Two examples spring to mind, most famously Dan Haren, and more recently, A’s minor leaguer Steve Kleen.

Here’s a look at Frazier on the mound and then we’ll break him down.

Frazier showed at 90-91 at the Area Code Games with a slider at 87 that would profile as his main secondary weapon. In the Fall, I saw Frazier pitching at 89-91 again with a bump to 92. He also mixed in a change-up at 79 and a softer curveball at 73-74.

At 6-6, 205, Frazier is one of the tallest prospects in Southern California’s 2010 class. Even if he doesn’t get taller, he will get stronger. With a wood bat, the right-handed hitter showed armsy raw power when he got two balls out to center field at Angel Stadium during Angels Elite BP. We’ll have to see how Frazier’s career progresses, but from a pro scout’s perspective, I want to see this guy keep hitting with wood for the next three years. If he develops as a hitter and turns some of that raw power into power frequency then, along with his arm, that could be a prototype pro right fielder.

Then again, if Frazier makes a mechanical adjustment and finds more power and consistency in his arm, his future could be on the mound.

Time will tell what his projection brings, which is one reason why college baseball may be a very good fit for a player like this.

Stefan Sabol, C
6-1, 195  B/T: R/R
(Aliso Niguel HS, Aliso Niguel, CA)
Games seen: 6, Innings: 40

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Durable athletic frame frame, strong hips and thighs and still filling out.

STRENGTHS: Above-average speed, good first step. Handsy hitter, hard to beat with velocity on the inner half. Very good athlete for position. Loose, quick athletic actions.

WEAKNESSES: Needs to improve catching defense – needs to use body to block balls, drops to his knees too many times, hurries throws before feet are set, throws drift on him.  Needs to show he can go to right field more consistently in coming years.

SUMMARY: Should be above-average offensive player with at least average defensive skills if he stays behind the plate in the coming years. Strikes me as flashy player – wants you to know he’s there.

GRADES: (Present/Future)
Hit           35/60
Power    30/50
Run        60/60
Throw   40/50
Field      30/50

Overall Future Potential: 54

What the Grades Mean

Jimmy Allen (5-11, 175, R/R, INF, Rancho Buena Vista)
Allen has the potential to be an offensive-oriented infielder who would most likely project at second or third base. His hands are his best weapon and he hits with a straightaway approach. He tripled to deep center field in Angel Stadium. Allen has room for physical projection, but might probably be better suited for the college development cycle right now than he is for the pro cycle. He has a slight hitch in his trigger that will need to be smoothed out as he gains more experience using wood. As a hitter, he understands how to throw the bat head out. Defensively, Allen’s arm should grade up to average on the pro side. His range is average. His secondary tools would be speed and versatility. He’s been timed at 4.1 to 4.4 from the right-side and also made strides as a hitter from the first inter-squad in September to the final game in November.

Cory Hahn (5-10, 160, L/R, OF, Mater Dei)
Hahn began physically filling out this fall and looked stronger and more comfortable with wood than he did at the Area Codes in August. Hahn’s hands are his best tool and will give him a chance at a pro career despite his limited physicality. He’s a handsy guy, so he won’t have to always get it all to get one out of the park. But Hahn will need to show that he can handle hard velocity with wood as he moves up. It’s true of any player, but guys with modest size usually have to work twice as hard to dispel the notion. Hahn’s got a chance to do that with a swing that is tailored for the gaps and occasional power. He’s a fast amateur player, but can be an average pro runner and can help himself if he can trim a second or two off his out-of-the-box and base stealing times and improve his base running. He’s got an average pro scale arm, but he helps himself with a quick transfer and release from the outfield and throwing accuracy.  Hahn isn’t a case of physical projection as much as a matter of how strong he can get without losing the quickness in his hands. It helps him tremendously to be a left-handed hitter.
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Stefan Sabol (6-1, 195, C, Aliso Niguel)
Sabol didn’t do anything to hurt himself. He’s positioned himself well for the 2010 draft as a catcher who is a high school version of what Craig Biggio was coming out of college. That means a guy with a modest frame and strength who is a very good runner for his position. He has very fast hands with wood, but doesn’t always trust them enough to let the pitches get to him, an adjustment he’ll have to make when he signs. In time, Sabol should develop modest power, but I wouldn’t expect him to be a middle-of-the-order bat. He’s an offensive player first, which suggests that he could be a candidate to become a second baseman, as Biggio did. He’s an average thrower behind the plate on the pro scale and will need defensive polishing as a pro. All things considered, many teams are interested in this package and Sabol should find himself in a good spot in June 2010.

Jake Jelmini (6-3, 200, 1B, Mira Costa)
Jelmini has a large frame and the potential for left-handed power, which will be enough for some scouts to follow him, but it might not be enough to get him drafted because his hand speed with wood wasn’t on a level with some of this team’s better hitters. With that said, I advise caution. I saw Ryan Wheeler in high school quite a bit. These two guys are very similar. In high school, Wheeler was a big body left-handed hitter who lacked experience. Jelmini has the same look. Jelmini has a chance to develop into a left-handed power threat, but he needs experience, at-bats and conditioning against good pitching. Right now, this player is probably best suited for college. But it’s a bad idea to write off a high school kid who can pole a ball to right field with wood in the fall before his senior year of metal bat ball. There is physical projection left on this frame and the chance to develop valuable left-handed power.  

Frankie Christian (6-0, 180, L/L, OF, Upland)
A stocky left-handed hitter, Christian helped himself with athletic looks at his skill set but has to continue to weed out some inconsistencies that hinder his game. Gifted with an Eric Young type body, Christian has showed the ability to have fast hands with wood, but is learning to maintain a consistent stroke that works for him. He sometimes cuts his swing off, which is something he’ll need to smooth out as he goes. Christian has a very good arm for a guy with a modest frame, though he sometimes won’t get the same extension when he’s hurrying a throw. He’s going to be a good college player and might be best suited to the college development cycle at this point. If he can improve some skills and his tools shine though, he has a chance to be a very good player.
Watch Frankie Christian Video

Henry Owens (6-5, 185, LHP, Edison)
Another 2011 draft prospect, Owens is no secret to area scouts. His frame is lanky and highly projectable, but Owens is learning to pitch while going through growth cycles. That’s not an easy thing to do, especially as a left-hander, and it’s a factor that has to be considered when scouting Owens. This fall, he was 88-90 with his fastball and 75-76 with his curveball, but consistency in his delivery was an issue. He’s a work-in-progress who clearly has more power in his arm than he is presently capable of getting out of it. Owens is learning as he goes and his body language will often reveal what he thinks of his current performance. He is a follow and it’s too early to say if he is a college guy or a pro candidate out of high school next year.

Kyle Richter (6-4, 200, LHP, Santa Margarita)
Richter is a long and loose left-hander with the right body for physical projection. He’s inexperienced but there’s lot remaining in his arm. He pitched at 88-92 with his fastball with an occasional bump to 93 with sink and tail away from right-handed hitters. His breaking ball has the makings of a promising secondary weapon and there’s enough promise in the change-up to allow one to imagine a three-pitch pro starter with upside. He’ll be a follow into the spring and the left-handed arm power gives him a chance to be drafted well out of high school.
Watch Kyle Richter Video

Andrew Thurman (6-3, 195, RHP, Orange Lutheran)
Thurman is committed to UC Irvine and will fit in well. He’s not a power-oriented right-hander, though his 90-91 fastball velocity will play very well for him in college. He probably won’t get much taller, but he can get stronger, and this will complement his other weapon. Thurman’s main tool is going to be his fastball movement and command, and as he ages, he will better learn to manipulate those abilities to create outs. His control was inconsistent at times this fall and he seemed a bit gassed at the end of the fall, but Thurman should be one of the better high school pitchers in Orange County this year and will have a chance to see what else he’s got in his body as a college pitcher.  

Taijuan Walker (6-5, 200, RHP, Yucaipa)
Walker helped himself immensely this fall, showing a live arm and physical projection, and also several consistent outings. In his final outing, Walker pitched at 92 with his fastball, though his body hints that there is more power in there. Walker has featured a 78 curveball, and an 80 change-up, with a whippy windup that produces a pretty clean arm action and sink action on his fastball. He has a good understanding of getting extension and on top of the ball. He could only be getting a taste of what he might be able to accomplish.
Watch Taijuan Walker Video

Peter Tago (6-2, 180, RHP, Dana Hills)
Tago was no secret when the fall season began and he’s no secret after it. He waded through a bout of inconsistency late in the summer and early in the fall before finding himself again by raising his arm slot. Tago has an incredibly loose arm and a whippy action paired with a body that is still growing. I wouldn’t be surprised if this growth cycle has played a little havoc with his mechanics. When Tago puts it together, he’s going to have electric stuff across the board and he is an early-round talent in 2010. His fastball sits at 91-92, and when he’s working well, it has hard run against right-handed hitters down in the zone. His change-up at 83 will develop into a weapon for him, though he’s figuring out the finer points of it as an amateur. He also has a slider at 74, which could become another weapon for him. Tago’s frame indicates that he’s still growing, and when that cycle is complete and he adds the strength, this should be an inning eating, front-of-the-rotation mainstay.
Watch Peter Tago Video

Dylan Covey (6-2, 190, RHP, Maranatha)
The best prospect from the 2009 Angel Elite group, we’ve covered him extensively.

Dylan Covey scouting report
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These summaries have been compiled from personal scouting done this fall. In each case, the players have been seen multiple times. 

Be sure to come back Thanksgiving Thursday for the completion of the list.

Chad Lewis (6-3, 195, R/R, 3B-1B, Marina HS)
A power-hitting third baseman prospect, Lewis is well regarded among area scouts for his combination of size and power. He will be drafted out of high school for his bat. Lewis has the durable frame of a corner infielder (6-3, 195) and he will get stronger. In his final wood BP at Angel Stadium, the right-handed hitting Lewis got a ball out to about 390 feet to right field, a pretty good display of potential power to all fields. Defensively, he is adequate and will need polish upon signing. He has average arm strength and accuracy and is a below-average runner with a slow first step. He may end up at first base as a professional, and as he proceeds he will need to prove his hands are adequate enough to defend against velocity on the inner half while continuing to develop the right-handed power that will determine his future.

Mike Lorenzen (6-3, 180, R/R, OF, Fullerton)
Lorenzen is no secret nationally. We’ve covered him here before and will do so in the future. Lorenzen projects as an offensively-oriented corner outfielder. He has a long, athletic frame that has physical projection and should develop more power. He should develop into an above-average contact hitter. He won’t be a clogger, but he won’t be a burner, and as a zillion clueless sportscasters will note in the future, “He runs well for a big guy.” His arm is his secondary tool, which should grade out above-average down the road. Has a chance to be a multi-dimensional talent at the top level.
Watch Mike Lorenzen Video

Vincent Velasquez (6-3, 180, S/R, INF-RHP, Garey)
Gifted with a tall, athletic frame and long legs that indicate physical projection, Velasquez is an interesting case. He has the strongest arm among position players, evident in pre-game and in long-toss in the outfield. He throws with a nice and easy arm action, which makes one wonder if his future may be on the mound. As a hitter, Velasquez likes to get extended, which offers potential for power. But he didn’t really answer the question this fall if he will be prepared enough to sign as a hitter following the draft. As a switch-hitter with a big arm, the right body, and the chance to hit for power at a corner, he’s going to get the chance to find out how good he can be and what position he should play.

Cody Doyle (6-2, 202, L/R, C, South Hills)
Doyle should be a very good Division I college catcher out of the gate and could play his way onto more of a national level if he is offensively productive in college. He’s not from the Kyle Skipworth model of big-body catchers, but Doyle did show an understanding of doing what professional catchers need to do in order to hang around the game for a long time. He kept his wood stroke simple and straightaway. He did this with more frequency later in the season than he did earlier in the season, which is a positive sign for him. There’s not a lot of power right now, but he’ll get stronger in college. He’s very quiet behind the plate with soft hands and is very good at blocking balls in the dirt. He improved offensively from September to November.

Derek Campbell (6-1, 170, R/R, INF, Mater Dei)
Campbell is a wiry and lean middle infielder with lots of physical projection who has yet to develop the old-man strength that will help determine what kind of an offensive player he will become. At this stage, Campbell looks like a very good Division I candidate who could play every day from the start and put himself on the road to the Cape and find his pro path in college. But Campbell improved over the fall, showing the ability to shorten his stroke with a wood bat, and if that progress continues, his draft interest is sure to rise. Defensively, he has very smooth and graceful actions, which bodes well for staying at shortstop. His arm strength is average with projection to move up a grade, and he has a quick release paired with good range and athletic actions. Like Jiovanni Mier in 2009, Campbell is a shortstop with restless feet, which is a great sign. Overall, Campbell is a worthwhile player to keep tabs on this spring.

Phillip Evans (5-11, 185, R/R, INF, La Costa Canyon)
Evans is reminiscent of 2010 draft prospect Tony Wolters for his size and skills. Evans, a 2011 draft prospect, has a stocky body and strong features in his hands and shoulders. He will have to prove that he is not an early peaking player. He makes hard contact with wood and is an average runner on the pro scale, but it’s hard to envision much more speed available to him. Evans is a sure-handed infielder with soft hands and a nose for the ball. He transfers the ball and gets rid of it quickly and should develop an average arm on the pro scale. He has played his way onto the radar for the 2011 draft and will be followed.

Eric Snyder (6-0, 185, OF, Edison)
Another 2011 draft prospect who is no secret among area scouts, Snyder is a lanky left-handed hitter who is long way from physical maturity. That projection paired with a gap-to-gap swing that should produce some power from a wide stance is enough to keep him on the watch lists. He projects as an average to slightly above-average runner on the pro scale, which gives him a second weapon, and his arm qualifies as a third tool that could be above average on the pro scale. He’ll be a follow for the 2011 draft and will probably find his way onto the national lists. Snyder didn’t do anything to hurt himself this fall, and he looked a little gassed in November. That’s not a knock on him – he wasn’t the only one – they are prospects but they are still kids.

Austin Reed (6-4, 205, RHP, Rancho Cucamonga)
A right-hander with a good frame, Reed pitched at 88-90 with his fastball, 72 with his slider and 77 with his change-up. He battled through bouts of inconsistencies this fall. Reed doesn’t have the pure power to be considered a top player at his position right now, but his fastball does have some sink and movement on it, which will be a weapon for him. He’s a good candidate to be a Division I pitcher and will help his case as he increases his strength and learns how to maximize his fastball movement. He’s lined up to follow his brother, Addison, to San Diego State where three years of training and development could expand his ceiling.

Scott Frazier (6-6, 205, RHP, Upland)
Frazier is an interesting case. At 6-6, he should have more pitching power in his frame, but his fastball remained at 90-91 and his curveball at 71 during the fall. It’s hard to imagine that Frazier has additional height to come, but there is room on his frame for more muscle. Additional flexibility would also help him tap his potential. There’s a case to be made that Frazier could be a corner outfielder. In batting practice at Angel Stadium, the right-handed hitter with the wide stance muscled two balls out, including one to straight away center field, at the foot of the rocks. That’s about a 410-415 shoot with wood. It will be interesting to see what road Frazier takes, but you have to wonder if you took that frame, that power, and put it at first or right and gave him some at-bats, what you might have.

Austin Hedges (6-0, 175, C-INF, JSerra)
Hedges might be the best pure hitter from the 2011 draft class on this Angels Elite team. Hedges has a very solid hitting foundation with quiet hands that are strong and that he keeps back. His contact is consistently hard in batting practice and in games. He isn’t ready to grow into power yet, and his approach is basic and professional. His arm projects to be above-average on the pro scale. Third base is probably an unlikely destination for him based on limited range and a limited first step, but his soft hands could carry over behind the plate. His offense will punch his ticket and Hedges helped himself in Fall 2009 putting him on the right track to be a guy for 2011.

William Swanner (6-3, 185, R/R, C, La Costa Canyon)
Swanner has a durable frame for a catcher and should have a tad bit more physical projection and strength. Offensively, he hits off a sound and balanced foundation, with a firm front side and two-handed finish. He has a good offensive approach and has the potential for right-handed power from a premium position. On the pro scale, Swanner looks like a guy who would grade out as an above average defender and thrower with above-average power for his position. It’ll be interesting to see which route he chooses after high school, and he helped himself in the fall ball season.

(NOTE: I know that he has a pitching brother named Michael that I didn’t see. Not a slight – I just missed him. I’ll track him down in the future.)

Walker’s outing Wednesday at Angels Elite was one of his best of the fall. His fastball sat at 91-92 with hard, late life low in the strike zone. He delivers the ball from a whippy frame and generates productive torque with his across-the-body motion. Walker mixed in a curveball at 82, with signs of shape and depth, and was more consistent with it than when I first saw him in September. His change-up at 80 also has promise, though it isn’t ready to take into a pro game just yet. Have a look.  

Walker was relatively unknown outside his home community, Yucaipa High School, where scouts flocked last year to see third baseman Matt Davidson. Listed at 6-5, 200, Walker is far from physical maturity. His arm action is loose and easy for a large pitcher and it’s easy to estimate that there’s more power in his arm to come. He throws from a high ¾ slot, which is a comfortable fit for his frame and gives him a desirable arm action.

Walker is still inexperienced and learning how to use his lower half, but he made progress during the fall season in terms of keeping his mechanics together while physically maturing and figuring it out the bump. He’s added interest and has a chance to go pretty good in June. Just remember you read it here first.    

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Richter has the right frame for this kind of work. Listed at 6-4, 200, Richter physically projects and offers the promise of more power to go on this whippy build. In this outing for Angels Elite, Richter pitched at 88-92 and bumped 93. He’ll be a guy Baseball Beginnings checks up on again to see what kind of growth the kid gives us between now and the draft. He was primarily pumping fastballs in this outing, with a change-up at 72-74. His arm extension and frame should give him a chance to develop a put-away curveball. At this stage, he’s not as far along as Matzek was, but it doesn’t mean he’s not a prospect. Richter didn’t pitch very much last season, so you don’t know how far he’ll catch up before the draft unless you spend some time scouting him.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Power build in upper body; strong shoulders and chest. Power build in lower half, long legs. Durable body built for long haul; plenty of physical projection should be left.

STRENGTHS: Over-the-top delivery, four-seam fastball to 96, two-seam fastball at 92-94, commands both halves at 94 with easy motion, lacks a max-effort delivery. Power curveball 83-86, commands at 86, both halves, cuts plate in half, attacks hitter’s side, not afraid to throw it any time of the count, aggressive but calm demeanor. Change-up at 80-83 is third best pitch – second best pitch for most guys – commands at 76-78, same arm slot as fastball. Repeats delivery and has outstanding balance and coordination for a power pitcher. Excellent arm speed, gets extension, gets on top, creates power downhill place. Lands well, creates deception, has velocity, control and body control. Like his aggressive instincts.

WEAKNESSES: Does need to maintain big body type; did a good job conditioning over summer; showed from Aflac to Angels Elite. No glaring weaknesses as an amateur; needs to go out as pro and begin facing better competition on a routine basis to discover what needs to be refined. In some high school games this spring, struggled to find consistent release points on fastball and curveball. Usually self-corrects in game.

SUMMARY: Power curveball is the seperating factor, pitch has the chance to be the best at his position in the major leagues. The most complete HS RHP available for 2010 Draft. I believe that this starter has the potential to have four above-average major league pitches in the coming years.

GRADES (Present/Future)
Fastball:       70/70
Curveball:   60/80
Slider:           50/60
CH:                 40/60
Control:       40/60

Overall Future Potential (OFP):  66

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What the Grades Mean

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What was left on Angels Elite was an opportunity to get prolonged looks at some guys you might not otherwise get to see.

Among the 2010 draft prospects, right-hander Dylan Covey worked a tune-up inning with his usual array of power stuff: fastball 93-96, curveball hard at 86. He threw a slider here for fun, at 89. You have to have sympathy for the junior college guy he was facing.

Among the 2011 prospects, left-hander Henry Owens (Edison) looked better in this inning than he looked when Baseball Beginnings last saw him in the inter-squad in September. Owens is listed at 6-5, 185 and is putting his pieces together. In this look, Owens seemed to have intentionally slowed his pace down to better control his mechanics. The result was better control of his fastball, which he pitched at from 87-89 with run away from right-handers. His 74-76 curveball was for strikes, but loopy and not hard. He did stay closed better this time and seemed cognizant of what he needs to improve on. Watch Owens play long toss in the outfield before a game and it’s evident he has a big arm. We’ll keep tabs on his progression.

Left-handed hitting outfielder Eric Snyder (Edison) had an inside-out swing opposite-field base hit and later executed a double steal as the lead runner with another 2011 prospect, Austin Hedges (JSerra). Hedges is a guy who gives you everything hard in BP and plate discipline in a game. He’s got good hands at this stage, which gives him a chance to have power potential. His arm is already an asset. We’ll have more on him as we progress. Another guy who has showed well the two times BB has seen him is catcher Cody Doyle. He a left-handed hitter with an easy stroke with wood, probably best suited to be a college player at this point to add strength.

Among other players in this game, Frankie Christian (Upland) will be a turned-in player for scouts in his area. Christian has strong and fast hands but will probably have to quiet his hands as he goes up the ladder. He has an Eric Young-type body, stocky and strong, and could be a candidate to turn pro after high school.

Other pitchers in this game included Andrew Thurman (Orange Lutheran) and Austin Reed (Rancho Cucamonga). Thurman and Reed, both right-handers, pitched at 89-91 and struggled with command at times.  Both should project as Division I college pitchers at this stage of their development.

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He’s consistent in his gap-to-gap approach. He’s not going to have 80 power, but he might have 60 power. He’s not going to be an 80 hitter, but he might be a 70 hitter. In either case, that’s a pretty good bet on a player. Lorenzen is also an average to slightly-better than average runner. His arm is above average, but not in the off-the-charts major league range. You may think I’m nit picking this kid, but in reality, these are some pretty high compliments I’m giving him.

In this video, it’s not until the end of the round that he starts to feel the swing work. It is after a long summer and it’s fair to say he’s a little creaky. Not everyone feels perfect on the first day of Fall Ball. 

In this outing, Covey located and commanded his fastball at 92-94 with a bump to 95. His curveball is his money pitch. He threw it for strikes as hard as 86 mph here, with shape, depth and power. Covey’s confidence in his curveball is a rarity for high school pitchers. He will throw it behind in the count if he wants to. He also has a change-up. His third best pitch would be the second best pitch for many other pitchers. The change-up was 81-83 here, consistent to what it was at Aflac, and at this stage it’s going to be a useful weapon for him when he turns pro.

Finally, Covey does have some physical projection, especially in his legs. He’s listed at 6-2 now, but I’m not convinced that he won’t grow an inch or two more based on the musculature of his lower body. Covey is rare among high school prospects. Only a few guys in every draft – high school and college combined – can be termed as pitchers with the ability to control power stuff and not just artificially enhanced pushers performing for radar guns with god-awful arm action. Covey gives you the big three delivery points: he gets on top of the ball, he gets arm extension as he comes across, and he pounds the strike zone with downhill action. It’s fun to watch a guy like this coming up.

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