Drafting Prospects

I will update this more as more information is released. With the draft coming up this next week here is a look with help from Baseball America, here is a glance at some of the recruits Oregon State may or may not wind up getting because of the draft.

Devin Shepherd – Nevada – A JC transfer, Shepherd does not appear to be much of a threat to leave for pro ball, HOWEVER and obviously a big however, it is believed (according to Baseball America) that he has changed his commitment from Oregon State to UC-Santa Barbara.

Carter Bell – Canada – BA makes it sound as though Bell will probably wind up in Corvallis. He does not profile past Canadian High School as a shortstop. They feel he can play for the Beavers immediately possibly at short in his college years. He has a slow 60 time of 7.0-seconds and with the assumed move he would make to third in pro ball does not have a powerful enough bat to generate a large amount of interest early in the draft.

Iowa Prospects – Jim Callis of BA writes, “Iowa’s two best prospects are high schoolers who are more likely to attend Oregon State than turn pro this summer. Outfielder Brent Warren needs to get stronger and righthander B.J. Hermsen’s stuff has slipped, and both figure to go higher in the draft after three years with the Beavers.”

1. Brent Warren, of, Xavier HS, Cedar Rapids (National Rank: 130) (Directly from BA)

“Warren feared his baseball career was over when a routine physical during his junior year revealed that he had a congenital heart defect. But he was cleared to return to the diamond after surgery and re-established himself as a quality prospect for the 2008 draft. Extremely projectable at 6-foot-3 and 175 pounds, Warren is reminiscent of former Iowa prep standout Ryan Sweeney—and he’s more athletic than Sweeney was. Though he still has room to add a lot of strength, the ball jumps off Warren’s bat at times. He’s an intelligent hitter with a sweet lefthanded swing that catches up to good fastballs. He’s an above-average runner and center fielder, and while his arm isn’t back to where it was before his heart surgery, it should be average in time. Pro clubs are focusing on Warren as an outfielder, but he could contribute as a two-way player if he attends Oregon State.”

BJ Hermsen – Iowa – The big pitcher from Iowa has fallen quite a bit in his draft stock due to a broken collarbone from football. His conditioning has been down and his velocity has dropped only recently touching 92-mph. His slider has not been impressing scouts and Baseball America believes without a bonus he may have gotten without injury, he will likely join Warren in Corvallis.

Niko Vasquez – Nevada – Not going to write much about Vasquez because it very clearly sounds like he will not arrive on campus. He was academically ineligible for the month of February, which may show that he is a little less interested in giong to classes and doing schoolwork then with what he does on the ball field.

Kyle Beverley – Utah – Due to his lack of a standout tool college is likely the destination for Beverley. He runs well and Baseball America expects that he could contribute early for the Beavers.