS draft in a good round: FB 92-97, SL 94-89</p>
<p><strong>Evan Hudson, RHP, 6-6, 240 (Bothell HS, Bothwell, WA)</strong><br />
Big body, FB 90-91, SL 85-87, has room for conditioning and improvement; follow.</p>
<p><strong>Tyrell Jenkins, RHP, 6-4, 175 (Henderson HS, Henderson, TX)</strong><br />
Lanky, lose, live arm, lots of projection, great athletic. FB 88-91, CB 76, SL 81-84</p>
<p><strong>Mason Justice, RHP, 6-4, 185 (Holland Hall HS, Tulsa OK)</strong><br />
Frame has projection, FB 89-91, occasional plus arm-speed, room for development</p>
<p><strong>Nick Kingham, RHP, 6-5, 205 (Sierra Vista HS, Las Vegas, NV)</strong><br />
Good body, arm speed/action. FB 89-91. Follow.</p>
<p><strong>Forrest Koumas, RHP, 5-11, 190 (Elgin HS, Lugoff, SC)</strong><br />
Little guy, max effort, produces some power, FB 88-91, SL 83-84, size is concern</p>
<p><strong>Austin Kubitza, RHP, 6-5, 185 (Colleyville Heritage HS, Colleyville, TX)</strong><br />
Great frame, loose arm, a little raw, much projection: FB 88-92.</p>
<p><strong>Zach Lee, RHP, 6-4, 190 (McKinney HS, McKinney, TX)</strong><br />
College pitcher now, FB 87-89, SL 80, good body, has projection, should follow.</p>
<p><strong>Artie Lewicki, RHP, 6-3, 195 (St. Joseph HS, Wyckoff, NJ)</strong><br />
FB 89-90, good body, college best, should have some projection.</p>
<p><strong>Josh Mason, RHP, 6-3, 180 (Crespi HS, Woodland Hills, CA)</strong><br />
FB 86-89, Division I college pitcher for certain</p>
<p><strong>Albert Minnis, LHP, 6-0, 190 (Lawrence HS, Lawrence, KS)</strong><br />
Four-pitch LH starter, broad thighs and frame, FB 85-88, CH 74-76, best weapons</p>
<p><strong>Brandon Moore, RHP, 6-2, 235 (Van Buren HS, Van Buren, ARK)</strong><br />
FB 86-91, CH 77, big body, should be Div. 1 pitcher out of HS, follow-up player</p>
<p><strong>Griffin Murphy, LHP, 6-3, 200 (Redlands East Valley, Highland, CA)</strong><br />
Big body, arm slower on day I saw, FB 84-89, CB 75-76, has room for more.</p>
<p><strong>Christian Pfaff, RHP. 6-4, 200 (RS Central HS, Rutherfordton, NC)</strong><br />
Live, raw arm lacks polish and control, FB 89-92: follow</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://baseballbeginnings.com/tag/kyle-richter/"><span style="color: #0d19d6;">Kyle Richter</span></a>, LHP, 6-4, 200 (Santa Margarita HS, Orange County, CA)</strong><br />
Good frame, rushes some but creates power/deception, quality arm: FB 88-92, CH 72-74</p>
<p><strong>Chris Roglen, RHP, 6-3, 200 (Rocky Mountain HS, Fort Collins, CO)</strong><br />
Has projection in arm and frame, FB 89-91 w/life, CB 71, SL 77, can be HS draft    </p>
<p><strong>Robby Rowland, RHP, 6-6, 205 (Cloverdale HS, Cloverdale, CA)</strong><br />
Inexperienced, got the right body, 90-91 FB, projection. Interesting.</p>
<p><strong>Aaron Sanchez, RHP, 6-3, 170 (Barstow HS, Barstow, CA)</strong><br />
Lanky frame yet to mature, FB 89-91, inconsistent in Fall 09. Oregon sign.</p>
<p><strong>Jordan Shipers, LHP, 5-10, 160 (South Harrison HS, Bethany, MO)</strong><br />
Limited FB power, 87-89, better CH, CB improving. Spring follow, college best</p>
<p><strong>Tyler Shreve, RHP, 6-4, 215 (Redlands East Valley, Redlands, CA)</strong><br />
FB 89-92 at Area Codes; ineffective at Aflac; would like to see again.</p>
<p><strong>John Simms, RHP, 6-3, 190 (College Park HS, The Woodlands, TX)</strong><br />
Good arm speed, good body, closed delivery, lands good: FB 88-90, SL 79-81</p>
<p><strong>DeAndre Smelter, RHP, 6-2, 205 (Tattnall Square Academy, Macon GA)</strong><br />
Stocky and strong body; could be top closer; FB 89-94, SL 82-84. Good HS draft.</p>
<p><strong>Eric Stevens, RHP, 6-5, 215 (Don Bosco Prep HS, Pompton Lakes, NJ)</strong><br />
Good body and actions, lots of promise: FB 88-91, SL 73-76.</p>
<p><strong>Colby Suggs, RHP, 6-0, 230 (Sulphur Springs HS, Sulphur Springs, TX)</strong><br />
Joe Blanton-body, FB 89-91, CB 77, CH 84, some pitch-ability</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://baseballbeginnings.com/tag/peter-tago"><span style="color: #0d19d6;">Peter Tago</span></a>, RHP, 6-1, 160 (Dana Hills HS, Laguna Niguel, CA)</strong><br />
FB 92-94 from high slot, 90-92 from low slot; Power hips, fast arm.</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://baseballbeginnings.com/tag/jameson-taillon"><span style="color: #0d19d6;">Jameson Taillon</span></a>, RHP, 6-7, 230 (The Woodlands HS, Woodlands, TX)</strong><br />
Premium guy: Size, FB 93-96, CB 83, CH 76. Long, lean and whippy.</p>
<p><strong>Luke Taylor, RHP, 6-5, 190 (Woodinville HS, Woodinville, WA)</strong><br />
Long, lean and raw, FB 85-87, college now, has arm speed to indicate projection</p>
<p><strong>Brando Tessar, RHP, 6-1, 185 (Chaminade HS, Simi Valley, CA)</strong><br />
FB 88-90, SL 86, college pitcher now, check on in future.</p>
<p><strong>Trevor Teykl, RHP, 6-7, 215 (Kempner HS, Sugar Land, TX)</strong><br />
Frame projects, should develop more power, should follow: FB 87-88, SL 72-73</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://baseballbeginnings.com/tag/taijuan-walker/"><span style="color: #0d19d6;">Taijuan Walker</span></a>, RHP, 6-5, 200 (Yucaipa HS, Yucaipa, CA)</strong><br />
Great frame, power in arm and legs; FB 90-92, SL 81, CH 77; has projection.</p>
<p><strong>Sam Wilson, LHP, 6-1, 195 (El Dorado HS, Albuquerque, NM)</strong><br />
Great 2-way college guy; like as bullpen arm after college, FB 85-87, life.</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://baseballbeginnings.com/tag/karsten-whitson"><span style="color: #0d19d6;">Karsten Whitson</span></a>, RHP, 6-4, 190 (Chipley HS, Chipley, FL)</strong><br />
Fast arm but a little stiff; FB 91-94, CB 81, SL 81-84, CH 75-77, good HS draft/polish.</p>
<p><strong>Jesus Valdez, RHP, 6-3, 185 (Hueneme HS, Oxnard, CA)</strong><br />
FB 89-92, great lower half, strong hips and thighs, hard FB action.</p>
<p><strong><a href="http://baseballbeginnings.com/tag/aj-vanegas/"><span style="color: #0d19d6;">AJ Vanegas</span></a>, RHP, 6-3, 200 (Redwood Christian HS, Alameda, CA)</strong><br />
Premium RH power arm, FB 90-94, SL 79-81, needs 3<sup>rd</sup> pitch, great frame</p>
<p><strong>Kevin Ziomek, LHP, 6-2, 180 (Amherst Regional HS, Amherst, MA)</strong><br />
Lanky, fast arm, uses back leg, HS draft or Fr. D.1 starter: FB 87-91, CH 72-74</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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	</item>
		<item>
		<title>Area Codes Day 2, Game 4: Brodzinski Bounces Back</title>
		<link>http://baseballbeginnings.com/2009/08/06/area-codes-day-2-game-4-brodzinski-bounces-back</link>
		<comments>http://baseballbeginnings.com/2009/08/06/area-codes-day-2-game-4-brodzinski-bounces-back#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 06 Aug 2009 21:28:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>John Klima</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[2010 Draft]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[A.J. Vanegas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Alex Balog]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Area Code Games]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Brano Tessar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cito Culver]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Greg Brozinski]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Joc Peerson]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kenny Travis]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Kevin Ziomek]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nick Merullo]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ryan Keller]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ryon Healy]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://baseballbeginnings.com/?p=2307</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Catcher Greg Brodzinski took a fastball from A.J. Vanegas off his hand, but stayed in the game. In his second at-bat, Brodzinski showed some of the muscle he showed in BP on Wednesday when he made firm contact on a line drive base hit to left field. Brodzinski took second base and Sean Coyle, a [...]]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Catcher Greg Brodzinski took a fastball from <a href="http://baseballbeginnings.com/tag/aj-vanegas/"><span style="color: #0d19d6;">A.J. Vanegas </span></a>off his hand, but stayed in the game. In his second at-bat, Brodzinski showed some of the muscle he showed in BP on Wednesday when he made firm contact on a line drive base hit to left field. Brodzinski took second base and Sean Coyle, a speedy if sleight 5-9 right-handed hitting second baseman, went from first to third.</p>
<p>Brodzinski never got a chance to get a good swing against Vanegas (Redwood Christian HS, Alameda, Calif.), a hard-throwing right-hander who worked from 89-94 with his fastball and threw a 79-81 slider. Vanegas, who has a durable frame (6-3, 200), did a nice job staying in his mechanics and producing power and will be a draft quality talent out of high school.</p>
<p><span id="more-2307"></span></p>
<p>Yankees starter Kevin Ziomek (Amherst Regional HS, Amherst, Mass.), a left-hander who is not as physically imposing and does not possess the same put-away fastball, still flashed life with his 87-89 fastball and fast, lanky frame that shows room for future projection. He mixed in a change-up at 72 and a curveball at 74. He&#8217;s got a chance to be draft quality out of high school, but would compete at the college level from the start.</p>
<p>Three San Fernando Valley pitchers followed Vanegas to the mound.  Right-hander Brando Tessar (Chaminade HS, Simi Valley, Calif.) topped at 90 and threw a slider at 85. <a href="http://baseballbeginnings.com/tag/ryon-healy"><span style="color: #0d19d6;">Ryon Healy</span></a> (Crespi HS, West Hills, Calif.) pitched with his fastball at 84-86. Cody Buckel, a 6-1, 170, right-hander from Royal HS (Simi Valley, Calif.) hit 91 and pitched at 87-89. Ryan Keller (West Ranch HS, Castaic, Calif.) pitched with his fastball at 87-89.</p>
<p>Among Brewers hitters, Alex Balog (Archbishop Mitty HS, Saratoga, Calif.) and Joc Pederson (Palo Alto HS, Palo Alto, Calif.) each had solid contact singles. Kenny Travis (Edison HS, Fresno, Calif.) showed his speed to run down a fly ball near the left field corner. He survived a loud collision with the ball and stayed in the game.</p>
<p>Yankee outfielder Cito Culver (Irondequit HS, Rochester, NY) is a raw talent who went in and out of his swing during the game, gapping a double to left-center field in the ninth inning.</p>
<p>Catcher Nick Merullo drove in Culver in with a sharp single that produced a very clean and strong gunshot off the bat. Merullo (Daniel Hand HS, Madison, CT) is from fourth-generational New England baseball blood. His father, Matt, caught for several professional seasons and played in the majors with the White Sox.  His grandfather, Len, played for the Chicago Cubs in the 1940s. Great-grandfather Lenny Merullo was a hard-nosed shortstop who later parlayed his playing career into a successful scouting career. Lenny Merullo scouted for the Cubs and later the Major League Scouting Buerau. He was a charter member of the Cape Cod League Hall of Fame. Matt is a scout for the Arizona Diamondbacks.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
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