Jason Heyward - 6th overall draft pick
Strengths: Heyward has the physical attributes and instincts to be a star. His raw power is off the charts and his bat speed is nearly as good. He shows impressive plate discipline and pitch recognition. He's a good baserunner and has a plus arm with good carry.
The Future: Heyward looks like a man among boys. He profiles well as a right fielder and should move quickly through the system and will open his first full season in low Class A.
Glenn Quagmire from Quohog, Rhode Island asks: Complete this sentence for me - Jayson Hayward is the next....?
Bill Ballew: I've heard scouts say Roberto Clemente, but I don't believe his arm is that strong. I've heard others say Fred McGriff and Willie McCovey, but Heyward is more athletic at the same age than they were. I liken him to a young Dave Parker. He could be a beast.
Jason Heyward: Will i win an MVP?
Jim Callis: Sure. 2013. Remember you heard it hear first.
Steve (Atlanta): Who is the highest Brave on your list? how good can he be?
Jim Callis: I put Jason Heyward at No. 20. Between Moustakas, him, Josh Vitters and Co., there were some tremendous high school hitters in this year's draft.
2007 Draft Recap
Moderator: WhiteSox
Matt LaPorta - 10th overall draft pick
Strengths: LaPorta has game-changing power and doesn't have to pull the ball to get it out of the park. Area scouts who covered him said his approach improved in 2007, and he also kept his hands inside the ball better and made more consistent hard contact. Unlike many sluggers, he also has a good eye at the plate and will take a walk if he doesn't get a pitch to hammer.
"Obviously, you see the strength in that swing," said an area scout with an American League team. "That's just monster raw juice."
Just like most, I tend to like power swings above "line drive" swings. LaPorta's rotation into the ball is excellent, he generally lets the ball get deep, and his swing has better power potential than either Moustakas' or Vitters'.
JAYPERS from IL asks: As a LaPorta fan, I am quite pleased you gave him such an honor. Does he have a chance to be as comparable with his glove in the OF as he is with his bat, or is he physically destined to be in the same mold as Prince Fielder?
Moderator: All the Brewers want from LaPorta defensively is to be an average LF. That's not shooting for the moon. With his offensive potential, as long as LaPorta isn't a mess in the OF, he'll move to the majors quickly. He was working hard at it in the Arizona Fall League and the Brewers like his approach to the game.
Strengths: LaPorta has game-changing power and doesn't have to pull the ball to get it out of the park. Area scouts who covered him said his approach improved in 2007, and he also kept his hands inside the ball better and made more consistent hard contact. Unlike many sluggers, he also has a good eye at the plate and will take a walk if he doesn't get a pitch to hammer.
"Obviously, you see the strength in that swing," said an area scout with an American League team. "That's just monster raw juice."
Just like most, I tend to like power swings above "line drive" swings. LaPorta's rotation into the ball is excellent, he generally lets the ball get deep, and his swing has better power potential than either Moustakas' or Vitters'.
JAYPERS from IL asks: As a LaPorta fan, I am quite pleased you gave him such an honor. Does he have a chance to be as comparable with his glove in the OF as he is with his bat, or is he physically destined to be in the same mold as Prince Fielder?
Moderator: All the Brewers want from LaPorta defensively is to be an average LF. That's not shooting for the moon. With his offensive potential, as long as LaPorta isn't a mess in the OF, he'll move to the majors quickly. He was working hard at it in the Arizona Fall League and the Brewers like his approach to the game.
Michael Main - 27th overall draft pick
The Good: Main's stuff was actually better than it was during his final high school outings, as his fastball sat at 92-94 mph while touching 96 and he also showcased a power curve that already rates as plus. He's one of the most athletic pitchers in the minors, with very smooth mechanics and excellent fielding skills.
The top power arms in what would be the 2007 draft assembled at a showcase in Arkansas during the summer of 2006 and scouts had a chance to see them all lined up, one after another -- Main, Beavan, Rick Porcello, Matt Harvey, etc. -- "but," according to Baseball America's Alan Matthews, "none was as impressive as Main. During one sequence he delivered fastballs at 97 mph, 97, 96, 96, 94, 96, 94 and 95. When he showed some feel for his 79 mph changeup and 74-77 mph breaking ball, there was little question who had claimed the title as the top rising senior pitching prospect."
"He's got a quick, clean arm action, and began to make some adjustments in his approach to pitching. He has a power breaking ball with tight spin and more than just feel for his changeup. He's been up to 97 mph in the past, and was checking in with 93s and 94s in the NWL. One scout compared him to Mike Mussina with a slightly firmer fastball, and don't forget that Mussina could bring it in his prime, too."
My first reaction: WOW. An unbelievably quick arm (you'll hear "lightning-quick" from scouts), late hand break, excellent scap load. In short, I love this kid's arm action and aggressiveness.
The Good: Main's stuff was actually better than it was during his final high school outings, as his fastball sat at 92-94 mph while touching 96 and he also showcased a power curve that already rates as plus. He's one of the most athletic pitchers in the minors, with very smooth mechanics and excellent fielding skills.
The top power arms in what would be the 2007 draft assembled at a showcase in Arkansas during the summer of 2006 and scouts had a chance to see them all lined up, one after another -- Main, Beavan, Rick Porcello, Matt Harvey, etc. -- "but," according to Baseball America's Alan Matthews, "none was as impressive as Main. During one sequence he delivered fastballs at 97 mph, 97, 96, 96, 94, 96, 94 and 95. When he showed some feel for his 79 mph changeup and 74-77 mph breaking ball, there was little question who had claimed the title as the top rising senior pitching prospect."
"He's got a quick, clean arm action, and began to make some adjustments in his approach to pitching. He has a power breaking ball with tight spin and more than just feel for his changeup. He's been up to 97 mph in the past, and was checking in with 93s and 94s in the NWL. One scout compared him to Mike Mussina with a slightly firmer fastball, and don't forget that Mussina could bring it in his prime, too."
My first reaction: WOW. An unbelievably quick arm (you'll hear "lightning-quick" from scouts), late hand break, excellent scap load. In short, I love this kid's arm action and aggressiveness.
Andrew Brackman - 40th overall draft pick
Strengths: A premium athlete, Brackman has as high an upside as any player in the '07 draft class. He has reached 99 mph with his fastball, which generally sits at 94, and uses his size to drive it downhill. His filthy spike curveball can be a strikeout pitch and has the potential to be an 80 pitch on the 20-80 scouting scale.
The Good: On a pure scouting level, Brackman is a rare find. He takes advantage of his height by delivering 90-95 mph fastballs that have touched as high as 99 mph in the past, as well as a hard breaking curve, with both pitches seemingly dropping out of the sky due to his high release point. He showed some progress with his changeup this year, and while it lags behind his primary two offerings, it's still a solid pitch.
Outlook: Brackman figures to get back in game action in August/September, as his Tommy John surgery occured on about August 22nd. He has a very high ceiling, almost as high as that as Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes.
Strengths: A premium athlete, Brackman has as high an upside as any player in the '07 draft class. He has reached 99 mph with his fastball, which generally sits at 94, and uses his size to drive it downhill. His filthy spike curveball can be a strikeout pitch and has the potential to be an 80 pitch on the 20-80 scouting scale.
The Good: On a pure scouting level, Brackman is a rare find. He takes advantage of his height by delivering 90-95 mph fastballs that have touched as high as 99 mph in the past, as well as a hard breaking curve, with both pitches seemingly dropping out of the sky due to his high release point. He showed some progress with his changeup this year, and while it lags behind his primary two offerings, it's still a solid pitch.
Outlook: Brackman figures to get back in game action in August/September, as his Tommy John surgery occured on about August 22nd. He has a very high ceiling, almost as high as that as Joba Chamberlain and Phil Hughes.
