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