IBC

Bailey entered the season at the front of the national group of high school catchers, one of the strongest positions in the draft. He had shown a rare combination of hitting ability, raw power and arm strength, all of which graded above-average, as well as solid athleticism and surprising speed. Bailey's offense had slipped this spring, as he hit just three home runs. Scouts said he was tinkering too much searching for power, trying different strides and different timing mechanisms. Scouts had no questions about him defensively, where he ranks among the best athletes in the prep catcher group, and he showed toughness as a junior by playing through a broken rib. He has plenty of arm strength and was doing some ill-advised pitching for his high school team before going down with Tommy John surgery in April. Bailey has an Auburn commitment, having grown up a fan, but still was expected to be signable, much as the late Nick Adenhart signed after having had the surgery back in 2004.

BEST POWER HITTER: C Luke Bailey (4) had a tough spring, including Tommy John surgery, but that shouldn't keep him from tapping into his plus raw power.

BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Bailey will be an asset defensively if his arm returns strong from elbow surgery.

Bailey is a solidly built young player with above average arm strength and future power. He is an aggressive hitter who finds the barrel consistently and an adaquate receiver who shows enough athleticism that he should be able to stay at a premium position behind the plate.

After a so-so performance on the showcase circuit last summer and surgery to repair a torn thumb ligament last fall, Glaesmann has exceeded expectations this spring. He has emerged as a potential five-tool talent and a possible second-round pick. He has a prototype 6-foot-4, 205-pound frame that should give him plenty of leverage for power, though he employs more of a line-drive approach at this point. Glaesmann has some obvious length to his swing, but he shows patience and should hit for average from the right side of the plate. He has solid speed and arm strength, with the possibility of sticking in center field and the tools to be a standout in right field should he move there down the road. A quality athlete, Glaesmann played quarterback and wide receiver in high school and played through the injury to his left (non-throwing) thumb. One area scout compared him to former Texas high school and college star Drew Stubbs, the eighth overall pick in the 2006 draft, with less athleticism but better baseball skills. Glaesmann has committed to Texas A&M.


BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Glaesman may stick in center field and would be a premium defender in right.

BEST POWER HITTER: C Luke Bailey (4) had a tough spring, including Tommy John surgery, but that shouldn't keep him from tapping into his plus raw power. He's got a bit more pop than OF Todd Glaesman (3)

A tall, lean athlete, Glaesmann has room to add strength to his large frame. He profiles well as a corner OF who can swing the bat and has the leverage and loft in his swing to develop future power.

Marks started winning immediately at Louisville, quickly joining the rotation as a freshman in 2007 and earning victories in the Big East tournament and NCAA regional clinchers during the Cardinals' run to their first-ever College World Series. In three seasons, he has become the program's career leader in wins (29), ERA (2.96) and strikeouts (305 in 301 innings). He set another school mark with 11 victories this season. Marks doesn't have an overpowering pitch but he's a lefty with command of four solid offerings: a lively 90-92 mph fastball, a slider, a downer curveball and a changeup. Outside of a rough time in the Cape Cod League last summer, he has been very consistent. Marks has a good 6-foot-3, 195-pound frame, though there's some violence in his delivery from a high three-quarters slot. He could beat out more ballyhooed Chris Dominguez to become the first Louisville player drafted this year, with both figuring to go near the third round.

CLOSEST TO THE MAJORS: Green should move quickly, as should LHP Justin Marks (3), a three-pitch southpaw who missed time with a groin injury after signing.

Raley can make a case for being the best two-way player in college baseball. The consensus is that he's better on the mound, where he has command of a diverse array of pitches. He works mainly with an 87-90 mph sinker, a slider and a changeup, and he also has a four-seam fastball that peaks at 93 mph and a curveball. Scouts respect his ability to compete and to command all of his offering, but he doesn't have a true out pitch, which will leave him with little margin for error in pro ball. Though Raley has a clean delivery, they also wonder how well he'll hold up at a wiry 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds. He also has potential as an outfielder, though a second-half slump has led to some questions about his bat. He does offer plus-plus speed, a good eye and gap power as a hitter, as well as above-average range and arm strength. Raley plays the outfield corners for Texas A&M, in part to reduce the physical burden of playing both ways, but definitely is capable of playing center field as a pro. A sophomore-eligible, he's spooking clubs by not giving them any inkling as to his asking price or agent, so he could last much longer in the draft than his talent would dictate.

BEST SECONDARY PITCH: McNutt's power curveball gives him a potential second plus pitch. LHP Austin Kirk's (3) curveball and Raley's slider are solid breaking pitches.

CLOSEST TO THE MAJORS: The Cubs are seeking a center fielder, so Jackson could move quickly. Raley and Chris Rusin (4) are polished college lefthanders who could beat him to Wrigley Field

11) Brooks Raley, LHP, Grade C+: Athletic two-way guy out of Texas A&M, I like this type of player a lot. If his velocity picks up a bit now that he's a full-time pitcher, he could move fast.

BEST PURE HITTER: Area scout Tim McDonnell got a steal in a California high school outfielder/football star two years ago (Mike Stanton) and may have another one in Brent Keys (17). A line-drive hitter with plus speed, Keys hit .288 with more walks (28) than strikeouts (20) in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League.

In a banner year for prep catchers, Garfield stands out as one of the best pure defenders. At 6-feet and 190 pounds, Garfield is fit, strong and powerful. His pop times range from 1.85 to 1.90 seconds at showcase events, with one scout clocking a 1.78, and he has an above-average arm. Scouts' primary worry is that Garfield shines at showcases and struggles in games. He often puts on eye-opening power exhibitions during batting practice, but he has trouble carrying those results into games. He has a breathtakingly quick bat, but he often pulls off the ball and opens his front side, pulling the ball hard but foul. Failure to track the pitch and let it get deep throws off his timing, though he will occasionally show the ability to stay back on the breaking ball. Doubts may exist about Garfield's bat, but few doubts exist about his defense. His bat shows the promise of power, but he'll need improvement to bring it up to big league average.

BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: C Cameron Garfield (2) showed advanced receiving and game-running skills in his pro debut. He has a strong arm but threw out just 16 percent of basestealers.

Bill Ballew: We talked about Luke Bailey a few questions ago, and I believe he has a tremendously high ceiling.... He has great promise as a hitter and receiver and could emerge as one of the team's top 10 prospects during the 2010 campaign.

JAYPERS (IL): How would you rank Glaesmann's five tools on the 20-80 scale?

Bill Ballew: I'm not a scout, so any numbers I'd put on his tools would have little merit. That said, his tools rate at least average in all five categories. His speed is probably in the 55-60 range, and his fielding, arm strength and ability to hit the ball with consistency are probably close to that. His power potential is probably more in the 50-55 range. Again, those are just guesses on my part, but I know he has impressed scouts with his all-around ability.

JAYPERS (IL): Which 2009 draftees came closest to making your Top 10?

Bill Ballew: The Rays very quietly had an incredible draft, especially considering they didn't sign their first two picks. Outfielder Ty Morrison, OF Cody Rodgers, catcher Luke Bailey, outfielder Todd Glaesmann and first baseman Jeff Malm all found their way into the top 25.

Marks started winning immediately at Louisville, quickly joining the rotation as a freshman in 2007 and earning victories in the Big East tournament and NCAA regional clinchers during the Cardinals' run to their first-ever College World Series. In three seasons, he has become the program's career leader in wins (29), ERA (2.96) and strikeouts (305 in 301 innings). He set another school mark with 11 victories this season. Marks doesn't have an overpowering pitch but he's a lefty with command of four solid offerings: a lively 90-92 mph fastball, a slider, a downer curveball and a changeup. Outside of a rough time in the Cape Cod League last summer, he has been very consistent. Marks has a good 6-foot-3, 195-pound frame, though there's some violence in his delivery from a high three-quarters slot. He could beat out more ballyhooed Chris Dominguez to become the first Louisville player drafted this year, with both figuring to go near the third round.

CLOSEST TO THE MAJORS: Green should move quickly, as should LHP Justin Marks (3), a three-pitch southpaw who missed time with a groin injury after signing.