Draft Preview: Prep Outfielders Highlight the Position
-Dexter Sports
8:33 AM
Dexter-Sports Inbox
Many teams looking for outfielders are hard pressed to find the talent needed to succeed professionally. Only two outfielders are listed in Baseball America's top 25 draft prospects. This trend has led to many teams changing positions of players to compliment needs in the system (Matt LaPorta, Neil Walker, Jayson Werth). On Thursday, we could see as many as five outfielder go in the first round. Lets take a look at the position.
Aaron Hicks: S/R Wilson (CA.) HS: Hicks is one of the best all-around prep players in the draft. Teams will have to choose if he is more valuable as a pitcher or hitter, but it seems his destiny is center field. Hicks has all the tools you cannot teach. His speed allows him to cover the gaps in center, and leg out hits that were not hit off the bat well. Hicks is very raw and will be taught a lot about the game in the first few years of his professional career.
Jason Collier: L/L Chino Hills (CA.) HS: Collier is a late bloom prep prospect that was discovered when scouts went to view teammate Issac Galloway and Eric Hicks in a local Connie Mack League. Collier generates a lot of power from the left side and with the combination of speed, he seems to fit the mold of a center fielder. Like Hicks, Collier is very raw and at 17 still has a lot of learning to do. That is partially why teams have interest in him so early in the draft. They will be able to mold them how they like with their own coaching. Collier has been sai
d by some to be a lock in the first 12 picks.
Dennis Raben: L/L Miami: Raben can be described in two words: power potential. Though Raben has struggled this season at Miami, due to injury and inconsistency, Raben should be a first to second round pick because of the weak depth in this year's class. Raben shows a tendency of being too conservative in the zone and too aggressive against slop pitches out of the zone. Raben lacks speed as well, so he could be moved to first base or DH some point in his career.
Issac Galloway: R/R Los Osos (CA) HS: Galloway is a step above California prepsters Aaron Hicks and Zach Collier in right now ability, but doesn't have quite the ceiling that his former teammates do. Galloway has decent speed and power from the right side and projects to be an everyday outfielder (most likely left) with 10+ homers and steals a season. Galloway has a great outfield arm that could hose a bunch of base runners in his career.
Brett Lawrie: R/R Brooksfield (CA.) B.C.: Some say that Lawrie is the best prospect out of Canada since Larry Walker. His power, which is rated a 70 on the 20-80 scale is unmatchable at this position. Though Lawrie projects as a second or third baseman, we could see him make the move to the outfield because of his lack of defensive skill. Lawrie hit doubles off of Royals pitchers Luke Hochevar and Kyle Davies in extended spring training. Some scouts would love to teach Lawrie the catcher position, but with an electric bat, there might not be time for the development.
Roger Keischnick L/R Texas Tech: Keischnick is a difficult prospect because of his flash of excellence yet he has shown some lack of plate pressence. Keischnick tied Pedro Alvarez with 7 homer runs in his summer run with Team USA and is the top rated Texas position player in the draft. Though he seems to be a sandwich pick, Keischnick might sneak into the first, simply because of the lack of top notch college outfielders in the draft.
8:33 AM
Dexter-Sports Inbox
Many teams looking for outfielders are hard pressed to find the talent needed to succeed professionally. Only two outfielders are listed in Baseball America's top 25 draft prospects. This trend has led to many teams changing positions of players to compliment needs in the system (Matt LaPorta, Neil Walker, Jayson Werth). On Thursday, we could see as many as five outfielder go in the first round. Lets take a look at the position.
Aaron Hicks: S/R Wilson (CA.) HS: Hicks is one of the best all-around prep players in the draft. Teams will have to choose if he is more valuable as a pitcher or hitter, but it seems his destiny is center field. Hicks has all the tools you cannot teach. His speed allows him to cover the gaps in center, and leg out hits that were not hit off the bat well. Hicks is very raw and will be taught a lot about the game in the first few years of his professional career.
Jason Collier: L/L Chino Hills (CA.) HS: Collier is a late bloom prep prospect that was discovered when scouts went to view teammate Issac Galloway and Eric Hicks in a local Connie Mack League. Collier generates a lot of power from the left side and with the combination of speed, he seems to fit the mold of a center fielder. Like Hicks, Collier is very raw and at 17 still has a lot of learning to do. That is partially why teams have interest in him so early in the draft. They will be able to mold them how they like with their own coaching. Collier has been sai
d by some to be a lock in the first 12 picks.Dennis Raben: L/L Miami: Raben can be described in two words: power potential. Though Raben has struggled this season at Miami, due to injury and inconsistency, Raben should be a first to second round pick because of the weak depth in this year's class. Raben shows a tendency of being too conservative in the zone and too aggressive against slop pitches out of the zone. Raben lacks speed as well, so he could be moved to first base or DH some point in his career.
Issac Galloway: R/R Los Osos (CA) HS: Galloway is a step above California prepsters Aaron Hicks and Zach Collier in right now ability, but doesn't have quite the ceiling that his former teammates do. Galloway has decent speed and power from the right side and projects to be an everyday outfielder (most likely left) with 10+ homers and steals a season. Galloway has a great outfield arm that could hose a bunch of base runners in his career.
Brett Lawrie: R/R Brooksfield (CA.) B.C.: Some say that Lawrie is the best prospect out of Canada since Larry Walker. His power, which is rated a 70 on the 20-80 scale is unmatchable at this position. Though Lawrie projects as a second or third baseman, we could see him make the move to the outfield because of his lack of defensive skill. Lawrie hit doubles off of Royals pitchers Luke Hochevar and Kyle Davies in extended spring training. Some scouts would love to teach Lawrie the catcher position, but with an electric bat, there might not be time for the development.
Roger Keischnick L/R Texas Tech: Keischnick is a difficult prospect because of his flash of excellence yet he has shown some lack of plate pressence. Keischnick tied Pedro Alvarez with 7 homer runs in his summer run with Team USA and is the top rated Texas position player in the draft. Though he seems to be a sandwich pick, Keischnick might sneak into the first, simply because of the lack of top notch college outfielders in the draft.
