With the 2011 Major League Baseball draft set to take place on June 6, let's take a look at the top 10 players coming out of college that will be drafted this year.
Anthony Rendon-3B
Coming out of Rice, Rendon has drawn comparisons to Evan Longoria. He hit .325 five home runs and 34 RBIs. Those numbers aren't great, but when you look at the fact that he was walked 76 times, it makes more sense. There has been talk of moving him to second base, but that is something I would avoid.
( 2nd base make sense with Neil Walker already established, his plate discipline is remarkable at that age.)
Gerrit Cole-SP
Cole had great numbers this season at UCLA, going 1-2 with a 1.78 ERA in 30 1/3 innings. In his first two seasons, he went 15-12 with a 3.42 ERA in 208 innings. Either Rendon or Cole will likely be the first pick of the draft.
Danny Hultzen-SP
Hultzen went 9-3 for Virginia this season, while accumulating a 1.49 ERA. In 13 starts, he pitched 90 1/3 innings, allowing just 60 hits and 15 walks. He has a great arm and has worked hard this season to get where he is as a top-five pick. ( A big game winner, and the best pitcher, I see his upside ahead of Cole, but Cole gets more press in Southern California, but make no mistake, he has a rotation spot awaiting him in 2014, or earlier, wherever he goes )
Trevor Bauer-SP
Another UCLA product, Bauer had an amazing 2011 season, striking out 142 batters with an incredible 1.47 ERA. The one knock on Bauer is his body size. He is an oblique injury away from the disabled list.
Matt Barnes-SP
A product of the University of Connecticut, Barnes might be a late first-round steal for whatever team selects him. He had a 2-2 record this season with a 1.53 ERA in 29 1/3 innings. UConn isn't known for its great baseball talents, but Barnes has a chance to change that with the help of another Huskies product.
He "got" gas, and he knows it.
Sonny Gray-SP
Much like Bauer, Vanderbilt's Gray has a small frame, but is believed that he may be ready to pitch in somebodies bullpen late in 2011. During his 2011 collegiate season, he went 4-0 with a 1.71 ERA.
( A complete package, with good second pitch, a curve, but no 3rd, or 4rth pitch )
Matt Purke-SP
One of the best TCU products ever, Purke put together a great 2011 collegiate season, going 2-1 with a 0.66 ERA. Some feel that once Purke grows into his body more, he will be a front-of-the-rotation pitcher.
( I think Purke has DL written all over him, another 100 + heater, Chapman, Strasbourg, Zumaya, Prior )
Arms have not been built to sling the ball at that speed, at least genetically not yet.
George Springer-OF
Another UConn product, Springer saw his average dip between freshman and sophomore year, but saw his stolen base total nearly triple. From sophomore to junior year, Springer's average jumped back up to .361, while hitting 12 home runs and 74 RBIs. His stolen base total surpassed 30 again in 2011, and he could be a threat on the base paths for an MLB team. He was selected by the Twins out of high school and could easily be a top-15 pick this year. ( I see him as another that might slide, due to expected $$$ expectations, the Orioles need a true lead off man, so watch out in Maryland )
Levi Michael-SS
This shortstop from North Carolina has a lot of talent and has been durable, averaging 60 games a year from 2009-11. He hasn't shown as much speed from a shortstop that I would like to see (39 steals in three seasons) but he has a great sense of the strike zone and gets on base. He will almost definitely be taken in the first round, possibly by the Mets. ( Jose Reyes, time to punch your ticket )
Taylor Jungmann-SP
This Texas pitcher had spectacular numbers in college this season, going 4-0 with a 0.78 ERA. He allowed just 21 base runners in 34 2/3 innings and will likely be a top-15 selection.
This guy has so much more upside than the previous 9, but his sign-ability has caused him to slide downwards.
New Jersey will host the 2011 June entry draft, but the Jersey Whores crew are still causing a fuss over in Florence, a city of paintings, and art, and history.
Of note on Friday, as we enter June ( my God a 1/3 rd of the season is gone ) is my Marauding Elephants on acid, fresh off a 6-1 week, and an ass whupping of my 2 two biggest contenders.
Of course, the game giveth, and the game taketh away, Matt Holliday and Jason Kubel both put on the 15 day DL yesterday, but injuries so far have not fazed this team. We will expect Hunter and Juan Pierre to make up some slack.
38-19 record, a 3 game lead, and as my son says, some weeks we just got all the breaks. Playing teams with no hitting, or poor pitching at the right time. The things generally even out over time, so expect some groaner weeks to come as the season progresses.
For now, wooo hoooo, let's enjoy the view from the top.
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