IBC

Pedro Alvarez 3B

SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Vandy lefthander David Price was the No. 1 pick in the 2007 draft and Alvarez is the early favorite to go first overall in 2008, which would mark the first time in draft history that a player from the same school went No. 1 in consecutive drafts. Alvarez positioned
himself as a premium future draft as a freshman, when he stroked a school-record 22 home runs. He followed by hitting 18 as a sophomore while leading the Commodores in batting (.386) and RBIs (68 ). He also was the dominant hitter for Team USA the last two summers, leading the team in batting both seasons. Alvarez is a complete player, but he is a hitter first and foremost. He has exceptional hands at the plate with impressive bat speed, natural lift in his swing and power to all fields. He has an excellent feel for hitting with a sound, confident, aggressive approach and is capable of making adjustments from at-bat to at-bat. His lone shortcoming at the plate is a tendency to chase pitches out of the zone, resulting in 129 strikeouts over his first two seasons at Vanderbilt. While Alvarez has a defined, durable upper body, soft midsection and strong, muscular legs, his hands and actions at third base are acceptable and he’s a steady, reliable fielder. He moves well at the position with surprisingly fast-twitch actions and flexibility for his size. Though he gets caught on his heels occasionally, he moves his feet well to both sides and excels at coming in on slow rollers. His arm is accurate and has on-line carry. There are some teams, however, who view him as a future first baseman. He won’t be a base stealer, but he’s not a clogger and has sound base-running instincts. Alvarez has all the physical ability to be a big league all-star, and he also gets high marks for his makeup. His 2008 season got off on the wrong foot when he was sidelined for several weeks with a broken hamate bone in his hand. He suffered the injury in his first at-bat of the season against College World Series champion Oregon State.

UPDATE (5/1): Alvarez missed 22 games with his hand injury, but showed a full range of motion almost immediately upon his return. Though he
hit only seven homers in 33 games–far off his pace as a freshman and sophomore–his easy raw power was unmistakable in batting-practice
sessions. He was hitting .336 overall with 25 RBIs as Vanderbilt entered Southeastern Conference tournament action. By contrast, he also struck
out only 19 times, a much better rate than in the past. Alvarez’ most significant improvement, though, came on defense as he displayed better
hands and range at third. The bottom line is teams will be buying a bat–possibly an expensive one as Scott Boras is his advisor–and those
picking early in the draft will have a tough time passing on a player that should not only reach the big leagues quickly, but should make a considerable impact when he gets there.–AS

DRAFT DATABASE:
Alvarez entered the season as the top prospect in this year's draft class, and even after missing the first half of the season with a hamate bone
injury, he maintains that status. The New York high school player of the year in 2005, Alvarez was ranked as a top 100 player as a senior and was drafted by the Red Sox in the 14th round that year. He elected to go to Vanderbilt instead, and he hit 22 home runs and drove in 64 runs, earning Freshman of the Year honors from BA. The trend continued into his sophomore year when Alvarez was named a first team All-American after hitting .386 with 18 home runs. He also spent two standout summers with Team USA. Alvarez has been one of the most feared college hitters for all three years he has been in school. Blessed with plus raw power, he is also an advanced hitter with a professional approach. At third base, his
defensive skills and footwork have improved since he arrived at Vanderbilt. His arm is plenty for the corner and his athleticism is a plus. He is also known to be a great teammate with strong makeup. His bonus demands and status as a Boras Corp. client could affect his draft stock, however.

BASEBALL ANALYSTS ANALYSIS:
Alvarez has been the consensus best player in this class for almost two years. The combination of large bonus demands and a broken hamate
bone that cut into his playing time and production no longer places Alvarez atop all lists. The lefthanded-hitting veteran of two Team USA teams has plus raw power. His defence has improved since beginning college, but some think he will have to move across the diamond to first base.
Alvarez has excellent athleticism and a solid arm. He was originally drafted by the Boston Red Sox in 2005. (Posted by Marc Hulet and Rich Lederer)

Tim Beckham SS

SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Beckham has been a well-known prospect at World Wood Bat Association events playing for the Atlanta Blue Jays, but his stock soared last summer as scouts saw his high-level athletic ability in showcases. Specifically, they saw (a.) that Beckham’s a 6.33 runner, (b.) he can play shortstop at the upper levels, and (c.) he’s as good a hitting prospect as he is an athlete. Beckham starred in football
(quarterback/wide receiver) and basketball (point guard) as a freshman and sophomore at Griffin High but gave up both sports to concentrate on his baseball future. He hit .512-6-39 with 20 stolen bases as a junior and .498-6-22 with 18 stolen bases as a sophomore. Beckham will likely be compared to B.J. Upton, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2002 draft, as an athlete/shortstop but his bat is farther along than Upton’s at the same point of development, which is why Beckham is mentioned in some discussions as a potential No.1/No. 1 pick in June. He has quick hands with strength in a short stroke. He also has smooth actions with quick feet at shortstop and his throws have carry and are routinely on target. Beckham is no relation to University of Georgia shortstop Gordon Beckham, another potential first-round pick in 2008. He was a 2007 Aflac All-American.

UPDATE (5/1): Beckham’s elevated draft stock has survived all challenges this spring and he remains on the short list for any team at the top of the draft. There is increasing speculation two weeks before the draft that he could be the No.1 overall pick to the Tampa Bay Rays, and almost certainly won’t get past the fifth overall pick. Beckham’s athleticism, while not quite measuring up to Justin Upton levels, is still supremely good and he has received recognition for his makeup and approach to the game all spring, even under all the intense pressure. Beckham’s stats through 24 games are what you’d expect from a top player, .500-5-31 with 22 walks and 16 stolen bases.–DR

DRAFT DATABASE:
Beckham solidified his status as the nation's top high school position player last year when he produced the most impressive overall performance on the summer showcase circuit. He was consistently the best player at each event he attended and capped his performance by winning MVP honors at the Aflac Classic at the end of the summer. A wiry, athletic shortstop, Beckham hasn't produced eye-popping performances this spring, but his track record and projection make him the nation's most coveted high school prospect. He has five legitimate tools. At the plate he has the ability to be an above-average hitter with average power. He's a solid runner and his athleticism is a part of his everyday game. In the field, Beckham has smooth major league actions with an above-average arm. He has drawn comparisons to the Upton brothers, though he has more aptitude in the field and not quite the lightning in the bat. His makeup is a plus, as he displays an enjoyment of the game and energy on the field. He has a commitment to Southern California, but Beckham won't reach campus as he's a likely top 10 pick.

APPY WRITE-UP:
Beckham joined Josh Hamilton (1999) and Joe Mauer (2001) as recent No. 1 overall picks who spent their first pro summers in the Appy League. Beckham didn't dominate, but observers still were impressed enough by his raw tools and up-the-middle profile to regard him as the league's top prospect. After signing for a $6.15 million bonus, Beckham reported to Princeton in late June and hit just .167 without an extra-base hit in his first 12 g ames. He improved both offensively and defensively in subsequent months, though, as his natural enthusiasm and off-the-charts makeup took over. An outstanding athlete, Beckham has plus hitter's hands, solid pitch recognition and the bat speed to turn around quality fastballs. As he matures, he also should add average power, though he's already solidly built and doesn't project to be much more than an average runner. Beckham is an above-average defender with major league actions at short. His arm is above-average and he gets rid of the ball quickly. As the season wore on, he improved in getting his feet behind him on throws to first base.

BASEBALL ANALYSTS ANALYSIS:
Beckham, a bona fide five-tool player at a premium position, is generally regarded as the top high school talent in the draft. A possible No. 1 overall pick, Tampa Bay scouting director R.J. Harrison calls Beckham a "Middle-of-the-field player, very good athlete, an advanced bat, has a real good awareness on the field. He plays the game with a great deal of enthusiasm." He has signed a letter of intent to play at USC but is unlikely to ever play a single game at Dedeaux Field unless his professional team schedules an exhibition contest there. (Posted by Rich)

BA TAMPA BAY BEST PURE HITTER:
SS Tim Beckham (1), the No. 1 overall pick, slumped early but batted .275 in the final month and the Rays believe he'll be a five-tool player.

BA TAMPA BAY BEST FIELDER:
Unlike B.J. Upton, the last shortstop the Rays took with an early first-round pick, Beckham should be able to stay at the position. He has fluid actions, plenty of range and a strong arm.

Robbie Ross SP

SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): If the 6-foot, 180-pound Ross was 6-3, 200, scouts might be talking about him as the top lefthanded pitching prospect in the country. They still might before the spring is over. Ross is a very agile, quick-twitch type of athlete in the Mike Hampton-style. He pounds the strike zone with three pitches that show plus quality at times: a 90-92 mph fastball, an 83-mph slider and a low-80s changeup. Ross pretty much uses all three pitches interchangeably and he can work over good hitters pretty quickly. As a high school junior, he went 4-5, 2.95 with 67 strikeouts in 43 innings. The difference athletically between Ross and most prospect pitchers is evident is their choice of secondary sports; Ross is an all-league soccer player when he’s not playing baseball.–DAVID RAWNSLEY

UPDATE (5/1): Ross is the most polished of the Kentucky quartet of top prep prospects, and did the most this spring to live up his reputation. His fastball was in the 88-93 mph range, touching 94, as it has been for two years now, and his ability to pitch at that velocity, hold it deep into games and also command three secondary pitches--a curve, 82-83 mph slider and changeup–sets him apart. He gained the measure of lefthander Nick Maronde, his crosstown rival, in a heavily-scouted game earlier this year when he struck out 14, walked none and gave up an unearned run. On the season, he was 5-1, 1.07 with six walks and 73 strikeouts in 45 innings. The one knock on Ross continues to be his size, and it may knock him down a few pegs on draft boards and relegate him to a set-up role at the pro level.–ALLAN SIMPSON

BA DRAFT DATABASE:
Kentucky offers its best draft crop ever this year, and its high school class is especially deep with four prospects with the talent to go in the top two rounds. The best of that contingent is Ross, a lefty with pitches and polish. He sits at 90-92 mph and touched 94 with his fastball, and his secondary pitches and command are just as impressive. He shows a hard slider and nice feel for a changeup, and he pounds the strike zone. The only knock on Ross is that he's just 6 feet tall, but he generates his quality stuff via athleticism and arm speed, rather than effort. Scouts eagerly anticipated his late-April matchup with fellow Lexington southpaw Nick Maronde, and Ross didn't disappoint. He struck out 14 and walked none, giving up just an unearned run while dealing Maronde the second loss of his prep career. He also outdueled Niceville (Fla.) lefty Brett DeVall earlier in the year, ending the game with a 94-mph fastball for a strikeout. A Kentucky recruit, Ross should be signable in the first two rounds.

BA TEXAS BEST FASTBALL:
LHPs Robbie Ross (2)–who signed for $1.575 million

BEST SECONDARY PITCH:
Ross' hard slider or LHP Corey Young's (12) 11-to-5 curveball.

Joseph Wieland SP

SCOUTING REPORT: By far the best high school prospect in Nevada, Wieland has always had an advanced sense of pitching and how to set up and attack hitters. When his velocity jumped to the 91-92 range this year, giving him a third solid pitch, his prospect status was solidified. His more established curveball has sharp, three quarters break and his changeup creates good deception off his fastball. He has an acute ability to throw strikes with each, and walked just nine in 67 innings this spring while striking out 113. He also gave up just 27 hits and went 7-2, 1.26 overall. Wieland has also garnered interest from scouts as a shortstop with solid hitting skills, and he would probably be used as a two way player if he should end up in school at San Diego State.

BA DRAFT DATABASE: The Reno area is gaining a reputation for developing pitchers, but Wieland stands out as the top righthander to come out of the area that in the last few years has produced Rays minor leaguer Jake McGee (out of high school) and Cole Rohrbough (Braves, out of Western Nevada CC). Wieland has impressed scouts with his combination of now stuff, clean arm and projectable frame. He was outstanding in all, sitting at 88-91 mph with his fastball and reminding scouts of Mark Prior with his command and has more deception in his delivery. He's maintained that velocity this spring and reportedly has flashed better velocity, with most reports having him bumping 92 regularly. He's shown the ability to spin a breaking ball despite Reno's thin air and flashed a changeup. He's signed as a two-way player to San Diego State but figures to sign if taken in the second-to-fourth round range.

AZL Write-up: Drafted in the fourth round and signed for $263,000, Wieland may prove to be a bargain for the Rangers. His 1.44 ERA would have ranked third in the AZL if he hadn't barely missed qualifying, and his mound presence was as impressive as his performance.
"He walked into that clubhouse out of high school and acted like he belonged," Rangers manager Bill Richardson said. "His sides are just impressive. He takes it out to the game. For a high school draftee, you don't see that every day."
Wieland's forte is pounding the bottom of the strike zone with three pitches: a 91-93 mph fastball, a curveball and a changeup. He gained 2 mph on his fastball after turning pro, and he still has room to add more upper-body strength on his 6-foot-3, 175-pound frame.

BA TEXAS BEST FASTBALL: LHPs Robbie Ross (2)–who signed for $1.575 million–and Tim Murphy (3), and RHPs Joe Wieland (4), Matt Thompson (7) and Justin Gutsie (14) all can reach 93-94 mph. Wieland, who's projectable at 6-foot-3 and 175 pounds, could separate himself in the long run.

BA TEXAS BEST PRO DEBUT: Wieland went 5-1, 1.44 with a 41-8 K-BB ratio in 44 innings in the Rookie-level Arizona League.

BA TEXAS CHAT:
Q: Bryan from San Francisco asks:
What are the Rangers feelings on Joe Wieland? What type of ceiling does he have and how quickly do you think he'll move? Thanks!

A: Aaron Fitt: The Rangers love Wieland – by this time next year, he could be in the top 10. I really believe he'll take off in 2009. He's ultra-projectable and already throws in the 90-93 range, but I suspect he'll add velocity before it's all said and done. He's a strike-thrower with an advanced feel for pitching, and his curveball projects as a second plus pitch. His feel for pitching at a young age, easy arm action and projection are similar to Martin Perez and Wilfredo Boscan. That's an impressive wave of pitching talent at the lower levels of the system.

I still can't believe Beckham fell that far...

RedSox wrote:I still can't believe Beckham fell that far...

But not far enough!

Twins wrote:

RedSox wrote:I still can't believe Beckham fell that far...

But not far enough!

Him and Hicks... one more spot...

RedSox wrote:

Twins wrote:

RedSox wrote:I still can't believe Beckham fell that far...

But not far enough!

Him and Hicks... one more spot...

Indeed...I'm surprised Hicks fell that far. He was quite a tempting target

Robbie Ross is good.

Agreed, the Rangers have an utterly ludicrous pool of young pitchers now. That being said, he's gonna have to go to Rob or Bob or something because no one named Robbie is ever going to be a dominating pitcher.

Athletics wrote:Agreed, the Rangers have an utterly ludicrous pool of young pitchers now. That being said, he's gonna have to go to Rob or Bob or something because no one named Robbie is ever going to be a dominating pitcher.

Yeah good point. Maybe Robert. It's kind of like how Jamie Shields revised to James once he was in an MLB rotation.

Updated 12/6.

Beckham was the player I coveted in the 2008 draft. Many SS prospects don't even get out of the draft before the whispers about when they'll have to change positions begin. Everything I've read about Beckham indicates he should be able to stick at SS. Combine that with his athleticism and intangibles and hopefully the Rays have found their SS for the next decade.

My problem, if there can be a problem with having the 2nd and 7th picks in the draft, was if I took Beckham with the 2nd pick I was most likely going to be left with Eric Hosmer as the most talented player available at #7. I know that's not a bad thing, but with Beau Mills, Chris Carter, Brandon Allen, Brandon Snyder, and Jon Still already onboard and all at or above AA for 2009 1B would have been damn crowded in TB. I knew what Jim wanted at 5&6 and had a strong notion Texas would go pitching at #3 so it really all came down to what Jake would do with the #4 pick. I had to hope he was indeed enamored with the 7 foot tall teenager from the DR if I took Alvarez with the #2. I rolled the dice and it wound up working out, for everyone I hope.

I hope it doesn't turn into Rob because it makes me think of Rob Bell and no one should have to remember Rob Bell.

Rays wrote:Updated 12/6.

Beckham was the player I coveted in the 2008 draft. Many SS prospects don't even get out of the draft before the whispers about when they'll have to change positions begin. Everything I've read about Beckham indicates he should be able to stick at SS. Combine that with his athleticism and intangibles and hopefully the Rays have found their SS for the next decade.

My problem, if there can be a problem with having the 2nd and 7th picks in the draft, was if I took Beckham with the 2nd pick I was most likely going to be left with Eric Hosmer as the most talented player available at #7. I know that's not a bad thing, but with Beau Mills, Chris Carter, Brandon Allen, Brandon Snyder, and Jon Still already onboard and all at or above AA for 2009 1B would have been damn crowded in TB. I knew what Jim wanted at 5&6 and had a strong notion Texas would go pitching at #3 so it really all came down to what Jake would do with the #4 pick. I had to hope he was indeed enamored with the 7 foot tall teenager from the DR if I took Alvarez with the #2. I rolled the dice and it wound up working out, for everyone I hope.

I thought long and hard about Beckham at #4 (and a little bit at #1 too), at the end of the day I think the rest of the top 10 fell perfectly so we could both get our guys. That being said, if Inoa doesn't sign in Oakland you probably don't get both (actually, if Inoa doesn't sign in Oakland I probably still have Dan Haren and what to do with the top of the draft is JP's problem).

I get Haren and the guy I was possibly going to take at 4 at 10. I'll take it.

Updated with Wieland. 12/9.

Texas has a ton of power arms.

Destin Hood OF

SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Hood made his mark at Perfect Game’s National Showcase in Cincinnati last June, then followed up with strong performances in World Wood Bat Association events in July and the Aflac All-American game in August to establish his baseball prospect credentials before returning to football. In Cincinnati, Hood hit a showcase-best six home runs in batting practice and made it look easy as the ball came off his bat differently than almost every other hitter. As one of the top wide receivers in Alabama and a recruiting target of a number of college football powers, his athletic skills are obvious, including 6.4 speed in the 60 and overall strength. But Hood showed baseball skills and actions that, although raw, were more advanced and natural than most two-sport/primary football athletes. As a high school shortstop, Hood hit .517-4-36 with 43 stolen bases as a junior but his best baseball position at the next level will be as a center fielder. Hood was a two-sport, all-state selection as a junior but after last summer it looks like his primary sport may be baseball, not football–though he signed a football scholarship with Alabama.–DAVID RAWNSLEY
UPDATE (5/1): Hood didn’t play all that impressively as a senior, either at the plate or in the field, but scouts were more interested in his tools and raw athletic ability. They stood out in workouts. His bat, in particular, remains one of the best in the entire draft. Balls explode off his bat and he has well above-average power potential. He spent the season at shortstop because of team need, but it’s a given that he will play either left field or center field down the road. The big issue remains signability. It could be an issue if he slides to the third or fourth round, but most observers believe he’ll be gone in the sandwich round, or second round at the latest.–ALLAN SIMPSON

BA - Hood showed his raw power and lightning-quick bat speed when he tied for the home run derby title at the Aflac Classic last fall. Raw and electric are two words scouts use to describe Hood. He has four raw tools but each with above-average projection. An exceptional athlete with a combination of strength and speed, Hood is signed to play football (wide receiver) and baseball at Alabama. At the plate, Hood has bat speed and raw power to rival anyone in this draft class, but his hit tool is currently lacking as he often swings and misses. A shortstop in high school, Hood will most definitely be moved to the outfield due to his below-average arm strength. He is a plus runner, and although his instincts are under-developed, could be an average defender in the future. The team that drafts Hood will believe in his ability to eventually hit. Upon reaching high ceiling, Hood projects as a middle of the order impact bat.

Joshua Fields RP

SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Fields projected squarely in the handful of top prospects for the 2007 draft entering his junior season at Georgia. But his season fell far short of expectations, both for himself and for his Georgia teammates who deteriorated from a College World Series team in 2006 to the poorest record in the Southeastern Conference in 2007. Fields’ decline was just as steep: from 3-2, 1.85 with 15 saves in 2006 to 1-6, 4.75 with six saves in 2007. While he didn’t have quite the velocity he did a year earlier, when his fastball would touch 98-99 mph and his slider 86, arm strength and health weren’t the problem as he regularly worked in the 93-95 mph range. Some scouts said that Fields appeared a bit stiffer, especially at the beginning of the season, after taking the previous fall off from throwing. Another reason for Fields’ struggles was the curious decision by Georgia coaches to switch him from his nearly-unhittable, upper-80s slider to a more conventional mid-70s curveball at the start of the spring–a decision that backfired and was reversed at mid-season. In addition, Fields went from a high three-quarters angle to an over-the-top release point and struggled all spring getting his pitches down in the strike zone. The result was that Fields slipped appreciably in the draft, all the way to the second round (69th overall). He was drafted by the hometown Atlanta Braves but negotiations stalled and Fields went unsigned. He qualifies as the top college senior in this year’s draft and could well resurface in the first round if he can regain his 2006 form. His fastball peaked at 97 mph in early-season outings. An excellent athlete, Fields briefly saw duty as a DH and in right field in 2008–in addition to being the closer for the Bulldogs. The opportunity to hit in the fall had a positive effect on him, as he seemed more relaxed on the mound. Not only was his stuff better, but it took some of the effort out of his delivery and his stuff was sharper.–ALLAN SIMPSON
UPDATE (5/1): As mediocre as Fields was in 2007 as a junior, he’s been every bit as brilliant this spring. Until an uncharacteristic three-run inning in mid-May, Fields had been virtually perfect throughout the entire season and was still sporting a 2-2, 1.52 record with 16 saves as Georgia entered the SEC tournament. His true dominance can be seen by his hits-to-strikeout ratio: 29 innings, nine hits, 53 strikeouts. Two things stood out with Fields this year. First, he regained his command and ability to throw his 94-98 mph fastball over the plate early in counts and get ahead of hitters. Second, the power and bite on his curveball returned. When Fields is ahead in the count and throws his 81-84 mph hammer where he wants it, he’s virtually unhittable. He seems a shoe-in to be the first senior to hear his named called this year, possibly in the middle of the first round.–DAVID RAWNSLEY

BA - Following his sophomore year at Georgia, Fields shined in the Cape Cod League, apparently setting him up for a high draft selection in 2007. However, command of his mid-90s fastball and low-80s breaking ball was too inconsistent during his junior season, scaring teams away. The Braves drafted him in the second round, but Fields opted not to sign and returned to Georgia for his senior season. When he returned to Athens, so did his command, and he is now considered the top closer in the country. He holds the Bulldogs' record for career saves and had struck out close to two batters per inning this season. His fastball still sits in the mid-90s, peaking at 98, and his hard downer curveball comes in between 81-83 mph. Scouts are still wary of command issues because his delivery is upright and has some effort. When he misses, it's up in the zone due to not being able to get over the rubber and finish his pitches. Also a concern is durability because of his slight build. When he's on, though, Fields has present major league stuff and the potential to be the first pitcher from this draft to reach the major leagues.

Ross Seaton SP

SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Seaton has been one of the fastest-rising pitchers in the high school ranks this spring. His stock shot up with an early-season, five-inning perfect game in which he struck out 12, induced three ground balls back to the himself and was clocked at 96 mph. He is another in the long line of two-way prospects in the 2008 prep class and Tulane is looking forward to using him as both a righthanded pitcher and lefthanded-hitting outfielder–should he make it to school. Seaton’s best tools from a pro prospective are on the mound. He’s very loose and projectable, with a long, smooth arm action and very consistent stuff. His fastball sat at 88-89 mph last fall but he has been consistently in the 91-93 mph range this spring, and he complements the pitch with a nasty 79 mph slider that some scouts have called a curveball because of its depth. He also has a low-70s curveball and changeup that are quality pitches. Seaton is a polished pitcher in terms of his command and approach, and has added the strength and velocity to get scouts excited. He had 108 strikeouts in 73 innings as a junior to go with a 1.97 ERA and also hit seven home runs. He has big-time raw power, but swings and misses at a high rate. He can cover 60 yards in 6.75 seconds.–DAVID RAWNSLEY
UPDATE (5/15): Seaton maintained his low-90s stuff under close scouting scrutiny all spring, and seems poised to go in the first round as one of the first high school pitchers taken–a scenario that would have been hard to imagine at the start of the year. He posted incredible numbers this year, going 9-0, 0.91 with 112 K’s and only six walks in 61 innings. He also hit .390-7-30 as an outfielder.–DR

BA - During the fall, Seaton pitched at 88-89 mph, wasn't a coveted recruit by Texas colleges and projected as a fifth-round talent. But after throwing 90-94 mph all spring and touching 96, Seaton has leapfrogged several others to establish himself as the Lone Star State's best prep pitching prospect. He features a slider than can range from devastating to flat, and an effective changeup. While his secondary pitches are inconsistent, his control isn't, as he throws strikes with ease. His delivery is smooth and easily repeatable. Big and strong at 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, he's also a quality athlete who will see action as a two-way player if he attends Tulane, following in the tradition of Micah Owings and 2005 Astros first-round pick Brian Bogusevic. As an outfielder, Seaton offers power, arm strength and average to plus speed. A lefthanded hitter, he also has shown the ability to make adjustments at the plate. Nevertheless, he'll focus on pitching if he turns pro. Though he's a good student, Seaton is expected to sign if he's drafted in the early rounds. The Astros have shown a lot of interest in the local product and could target him with their sandwich-round pick at No. 38.

BP - Year in Review: The Astros did an excellent job of recognizing that they were the only team with a shot at signing the local product, giving him $700,000 after selecting him in the third round.
The Good: Like Lyles, Seaton offers plenty of projection. He's tall, he already has a plus fastball that sits at 90-93 mph and touches 96, and he showcases outstanding control. He's an excellent all-around athlete who would have been a two-way player at Tulane, and he also fields his position well.
The Bad: Seaton's breaking ball is kind of slurvy, and most think he'd be better off throwing his power slider more often. He'll still need to learn to throw a changeup, as he survived mostly with the fastball in high school.
Fun Fact: He was this year's valedictorian at Second Baptist High School in Houston.
Perfect World Projection: Seaton offers a slightly higher ceiling than Lyles, though with less certainty, and he could end up as a number-two starter.
Glass Half Empty: With too much to work on other than the fastball, he becomes a reliever.
Path to the Big Leagues: Like Lyles, it's too early to start penciling him in.
Timetable: Seaton will join Lyles at Low-A Lexington, making the Legends rotation one to watch in 2009.

JP Ramirez OF

Not really a draft pick, but he will fill a draft slot so I'll profile him. Also JT if you're reading this I wasn't trying to bust your balls, I just don't think he's the same type of player as Snider. If pressed to make Ramirez a 'poormans' someone I'd probably go with Cedric Hunter in the minors and the first player that popped into my head for MLB was Catalanotto. Time will tell.

SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): If Ramirez was 6-foot-3 instead of being listed generously at 5-foot-10, he would be in the top 25 on the 2008 list. The lefthanded hitter has one of the fastest and best swings in the country and has consistently performed at a very high level against top-level pitching. Against high school pitching in Texas, it’s been no contest as Ramirez hit .629-8-38 as a sophomore and .500-10-39 as a junior. He consistently makes hard, barrel contact. He can show flashes of power, though he is more of a doubles-type hitter with the ability to hit for a high average. Ramirez’ athletic tools are solid. He’s a 6.85 runner in the 60 with good arm strength and likely will end up in left field at the upper levels. But his bat is going to carry him and open eyes at every level.–DAVID RAWNSLEY
UPDATE (5/15): The same debate about Ramirez’ hitting ability vs. his size and projection raged on this spring. He held up his end of the bargain, hitting .512-6-39 with 18 doubles, six triples and only three strikeouts. As usual with a high school prospect in this slot, it might all come down to signability as there seemed to be a number of scouts who fully recognize Ramirez’ superior hitting skills and tools.–DR

BA - Ramirez is arguably the best hitter among Texas' draft prospects this year–high school or college. He performed well all along the showcase circuit and batter .395 for the U.S. junior national team last summer. Employing a smooth lefthanded stroke, he smokes line drives from gap to gap. However, Ramirez' true value and his signability remain subjects of debate. He may be a tweener by pro standards. He's not big (5-foot-10, 185 pounds) and lacks the raw power that clubs want in a corner outfielder, while his fringy speed will prevent him form playing center field. His arm likely will relegate him to left field. Two different scouts compared him to David Dellucci. As much as Ramirez' hitting ability and his makeup draw praise, teams are unlikely to meet his top-two-rounds asking price to prevent him from attending Tulane.

BA Again - Background: Ramirez hit .395 for the U.S. junior national team in 2007 and batted .521 with eight homers as a high school senior to help establish his reputation as the best pure hitter in the Texas draft crop. His bonus demands and commitment to Tulane dropped him to the 15th round, but the Nationals signed him for $1 million in the hours before the Aug. 15 signing deadline as it became apparent they wouldn't sign first-rounder Aaron Crow.

Strengths: Ramirez has a smooth, compact lefthanded stroke and an advanced feel for hitting. He smokes hard line drives from gap to gap and showed at least average power in an impressive instructional league stint. Scouts praise his mature approach and high-quality makeup.

Weaknesses: With fringy speed and a below-average arm, Ramirez will be tied to left field in pro ball. Some club officials believe he'll end up with an average arm in time, but he's also got a lot of work to do on his reads and jumps in the outfield.

The Future: It's unclear if Ramirez will develop enough power to hold down an everyday job in left field at the major league level, and some scouts see him as a tweener. Others, however, see him as a hitting machine in the David Dellucci mold.