-Dexter Sports
2:27 PM
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In a heavy position player first round, It isn't hard to tell what arms from the college game will rock the first round. Guys like Shooter Hunt, Brian Matusz, Aaron Crown and Tanner Scheppers are the cream of the college baseball crop. It is time for them to show what they are worth at the professional level. Here is a look of college pitchers that should be taken in the first round.

• Brian Matusz L/L San Diego: Anyone who is following the draft knows the name and they know it well. Ranked as the second best prospect in the draft by Baseball America, the 6'5" lefty has a 93 MPH fastball that unlike many young pitchers, isn't used as his go to pitch. Matusz focuses on his wonderful offspeed pitches that has many hitters dancing in the box. Matusz, who was second in the NCAA in strikeouts to number one pick David Price last year, has some of the best mechanics in the game. Matusz should be picked in the top 5. If everything falls into the place, he would fall into the hands of the Baltimore Orioles, who could desperately use a future ace.

• Aaron Crow R/R Missouri: Unlike Matusz, Crow heavily depends on his fastball to get hitters out. Ranked the best in the draft, Crow features a sinking fastball that floats anywhere between 92-96 MPH. His slider can also be devestating with a late break that is hard to pick up for lefties and righties alike. One issue that surrounds Crow is his jerky delivery and stature. Some scouts believe he will end up a closer because of his small frame (6'3" 195 LBs). Either way Crow has proven him self to every organization. Crow was undrafted out of high school.

• Shooter Hunt R/R Tulane: His name says it all. Though fairly new to the starting role, Hunt can shoot with the best of them. Hunt began pitching as a junior in high school, but that has not stopped him from dominating hitters. Hunt, who went 9-1 with a 1.97 ERA in 12 starts has a nasty bite on all of his pitches. His fastball reaches 93 on the gun but with movement it is a hard pitch to pick up. His curveball has been described as a slider with curveball dip. Minus the small things that come with experience on the mound, Shooter Hunt is the total package. He had 105 strikeouts this season. This man won't last much past top ten.

• Tanner Scheppers R/R Fresno State: Scheppers was a force for the Bulldogs this season, logging 71 innings and winning 8 games for Fresno. Scheppers' fastball touches 96 on most occasions and he feels very comfortable using it. His curve though is a different story. Though it is a power hook and is effective when located well, Scheppers has a tendency to leave it in the zone. If he can learn to pitch a fluid game without rushing himself, Scheppers could become a frontline starter. Teams will be more than willing to take that chance. Expect Scheppers off the board in the first 15 picks of the draft.

• Christian Friedrich L/L Eastern Kentucky: Friedrich reminds me a lot of Barry Zito. Simply because he is the dark horse of the first round, that all the scouts love but are afraid to take a chance on. Friedrich has a nasty 12-6 curve that at one point had top prospects Buster Posey, Jason Castro and Gordon Beckham fooled. Scouts have pushed Friedrich to use his slider more and the result has been another pitch that is plus. Friedrich also has a change that has been effective and should be a good pitch as a professional. When it is all said and done, Friedrich is the second best lefty available behind Matusz.

• Joshua Fields R/R Georgia: Fields is easily the best closer in the country. He hold the Georgia record for career saves and struck out nearly two batters per inning in his senior season. Fields has a fastball that sits in the mid nineties but peaks at 98. His curveball is a downer that catches a lot of hitters chase in the dirt. Scouts say that if Field's stuff is on, then he has the ability to be the first pitcher in the majors from this draft. I wouldn't doubt it. The braves spent a second round pick on the pitcher in 07. Expect first round in 08.

• Andrew Cashner R/R Texas Christian: Speaking of flame throwing relievers, Cashner is one of the few in this draft that can keep his fastball consistently between 96-98. Though some teams have interest in him as a starter, Cashner projects to be a great bull pen guy, simply because he is a bit erratic to start. His slider is electric when on and in the future he will probably cut out his mediocre curve from his repertoire. I have a feeling someone will draft this guy way ahead of his due time, just because he can bring the heat. That makes it hard to judge where this kid could fall.