Top 40 Pitchers in 2009 Draft

[Stotle]

Finally finished the last of my pre-season positional rankings. I'll hopefully be finished with the Top 100 sometime next week. Here's the list for those who don't want to look elsewhere. Note that this is probably the most volatile position with the highest likelihood for movement over the next six months:

Fall 2009: Top 40 Pitchers

1. Stephen Strasburg, Junior, San Diego State University

2. Alex White, Junior, University of North Carolina

3. Tyler Matzek, Senior, Capastrano HS (CA)

4. Aaron Crow, Independent League, Fort Worth

5. Shelby Miller, Senior, Brownwood HS (TX)

6. Matt Purke, Senior, Klein HS (TX)

7. Andy Oliver, Junior, Oklahoma State University

8. Kyle Gibson, Junior, University of Missouri

9. Jacob Turner, Senior, Westminster Christian Academy (MO)

10. Kendal Volz, Junior, Baylor University

11. Mike Minor, Junior, Vanderbilt University

12. Zack Wheeler, Senior, East Paulding HS (GA)

13. Mychal Givens, Senior, Plant HS (FL)

14. Scott Griggs, Senior, San Ramon Valley HS (CA)

15. Madison Younginer, Senior, Mauldin HS (SC)

16. Tyler Skaggs, Senior, Santa Monica HS (CA)

17. Mike Leake, Junior, Arizona State University

18. Tanner Scheppers, Independent, St. Paul

19. Ian Krol, Senior, Neuqua Valley HS (IL)

20. Ben Tootle, Junior, Jacksonville State University

21. Keyvius Sampson, Senior, Forest HS (FL)

22. Matt Graham, Senior, Oak Ridge HS (TX)

23. Mike Nesseth, Sophomore, University of Nebraska

24. Chad Thompson, Senior, El Toro HS (CA)

25. Matt Thompson, Junior, University of San Diego

26. Slade Heathcott, Senior, Texas HS (TX)

27. James Jones, Junior, Long Island University

28. Jason Stoffel, Junior, University of Arizona

29. Tyler Lyons, Junior, Oklahoma State University

30. Daniel Tuttle, Senior, Randleman HS (NC)

31. David Renfroe, Senior, South Panola HS (MS)

32. Brad Boxberger, Junior, University of Southern California

33. Darin Gorski, Junior, Kutztown University (Div-II)

34. Chad James, Senior, Yukon HS (OK)

35. Garrett Richards, Junior, University of Oklahoma

36. Michael Heller, Senior, Cardinal Moony HS (CA)

37. Jeff Inman, Junior, Stanford University

38. Shawn Tolleson, Sophomore, Baylor University

39. Beau Wright, Senior, Los Alamitos HS (CA)

40. Matt Hobgood, Senior, Norco HS (CA)

Best Fastball: Stephen Strasburg

Best Curveball: Stephen Strasburg

Best Slider: Kyle Gibson

Best Changeup: Mike Minor

Best RHP: Stephen Strasburg

Best LHP: Tyler Matzek

Best Future Reliever: Kendal Volz

Next: Top 100

[Moose Milligan]

I can see MacPhail drafting an arm. If Snyder and Rowell are hitting well in the first half and showing promise, I can see MacPhail picking another college arm.

Its true, can't get enough of it. No hope that Strasburg would fall to us, but Matsuz did...you never know...

[mtairydan]

Finally finished the last of my pre-season positional rankings. I'll hopefully be finished with the Top 100 sometime next week. Here's the list for those who don't want to look elsewhere. Note that this is probably the most volatile position with the highest likelihood for movement over the next six months:

Fall 2009: Top 40 Pitchers

1. Stephen Strasburg, Junior, San Diego State University

2. Alex White, Junior, University of North Carolina

3. Tyler Matzek, Senior, Capastrano HS (CA)

4. Aaron Crow, Independent League, Fort Worth

5. Shelby Miller, Senior, Brownwood HS (TX)

6. Matt Purke, Senior, Klein HS (TX)

7. Andy Oliver, Junior, Oklahoma State University

8. Kyle Gibson, Junior, University of Missouri

9. Jacob Turner, Senior, Westminster Christian Academy (MO)

10. Kendal Volz, Junior, Baylor University

11. Mike Minor, Junior, Vanderbilt University

12. Zack Wheeler, Senior, East Paulding HS (GA)

13. Mychal Givens, Senior, Plant HS (FL)

14. Scott Griggs, Senior, San Ramon Valley HS (CA)

15. Madison Younginer, Senior, Mauldin HS (SC)

16. Tyler Skaggs, Senior, Santa Monica HS (CA)

17. Mike Leake, Junior, Arizona State University

18. Tanner Scheppers, Independent, St. Paul

19. Ian Krol, Senior, Neuqua Valley HS (IL)

20. Ben Tootle, Junior, Jacksonville State University

21. Keyvius Sampson, Senior, Forest HS (FL)

22. Matt Graham, Senior, Oak Ridge HS (TX)

23. Mike Nesseth, Sophomore, University of Nebraska

24. Chad Thompson, Senior, El Toro HS (CA)

25. Matt Thompson, Junior, University of San Diego

26. Slade Heathcott, Senior, Texas HS (TX)

27. James Jones, Junior, Long Island University

28. Jason Stoffel, Junior, University of Arizona

29. Tyler Lyons, Junior, Oklahoma State University

30. Daniel Tuttle, Senior, Randleman HS (NC)

31. David Renfroe, Senior, South Panola HS (MS)

32. Brad Boxberger, Junior, University of Southern California

33. Darin Gorski, Junior, Kutztown University (Div-II)

34. Chad James, Senior, Yukon HS (OK)

35. Garrett Richards, Junior, University of Oklahoma

36. Michael Heller, Senior, Cardinal Moony HS (CA)

37. Jeff Inman, Junior, Stanford University

38. Shawn Tolleson, Sophomore, Baylor University

39. Beau Wright, Senior, Los Alamitos HS (CA)

40. Matt Hobgood, Senior, Norco HS (CA)

Best Fastball: Stephen Strasburg

Best Curveball: Stephen Strasburg

Best Slider: Kyle Gibson

Best Changeup: Mike Minor

Best RHP: Stephen Strasburg

Best LHP: Tyler Matzek

Best Future Reliever: Kendal Volz

Next: Top 100

Thanks for the list. Do you think that the O's would take Crow at 1-5 if Matzek went 1-4? It would give us the two top-rated pitchers from last years draft and he could start out at Frederick or Bowie on a fast track similar to Matusz.

[Stotle]

Thanks for the list. Do you think that the O's would take Crow at 1-5 if Matzek went 1-4? It would give us the two top-rated pitchers from last years draft and he could start out at Frederick or Bowie on a fast track similar to Matusz.

As of today, I think it's possible. You'd have to consider some of the other pitchers with top 5 potential and of course guys like Donovan Tate and Dustin Ackley.

[mtairydan]

As of today, I think it's possible. You'd have to consider some of the other pitchers with top 5 potential and of course guys like Donovan Tate and Dustin Ackley.

My thought on that would be that they would have two top of the rotation pitching prospects that potentially could be on the 2010 staff if not at the start certainly to be called up by the mid-point or by September. Then later in the draft they could fill out their organizational position player shortages by selecting hitters and fielders and then draft over-slot type prospects similar to what they did this past draft.

[Stotle]

My thought on that would be that they would have two top of the rotation pitching prospects that potentially could be on the 2010 staff if not at the start certainly to be called up by the mid-point or by September. Then later in the draft they could fill out their organizational position player shortages by selecting hitters and fielders and then draft over-slot type prospects similar to what they did this past draft.

i think the first pick will go to whomever BAL figures to be the best future MLer. i dont see them making a pick with a specific rotation spot in mind. I assume Jordan will have a general idea of what he's looking for and then will look at how to get that out of the draft. It could be very similar to last year's approach. Just. conjecture.

[DennisTheOsFan]

Who would you take if the 5 spot came between Donovan Tate and Dustin Ackley (with Ackley being looked at as a LFer)?

[PaulBako]

Who would you take if the 5 spot came between Donovan Tate and Dustin Ackley (with Ackley being looked at as a LFer)?

I would take Dustin Ackley as a LF. He would complete our great outfield and would be less of a risk than Tate.

But if ackley was a 1B, I would take Tate.

[DennisTheOsFan]

Yeah, I guess I'd take the safe approach too.

Donovan has a higher ceiling because of his potential tools, but he'll most likely take longer to reach the majors, and the chances of him doing that are not as high, currently, as is Ackley's chances (being that he's more polished from his time in college).

[Camden_yardbird]

I would take Dustin Ackley as a LF. He would complete our great outfield and would be less of a risk than Tate.

But if ackley was a 1B, I would take Tate.

If you think Markakis will be around by the time this years first rounder makes it to the majors you would be fooling yourself.

[PaulBako]

If you think Markakis will be around by the time this years first rounder makes it to the majors you would be fooling yourself.

Why? Ackley is a college hitter and he may take only one or two years to reach the majors. Markakis would be in his prime by then.

[DennisTheOsFan]

If you think Markakis will be around by the time this years first rounder makes it to the majors you would be fooling yourself.

Are you thinking Markakis won't sign an extension with the team?

[PaulBako]

Are you thinking Markakis won't sign an extension with the team?

He is part of the group that want to trade Markakis. :rolleyestf:

[DennisTheOsFan]

Yeah, I'd trade Markakis too--if we can get more in return in the trade.

But I'm more than happy with Markakis, and hope we can extend him. No sense in trading him if we can retain him. He's the type of homegrown star talent who teams can be proud of. He's a quite star player who keeps his nose clean, and produces improved numbers every year.

[TJ Wrangler]

Finally finished the last of my pre-season positional rankings. I'll hopefully be finished with the Top 100 sometime next week. Here's the list for those who don't want to look elsewhere. Note that this is probably the most volatile position with the highest likelihood for movement over the next six months:

Fall 2009: Top 40 Pitchers

1. Stephen Strasburg, Junior, San Diego State University

2. Alex White, Junior, University of North Carolina

3. Tyler Matzek, Senior, Capastrano HS (CA)

4. Aaron Crow, Independent League, Fort Worth

5. Shelby Miller, Senior, Brownwood HS (TX)

6. Matt Purke, Senior, Klein HS (TX)

7. Andy Oliver, Junior, Oklahoma State University

8. Kyle Gibson, Junior, University of Missouri

9. Jacob Turner, Senior, Westminster Christian Academy (MO)

10. Kendal Volz, Junior, Baylor University

11. Mike Minor, Junior, Vanderbilt University

12. Zack Wheeler, Senior, East Paulding HS (GA)

13. Mychal Givens, Senior, Plant HS (FL)

14. Scott Griggs, Senior, San Ramon Valley HS (CA)

15. Madison Younginer, Senior, Mauldin HS (SC)

16. Tyler Skaggs, Senior, Santa Monica HS (CA)

17. Mike Leake, Junior, Arizona State University

18. Tanner Scheppers, Independent, St. Paul

19. Ian Krol, Senior, Neuqua Valley HS (IL)

20. Ben Tootle, Junior, Jacksonville State University

21. Keyvius Sampson, Senior, Forest HS (FL)

22. Matt Graham, Senior, Oak Ridge HS (TX)

23. Mike Nesseth, Sophomore, University of Nebraska

24. Chad Thompson, Senior, El Toro HS (CA)

25. Matt Thompson, Junior, University of San Diego

26. Slade Heathcott, Senior, Texas HS (TX)

27. James Jones, Junior, Long Island University

28. Jason Stoffel, Junior, University of Arizona

29. Tyler Lyons, Junior, Oklahoma State University

30. Daniel Tuttle, Senior, Randleman HS (NC)

31. David Renfroe, Senior, South Panola HS (MS)

32. Brad Boxberger, Junior, University of Southern California

33. Darin Gorski, Junior, Kutztown University (Div-II)

34. Chad James, Senior, Yukon HS (OK)

35. Garrett Richards, Junior, University of Oklahoma

36. Michael Heller, Senior, Cardinal Moony HS (CA)

37. Jeff Inman, Junior, Stanford University

38. Shawn Tolleson, Sophomore, Baylor University

39. Beau Wright, Senior, Los Alamitos HS (CA)

40. Matt Hobgood, Senior, Norco HS (CA)

Best Fastball: Stephen Strasburg

Best Curveball: Stephen Strasburg

Best Slider: Kyle Gibson

Best Changeup: Mike Minor

Best RHP: Stephen Strasburg

Best LHP: Tyler Matzek

Best Future Reliever: Kendal Volz

Next: Top 100

Another year without my name among the top prospects.

Oh well, there is always next lifetime. :laughlol: