EVENT DATE: 5/22/2005

LOCATION: El Camino College

Our last event (May 15 in Baltimore, MD) featured great defensive players. This week in Southern California, hitters were on display. It seemed like every other guy during batting practice was hitting hard line drives up the middle or the other way, and one or two guys per hitting group was crushing balls into the trees behind the outfield fence. 

The underclassmen were especially talented, we certainly expect to hear (and write) more about them in future. For now, we will focus on the 2006 graduates – since the recruiting process is about to heat up for them, as they go into a very important summer.

The Top 5 Prospects were picked by Andy Ferguson and Dan Mooney (Director of Scouting and Assistant Director of Scouting respectively) based on their performance at the event. The ranking is based on their status as college prospects, and is relative to the entire group of 2006 graduates we saw on the day (underclassmen are not considered).

Top 5 Prospects (2006 graduates)

1. Kenny Mickens, OF – Las Vegas, NV (Spring Valley HS), 5-11, 188, R/R. An impressively built young man, Mickens looks more like a linebacker than a baseball player – until you watch him swing the bat. His bat speed (and speed in general, 6.86 60yds) jumps out as plus-plus, and the ball jumps off his bat. He has some rhythm to his prep, and holds his balance very well. Tended to hit the bottom of the ball, which created towering home runs along with some pop ups. With a deeper contact point, and more trust in his hands, he will center the ball more consistently. Arm strength and fielding need to improve, but the potential in the bat is good enough to carry him even without the other tools.

2. James Kang, SS/RHP – Huntington Beach, CA (Ocean View HS), 5-9, 155, R/R. Don’t let the 5-9 frame fool you…Kang is a solid 2-way prospect. He combined athletic ability with skill and polish in all areas of his game. Hitting graded out as his best position player tool. He also ran well (7.15 60yds), showed a solid arm, above average fielding ability, along with doubles and gap power. On the mound he topped at 83 mph (don’t let that fool you either…) and showed a plus curveball and changeup, along with a solid cutter. He has quality stuff, a repeatable and simple delivery, and above average control – these things set him up as a guy that can pitch, and this fits his overall “polished” style.

3. Frankie Reed, LHP – Simi Valley, CA (Simi Valley HS), 6-1, 170, L/L. An athletic left hander with a very quick arm, and a fastball that reached 87 mph. He pitched from a low three quarters arm angle, which gave his fastball big tailing action to his arm side. His delivery was balanced, and his arm stroke solid. He also showed a good change-up, with tail and good downward action. He threw a curveball and a slider, was aggressive (mid to upper 70’s) with both but didn’t quite snap either. It is hard to find a consistent breaking ball from a low arm slot, but especially necessary for a left hander. The slider looks like the way to go for him, he has the arm speed and aggressiveness to throw it. Reed has great upside potential as a pitcher, also runs well (6.92 60yds).

4. Andrew Widmark, RHP/2B – Poway, CA (Poway HS), 5-8, 175, R/R. Just like Kang, if you look past him because of his height you will miss on him. He showed three above average pitches – his tight, near 12 to 6 shape curveball has plus-plus potential. His four seam fastball topped at 86 mph, and he also showed a low 80’s two seamer with good arm side life. He featured plus balance and body control throughout his repeatable delivery, which combined with his excellent feel for pitching allowed him to show plus-plus control. There is some potential for him as a 2-way player. He is a solid fielder at second base, and a near above average hitter with some power to the gaps. Most people will look at him as a pitcher only until he shows he can run a little better (7.53 60yds), though he plays faster than that in the infield.

5. Patrick Glenn, OF – Pleasanton, CA (Amador Valley HS), 6-0, 180, L/R. Glenn has an athletic build, with strength in his body and great baseball muscles (forearms). He ran well (6.90 60yds) and showed a polished defensive approach in the outfield – precise actions, great footwork and routes to get into position to throw. His arm strength is deceptive, hit 75 mph on the radar gun but his overhand release allowed great backspin and on line carry into the target – proof that the last ten feet of the throw is just as important as the first ten feet. At the plate he showed life in his hands and wrists, and he relied on them in his stroke. His rhythm and balance can improve, in order to help him get ready to hit sooner and level out his path through the zone. We think he is better than he showed, and has good upside as a hitter.

Ben Taylor, 2B – San Bernardino, CA (Pacific HS), 5-11, 175, R/R. Taylor was bothered by his left knee during the workout, he was not 100%. His knee did not allow to run as well as he can, and also hampered his hitting. It did not seem to give him any trouble in the infield, where his hands and actions stood out. He is a good looking young man, with good proportions and the look of a baseball player. He showed life in his wrists at the plate, and flashed some great strokes when he was in sequence with his body – in general, it looked like his offensive ability was blocked by his mechanics, which were mostly hampered by his left knee injury. Had we seen him at 100%, it would have been very hard to keep him out of the Top 5.

Top Prospects ARCHIVE

See below for more information about the B.A.T.S. Program, and PUMA National Tournament Team Tryouts. Also, be sure to click on the link for our complete 2005 schedule.

B.A.T.S VIDEO SCOUTING SESSIONS
– includes edited video and scouting report on personal web page
– also an opportunity to tryout for National Tournament Teams
– call 800-641-4487 to register

PUMA NATIONAL TOURNAMENT TEAM TRYOUTS
– an opportunity to tryout for National Tournament Teams
– does not include video, scouting report, or personal webpage
– call 800-621-5452 to register

Baseball Factory 2005 Schedule