2010 GREAT LAKES SUMMER COLLEGIATE LEAGUE NEWS |
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GREAT LAKES LEAGUE TOP 25 PROSPECTS, 2009
COMPILED BY ALLAN SIMPSON In Association with League Managers and Scouts
Official League Website: www.greatlakesleague.org
It’s a bit misguided to imply that the Great Lakes League was so backed up in talent in 2008 that a first-round pick in this year’s draft didn’t warrant being ranked any higher than the 19th-best prospect overall. Six-foot-5 Kennesaw State righthander Chad Jenkins, who pitched for Lima, was largely lost in the shuffle in the Great Lakes League a year ago, and yet became a first-round pick (20th overall) of the Toronto Blue Jays this summer.
Here’s the gist of the report we wrote on Jenkins following the 2008 GLL season:
Jenkins may very well evolve into one of the top draft picks in 2009 among players that were in the Great Lakes League this summer, but he earned mixed reviews from scouts for his work at Lima. Though he earned all-league honors as a starting pitcher for compiling a tidy 3-1, 2.11 record with six walks and 36 strikeouts in 47 innings, his fastball velocity was often below average and he relied mostly on pitchability for his success—surprising, considering his big, powerful build. Jenkins worked mainly in the 88-91 mph range and threw three pitches for strikes. However, he would occasionally tease scouts and cut loose with a fastball that approached the mid-90s. His major improvement was that he grew into his big frame and made strides in learning how to pitch. After producing a 5-5, 3.96 record with 13 walks and 78 strikeouts in 89 innings as a sophomore at Kennesaw State, Jenkins could vault up draft boards in the spring if he can work in the low- to mid-90s more consistently.
Sure enough, Jenkins reached the mid-90s on a consistent basis this spring, and his draft stock took off. His case obviously not only points out that there is some significant talent in the Great Lakes League, but the inherent risk in ranking prospects in summer-league competition. Our designated No. 1-ranked prospect a year ago, righthander Tyler Wilson (Virginia), is progressing very much as projected and shapes up as an early-round selection in next year’s draft after moving on to the Cape Cod League this summer.
There should be no such difficulty this time in accurately identifying the top prospects that were in the league this summer. Lake Erie second baseman Kolbrin Vitek, who won the league’s triple crown, was a near slam-dunk choice as the league’s best talent and projects as a second- or third-rounder in 2010. Similarly, Cincinnati lefthander Mike Jefferson, Stark County righthander Perci Garner and Grand Lake shortstop Jared Hoying earned solid, across-the-board support as possible fourth- to sixth-round prospects.
With nine of the 10 teams in the league based in Ohio, it was only appropriate that all four top prospects attended Ohio high schools, though only Hoying, a rising junior at Toledo, also attends college in the state. The Lima Locos dominated the regular season and have six players on the accompanying list of top 25 prospects, but the Cincinnati Steam, with four players in the top 25, captured the league title for the second year in a row.
FAST FACTS Year League Established: 1986. States Represented in League: Indiana, Ohio. Level of Competition (1-to-4 Scale, 1 being highest): 2. No. of Teams in League: 10. Regular-Season Champion: Lima Locos. Post-Season Champion: Cincinnati Steam. Teams, PG Crosschecker Summer 25/Final Ranking: No. 21 Cincinnati Steam. No. 1 Prospect, 2008 (per PG Crosschecker): Tyler Wilson, rhp, Delaware Cows (Virginia; played in Cape Cod League in 2009). First 2008 Player Selected, 2009 Draft: Chad Jenkins, rhp, Lima Locos (Kennesaw State; Blue Jays/first round).
Player of the Year: Kolbrin Vitek, 2b, Lake Erie Monarchs. Most Outstanding Pitcher: A.J. Meyer, rhp, Lima Locos. Top Position Prospect (as selected by league): Kolbrin Vitek, 2b, Lake Erie Monarchs. Top Pitching Prospect/Lefthander: Mike Jefferson, Cincinnati Steam. Top Pitching Prospect/Righthander: Perci Garner, Stark County Terriers.
BATTING LEADERS Batting Average: Kolbrin Vitek, 2b, Lake Erie Monarchs (.400). Slugging Percentage: Kolbrin Vitek, 2b, Lake Erie Monarchs (.741). On-Base Average: Tristan Moore, of, Lima Locos (.472). Home Runs: Kolbrin Vitek, 2b, Lake Erie Monarchs (6). RBIs: Kolbrin Vitek, 2b, Lake Erie Monarchs (38). Stolen Bases: John McCambridge, of, Licking County Settlers.
PITCHING LEADERS Wins: Derek Grabner, lhp, Grand Lake Mariners; A.J. Meyer, rhp, Lima Locos (6). ERA: Dave Jensen, rhp, Southern Ohio Copperheads (0.30). Saves: Nick Karow, rhp, Licking County Settlers (9). Strikeouts: Ian Kadish, rhp, Cincinnati Steam (49). Opponent Batting Average: Dave Jensen, rhp, Southern Ohio Copperheads (.138).
BEST TOOLS Best Athlete: Ryan Strausborger, of, Cincinnati Steams. Best Hitter: Kolbrin Vitek, 2b, Lake Erie Monarchs. Best Power: Kolbrin Vitek, 2b, Lake Erie Monarchs. Fastest Base Runner: Ryan Strausborger, of, Cincinnati Steam. Best Defensive Player: Ryan Strausborger, of, Cincinnati Steam. Best Velocity: Perci Garner, rhp, Stark County Terriers. Best Breaking Ball: Tony Bucciferro, rhp, Grand Lake Mariners. Best Command: A.J. Meyer, rhp, Lima Locos.
TOP 25 PROSPECTS
PLAYER POS. TEAM B-T HT WT YR 2010 SCHOOL 1. Kolbrin Vitek 3B/2B Lake Erie Monarchs R-R 6-3 200 Jr. Ball State SCOUTING REPORT: Vitek (.400-6-38) won the triple crown in the Great Lakes League this summer, and was also tops in hits (54), total bases (100) and doubles (16). It was not an altogether surprising offensive performance for Vitek, considering he hit .389-13-67 as a Ball State sophomore, leading the team in homers and RBIs. He also paced the Mid-American Conference and tied a single-season school mark for doubles, with 25. He displayed excellent bat speed through the hitting zone with occasional loft and power to all fields, along with good plate discipline. Some of the league’s veteran coaches said he was the most-dominating righthanded hitter to play in the league in a number of years. Vitek put almost all of his focus this summer on hitting, and actually spent most of the GLL season out of position at second base. Normally a pitcher and third baseman at Ball State, Vitek arrived with a fatigued shoulder after going 4-3, 5.65 in 57 innings as a weekend starter for the Cardinals, and it was determined he would spend the summer at second to rest his arm. He still managed to work three innings for Lake Erie. The versatile Vitek made only five errors at his interim position and displayed acceptable range and hands, but it was generally agreed that his superior arm strength was wasted at the position and better suited for the hot corner. Vitek has been clocked up to 92-93 mph off the mound. In addition to his superior hitting skills, Vitek has impressive foot speed and was clocked in 6.6 seconds in the 60 at the league’s all-star game. He stole 10 bases and showed advanced base-stealing skills.
PLAYER POS. TEAM H-T HT WT YR 2010 SCHOOL 2. Mike Jefferson LHP Cincinnati Steam L-L 6-4 185 So. Louisiana Tech SCOUTING REPORT: Jefferson, a Cincinnati high-school product, went just 3-3, 6.27 with 38 walks and 39 strikeouts in 52 innings as a red-shirt freshman reliever at Louisiana Tech, but began to realize some of his vast potential this summer pitching for his hometown Steam. He went 2-1, 2.61 with 19 walks and 43 strikeouts in 31 innings, working both as a starter and in relief, and then pitched his best game of the summer in the league tournament, going the first eight innings of a 7-0 win over Xenia that propelled the Steam to the championship game and eventually to a second straight league title. He allowed two hits, walked one and struck out 10. Jefferson has a very projectable body with a loose, easy arm action. He has room to add 20-30 pounds to his lanky frame, and may throw harder down the road. His fastball ranged from 88-93 mph and showed excellent late running movement in the zone. His arsenal also includes two breaking pitches, the better one a useable, two-plane slurve that could evolve into a true slider if he can tighten it up and be more consistent with it. He just needs to learn to trust his superior stuff a little more and not nibble on the corners. Jefferson also has an exceptional pickoff move and can keep a running game pretty much in check.
PLAYER POS. TEAM B-T HT WT YR 2010 SCHOOL 3. Perci Garner RHP Stark County Terriers R-R 6-2 225 So. Ball State SCOUTING REPORT: Garner was a star football player at an Ohio high school, passing for 43 touchdowns and more than 4,400 yards his senior year, but was red-shirted his freshman year at Ball State and saw no action as a third-stringer in 2008 as starter Nate Davis commanded almost all the playing time. Garner has since chosen to cast his lot only with baseball, and made huge strides in his development as a pitching prospect this summer. After going just 1-0, 4.95 with 16 walks and 24 strikeouts in 20 innings in the spring at Ball State, he went 2-0, 1.50 with nine walks and 16 strikeouts in 12 innings for Stark County. All 28 appearances he made over the two seasons were in relief. Though he produced only modest results in his first crack at pitching in the better part of two years, there was nothing ordinary about his arm or his stuff. He showed the best velocity in the Great Lakes League with a fastball that reached 96 mph with little effort and had late movement in the zone. He also showed feel for a slider that often approached the mid-80s. Scouts say he could be lights-out down the road if he ever develops command of the two pitches. Right now, his mechanics are understandably raw as he has simply not played a lot of baseball. Garner has a strong, husky body to go with his live arm and could develop into a starter down the road if he can develop a third pitch. He flirted with a split-finger that showed some depth. Of all the players in the Great Lakes League this summer, he may have the highest ceiling but has the farthest to go to reach it.
PLAYER POS. TEAM B-T HT WT YR 2010 SCHOOL 4. Jared Hoying SS Grand Lake Mariners L-R 6-3 190 Jr. Toledo SCOUTING REPORT: Hoying has intriguing tools on both sides of the ball, but he’s not overly pretty in his approach and may be the farthest away of any position player on this list from refining them. He has excellent offensive potential with superior bat speed and a controlled uppercut swing that enabled him to produce a .293-11-50 sophomore campaign at Toledo and a .375-4-29 follow-up with a league-high eight triples this summer. But his college coaches took out the stride in his swing in the spring, and he used predominantly his hands to generate his bat speed this summer. While his hands are unusually strong and quick, he’ll need to adjust his swing mechanics and generally do a much better job of incorporating his lower half better as he progresses. Still, he has good plate coverage and the ball jumps off his bat. Hoying also has above-average big league speed and arm strength. He’s been clocked in the 60 in 6.6 seconds, and his throws across the diamond are a steady 91-92 mph. He committed 38 errors as Toledo’s shortstop in the spring and even though he cut his error total to just eight this summer, his actions in the field can often be a little rough. His hands are acceptable, but he needs to refine his overall actions, particularly his footwork—a potentially daunting proposition as Hoying wears size 16 shoes. It’s possible Hoying will end up at third base down the road, or he could even be an offensive second baseman.
PLAYER POS. TEAM B-T HT WT YR 2010 SCHOOL 5. Nick Sarianides RHP Lima Locos R-R 6-1 200 SIGNED/Indians SCOUTING REPORT: Sarianides’ time in the league was brief, but he played a pivotal role as Lima jumped out to an early advantage atop the standings and never relinquished its lead. In six relief appearances for the Locos, Sarianides saved five games. His fastball was a steady, dominating 93-95 mph, but he was forced to use it almost exclusively initially as he was unable to find consistency with his breaking ball. He quickly abandoned his slider in favor of a curveball, and that pitch was suddenly dominant the night the Cleveland Indians happened to be there to check on there summer follow. Sarianides was drafted by the Indians in the 26th round in June out of Alabama’s Chattahoochee Valley CC, and while they were reluctant to sign him at first they showed no hesitation after his final appearance in the GLL, signing him the next day to a bonus approaching $100,000. He went on to pitch at two levels in the Indians system, peaking in Low Class A, and went 3-3, 2.41 with one save in 17 relief appearances. He struck out 32 in 34 innings. Besides his two-pitch mix, Sarianides has the credentials to close. He has rubber arm and can be used almost every day, and the mentality to handle a pressure-packed, end-of-game role. Sarianides initially committed to Columbus State, near his Georgia home, out of high school but didn’t pitch there as a freshman. He moved on to Chattahoochee Valley, and responded with a 3-3, 2.88 record with two saves in his only season there.
PLAYER POS. TEAM B-T HT WT YR 2010 SCHOOL 6. Ryan Strausborger OF Cincinnati Steam R-R 6-0 180 Sr. Indiana State SCOUTING REPORT (2008): Former big leaguer Todd Benzinger managed Cincinnati to the league title, and was unabashed in his praise of the wiry, athletic Strausborger. Though he hit a modest .279-3-22 and drew just eight walks vs. 35 strikeouts, Strausborger was the glue to the Steam infield. He committed just five errors and fielded at a .966 clip—impressive numbers for any summer-league shortstop, but doubly so because Strausborger spent most of his sophomore year at Indiana State as an all-Missouri Valley Conference second baseman. He had just three errors and a .987 fielding percentage in that role. As a 6.35-second runner in the 60 (the fastest time at the Great Lakes League showcase), Strausborger has excellent range at either middle-infield position. His arm strength is just adequate by shortstop standards, however, and scouts say his hands are a little stiff—and suggest that center field might be his best option defensively. He’s still learning to hit though, and struggles against quality pitching. But with better pitch recognition and a better approach, Strausborger could become a contact-oriented, gap-to-gap hitter whose speed would be a major asset on both offense and defense. SCOUTING REPORT (2009): Strausborger led the Steam to a second straight league title, showcasing most of the same superior athleticism and raw tools as 2008, but performing at a much-higher standard this summer while playing a new position. He jumped his batting average more than 100 points, hitting to .384 (second overall), led the league with 41 runs scored and stole 22 bases in 25 attempts. Perhaps most impressive, Strausborger dramatically improved his walk-strikeout ratio to 13-11 and showed a greater ability to drive balls (14 2B/5 3B/4 HR). In the process, he may have alleviated fears in the minds of area scouts about his ability to hit with wood—the primary reason he was surprisingly passed over in this year’s draft. Strausborger was a sparkplug atop the Steam lineup, and his ability to bunt effectively, battle with two strikes and use his speed to apply defensive pressure particularly impressed scouts. Moreover, Strausborger took naturally to his new home in center field, utilizing his superior speed to run down balls while also showcasing a more than adequate arm for the position. He projects as a solid senior sign in 2010.
PLAYER POS. TEAM B-T HT WT YR 2010 SCHOOL 7. Cameron Hobson LHP Southern Ohio Copperheads L-L 6-1 205 So. Dayton SCOUTING REPORT: Hobson pitched effectively in the spring as a red-shirt freshman at Dayton, posting a 7-1, 3.43 record with 16 walks and 83 strikeouts in 79 innings. Though his 1-3 record didn’t reflect it, he pitched equally well this summer, assembling a 2.15 ERA along with 14 walks and 36 strikeouts in 38 innings. Hobson has an advanced sense of pitchability and is a fierce competitor. He gets late movement on his 87-91 mph fastball, and has good feel for both a slider and sharp, deep two-plane curveball. His changeup is developing. He is particularly effective when his curveball is working. His arm works easily and he’ll likely add 1-2 mph in velocity with experience.
PLAYER POS. TEAM B-T HT WT YR 2010 SCHOOL 8. Kolby Wood RHP Lima Locos R-R 6-6 210 Jr. Michigan SCOUTING REPORT: Lima hardly skipped a beat early in the season when it lost ace closer Nick Sarianides (No. 5 above) to the professional ranks, and replaced him with Wood. The 6-foot-6 righthander responded with four saves and a 0-0, 1.45 record, along with two walks and 20 strikeouts in 19 innings. That was a sharp upgrade from his sophomore season at Michigan, where he went 0-1, 5.97 with 13 walks and 16 strikeouts in 32 innings, working mostly in middle relief. Wood creates a good downhill trajectory on his pitches and creates deception by coming across his body from a three-quarters angle with a herky-jerky delivery. He not only has an intimidating mound presence, but he augments the look with a solid four-pitch mix that includes a late-moving 88-93 mph fastball. He also has a nasty, biting slider and a tantalizing mid-80s splitter, and generally throws all his pitches with command. Wood was a 44th-round draft pick of the Detroit Tigers in 2007, and while his college career has been slower to materialize than expected, his summer performance could give him a needed jumpstart and it’s also possible he could add 3-4 mph in velocity once he fills out his big, lanky build. Though Wood adapted well to a closer role and appears to have the makeup needed to remain there, he also has the array of pitches to be a starter. In fact, Michigan coaches had wanted him to be used as a starter this summer in anticipation of his being a starter in 2010, but a sore wrist early in the season cost him a shot and Sarianides’ unexpected departure necessitated using Wood as a c |