Amateur Talent Discussion

[Mainge]

My brothers HS team played against 1B/RHP Michael Kelly today, who's one of the best draft prospects in the country as a RHP. Actually think he's around 6-7 in the top 100 HS Prospects. He's committed to UF.

He's 6'5, looked about 190ish, and sat around 90-91 and hit 95 a few times. That's actually down from about 92-93 a year ago but it was his first start of the spring so that's probably normal. He also also snapped off a few nice curves that were between 75-78. Ended up walking 3 in 4 1/3r and hit 2 batters. It's easy to see why he's a top guy as he's pretty tall and lanky and is going to fill out.

Also playing in this game was P/SS Tyler Green who is also projected to go in the mid/late rounds (over heard a scout from Boston say 30-35). He's also tall and lanky. He threw 2 innings and sat mostly 89-90, hitting 92 twice, with a 70mph slow curve. Over heard the scout from St. Louis say he won't stay at SS, too big. He had the walk-off triple. He signed with Georgia.

Pitching for us was UF signee Bobby Poyner, 6-foot lefty. He sat between 86-88 and hit 90 once. His change was at 79 every time and had a 74mph slider/curve thing. Walked 1 and gave up 1 hit in 4 innings, the hit being a solo homerun by Kelly.

Really awesome game between the #1 and #2 teams in Palm Beach County.

[Mainge]

Oh, and I also saw Duke signee OF/RHP Andrew Istler for his only at-bat on Wednesday where he took the first pitch he saw and put it about 440 over the CF fence.

[Mainge]

Saw two more pitchers today who are projected to go in the first third of the draft. Caught RHP Kyle Smith for a few innings. Sat consistently at 91 and touched 92 twice, his curve was at 79. His velocity dipped into the 80's during his 6th and final inning. Walked one and struckout 10 in those 6 innings. He was certainly much more polished and advanced than Michael Kelly but not as tall and probably won't fill out as much. He is signed to Florida.

I caught RHP Ryan Harris' last inning. He was at 89 but I asked a Padre scout whe was at earlier and he said 91. Didn't get a chance to see much, hopefully I'll see him down the road. He's signed to Florida. He's also a ginger.

Saw two at-bats of Jr. Catcher Phyldrick Llewellyn. He's committed to FIU but turned down offers from Virginia and NC State. He hit two first pitch doubles, one nearly going out against Harris. He threw a kid out but I have no clue what his POP time was and couldn't see any of the stop watches the scouts were using. He wasn't challenged at all behind the plate so not much to report defensively.

The main attraction was a kid who topped out at 97 twice and then fell to 92 for the rest of the inning. I'm still trying to find out more on him.

Finally, I've seen OF Jordan Brinson over the last few games. 6'2" OFer who was 2-3 off Mike Kelly. He also ran a 6.7 60 a few weeks ago. He tops out at 90 when on the mound. As of now he's a bubble draftee.

[Todd]

Whats going on with Wittles? Is he still in major dodo?

[Mainge]

I have no idea who Wittles is.

[MiamiHomer]

FIU kid with the hit streak. And it's Wittels, Todd.

[Mainge]

Oh yeah. Ask Bobbob.

[Todd]

What if I dont want to ask Bob squared?

[MiamiHomer]

Then google it...

[Mainge]

To add to the first post, Parker Danciu played in that game who is apparently committed to Florida. The Post said he throws 86 and tops out at 89 from the left side. He played LF and hit a piss rod over the CFer.

Wish I would have known who that was at the time.

[Bobbob1313]

What if I dont want to ask Bob squared?

The entire baseball team is refusing to talk to the student paper I work at because we ran an opinion piece saying that the team should have followed schools like ULM and MTSU's leads and suspended him during the investigation.

He's playing, from all indications. If any media member asks him any non-baseball related question, supposedly they will revoke your credentials and escort you off the premises. I'd love to see what they do if the ESPN crew covering this weekend's series asks.

I believe all three games this weekend will be available on some ESPN resource, and the Sunday game when he will potentially break the record will be on ESPNU, I believe.

(He's not that good, just between you and me. Last year was a fluke of epic proportion. Before the season, he had never hit better than .250 since like his junior year of high school and was known for his defense. The team was going to move him to pitcher last year until the streak happened. But he has no real power and doesn't draw a walk ever. I don't think he's much of a pro prospect. His best skill is that he makes contact. But with a wooden bat as opposed to a metal bat, his power will completely disappear. )

[Todd]

Crap I forgot you were affiliated with FIU. Brain fart on my part.

[Bobbob1313]

I've covered the baseball team for three years now.

[Beef]

Maybe the new bats will ruin him

[Todd]

This the year they switch to composite bats?

And thanks bob²

[Mainge]

Bobby Poyner pitched six scoreless against American Heritage today, 12 K's, no walks.

We winned 2-0.

[Mainge]

Didn't get to see either in person today but Kyle Smith pitched a no-no, 14 k's, 1 bb. Ryan Harris pitched a 2 hitter with 8 strikeouts.

Tomorrow I'll get my first look at 2012 UF commit 3B Tyler Kendall, and I'm 99 percent sure Bobby Poyner will be on the bump again. It wasn't my intention to talk about UF commits so much, O'Sullivan just really seems to be (over) recruiting the area hard.

[Beef]

Where's Northwood?

[Mainge]

So that game sucked. Kendall was 0-4, 3k's. Made a nice diving back handed play and then threw it away. Nothing else hit to him. He seems well under 6ft but has a real stocky Uggla-like build.

Poyner had a rough outing, 3 earned runs in 5 innings, 8 k's, 1 walk. He gave up quite a few 2 strike hits, wasn't able to put away hitters as usual. He was also 2-3 with a double, homerun, 2 walks, and a strikeout.

Also playing in that game was C Robbie Coman who signed with Virginia, and SS Trea Turner who is signed with NC State. Coman also had the Uggla-like build. He was 2-3 and a walk, didn't get a chance to throw anyone out but I heard from a reliable source that he tops out at 93 on the mound. It's not a great indicator of POP time but still.

Turner is a 6 ft twig, led the game off with a single, stole 2nd, stole 3rd and scored on an errant throw. Finished 1-4, 1k. Made a beautiful diving stop in the hole but didn't get the throw off.

We won 15-5.

[Ralph]

Bubba Starling

http://www.omaha.com/article/20101225/BIGRED/712259900

[Mainge]

At 6 feet, 180 pounds, Santaluces High right-hander Kyle Smith lacks the size pro scouts covet. But he has nearly everything else they want: command of major-league-ready stuff, a durable arm and an effortless delivery.

He is the most complete, consistent player in an area filled with pro prospects. His pitching is likely to determine Santaluces' success in the upcoming District 9-6A playoffs.

"If he's done, we're done," coach Nick Franco said.

Smith, who can help Santaluces (14-8) sew up the district's No. 2 seed Thursday with a win over Boca Raton, is 6-1. He leads the area in ERA (0.13) and strikeouts (90) in 52 1/3 innings. He also is among the area leaders in batting average (.415), home runs (4) and RBI (19).

He struck out 120 in 64 innings last season, going 6-2 with a 1.44 ERA and earning first-team Palm Beach Post all-area honors. He has signed a letter of intent with Florida but remains eligible for the major league draft in June. He is projected to be selected in rounds 8-12.

Though scouts prefer tall, lean kids who will fill out their frames - projectability is the buzzword - some think they've found a gem in Smith.

"He's a tremendous competitor. There might be people who are bigger, stronger. But they don't have the heart he does," a National League scout said.

Smith has command of a pro-level arsenal of pitches: a late-life four-seam fastball, a two-seamer that tails away from lefties, a nasty, late-breaking curveball and a changeup thrown with a split-finger grip.

Smith said he finally mastered his change Feb. 25 against Atlantic. That night, he threw a no-hitter with 14 strikeouts.

An NL scout described Smith's repertoire as "the stuff to get major-league hitters out."

Because of his size, he can't rely on sheer strength to pitch in the low 90s and occasionally reach 95 mph.

"I have to use everything I have to get it up there," Smith said.

He developed his fluid, low-effort delivery with help from his personal coach, Cardinal Newman alum David Manning.

Thanks to his mechanics and a pro-style off-day routine of running and throwing, Smith regularly fires 110 bullets or more in an era of hand-wringing over pitch counts.

"When I watch him throw now, it's like watching a professional, polished pitcher throw," Manning said.

Franco said he has seen his ace get shelled once, last year against Park Vista when he gave up five earned runs. Smith has allowed one earned run this season, in a win over then-No. 1 Palm Beach Central.

"Major-league scouts might be scared because of Kyle's size," Franco said. "But I think he's the best pitcher in the state. There's something about him."

His parents, Tom and Marla, have hosted pro scouts at their Lake Worth home, but Smith said he won't think about his future until he helps Santaluces win its first district playoff game in three seasons.

If he goes to Florida, he'll join a recruiting class that could include pitchers Michael Kelly (West Boca Raton) and Ryan Harris (Jupiter).

Smith said he is honored to be committed to the Gators, but would welcome the challenge of starting a pro career.

"Either or is fine with me," he said. "As long as I'm playing baseball, I'm happy."

Nothing makes him happier than to have the game in his hands.

In a recent Friday night game at district rival Park Vista, Smith was on the mound with the score tied, two outs in the seventh and a 2-2 count.

At that point, he had thrown 110 pitches, 80 of them strikes. On his last pitch, his catcher set up low and away. Smith stared in and began that free and easy motion, breaking off a wicked curveball.

The bat never moved. Neither did the glove.

http://www.pbgametime.com/news/santaluces-high-pitcher-kyle-smith-has-the-stuff-to-entice-big-league-scouts/116890/

Studski

[Ralph]

@Jon Heyman
draft bombshell. RT @FollowtheFrogs TCU's Matt Purke out indefinitely w/ soreness in throwing shoulder. Seeing Dr. Andrews Weds
13
sucks

[Todd]

He was overworked last year.

[Mainge]

Michael Kelly went 48 overall. Kyle Smith went 126. Green went 361.

Harris and Jose are dropping pretty far.