6'5, 220lbs, clocked at 95 sound about right? Harrison is one of the five powerhouse teams in a 15-mile radius in Tippecanoe County, the Lafayette area. The Raiders, the 1995 state champions, have had non-stop winning seasons since the 1980s, but have been forced to battle McCutcheon and Jefferson at the sectional every year. The Raiders are 103-45 in the first five years of this decade and are looking to head to the state finals for the first time since 2000. The optimism is based on one player, right-handed pitcher Josh Lindblom, a gifted pitcher. When high school boys throw the ball 85 miles and hour, they get college scholarships and pro scouts encourage them to play hard at the university and consider a future in professional baseball. Josh Lindblom has been clocked at 95 miles and hour and pro scouts aren't encouraging him to go to school at all. Lindblom (3-0, 0.70), who is committed to Tennessee, will be a certain first or second round draft choice in pro baseball's June draft. He is the No.1 prospect in Indiana. Baseball America rated him the No. 94 prospect in the nation and the right-hander has struck out 31 batters in 20 innings to prove it. http://www.usa-365.com/Week-4_2005_baseball_Top-10_4-28-05.htm
http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/topstory/3214672 Astros draft Koby Clemens with 254th pick Houston takes Tulane's LHP Brian Bogusevic with top choice at no. 24 spot Houston picked ace Astros pitcher Roger Clemens' oldest son, Koby, with the 254th overall pick in today's Major League Baseball Draft. The younger Clemens is a third baseman at Memorial High School. Earlier today, the Astros picked left-handed pitcher Brian Bogusevic (Tulane) at the no. 24 spot, Houston's top choice in today's MLB Draft. The Astros also took Tennessee outfielder Eli Iorg with the no. 38 choice, catcher Ralph Henriquez out of Key West High School, Fla., with the 72nd overall pick and another Tulane product Thomas Manzella, a shortstop, in the third round at the 89th spot. KOBY CLEMENS Later in the third round at no. 104, Houston selected right-handed pitcher Joshua Lindblom from Harrison High School (Ind.). Houston's other picks on the first day included outfielder Joshua Flores of Trenton College (Ill.) at 134 and third baseman Wilson Hart of USC at 164. Former Rice pitcher Wade Townsend was taken at the no. 8 spot by Tampa Bay. Townsend was drafted last year by Baltimore -- also with the eighth pick -- but turned down an offer from the Orioles, returned to school and renounced his college eligibility to continue contract negotiations. Baltimore lost its rights to Townsend once he attended classes. A 6-3, 211-pound junior from Oak Lawn, Ill., Houston's top pick Bogusevic leads the Green Wave with 13 wins, a 2.72 ERA, and 119.1 innings pitched. Heading into the NCAA Super Regionals this weekend, his number of innings pitched leads Conference USA while his ERA, wins and 119 strikeouts rank second. The 21-year-old started 17 games and held opponents to a team-best .239 batting average. He also saw action in 36 games as a position player, including 23 starts in right field and seven as the designated hitter. Bogusevic is hitting .324 with seven doubles and 21 RBI while stealing nine bases. In 2005, Bogusevic earned first-team All-Conference USA honors as a pitcher. A Legal Studies Major, he was also named to the College Baseball Foundation National Honors Team, the NCAA New Orleans Regional All-Tournament team and the Conference USA All-Tournament team (pitcher). In addition, Bogusevic is a semifinalist for the Xanthus-Dick Howser Trophy, the Roger Clemens Award and the Brooks Wallace Award. Houston had not selected a left-handed pitcher in the first round since taking Billy Wagner in 1993. The last pitcher selected by the club in the first round was right-hander Derick Grigsby in 2002. Bogusevic becomes the second Tulane player drafted by the Astros, joining former Green Wave infielder Mickey McKee who went to the Astros in the 32nd round of the 2000 draft. Earlier today, Justin Upton, a slugging high school shortstop from Virginia, was taken by the Arizona Diamondbacks with the No. 1 pick. Upton and his brother B.J., the second pick in 2002 by Tampa Bay, are the highest-drafted siblings in draft history. The younger Upton was generally considered the best all-around athlete in this year's draft. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Upton was mainly a shortstop at Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake, Va., but also played third base and could move to the outfield in the pros. He has great power potential, solid defensive skills and is speedy on the bases. Arizona picked No. 1 overall for the first time. The Diamondbacks' previous highest selection was No. 4 in 1999, when they took another high school shortstop, Corey Myers. With the second pick, Kansas City selected Nebraska third baseman Alex Gordon. Undrafted out of high school, the two-time Big 12 player of year and Golden Spikes Award finalist is hitting .382 with 18 home runs and 68 RBIs for the Huskers. Southern California catcher Jeff Clement went No. 3 to Seattle. Highly touted since he set the national high school career home run record, Clement has become an all-around hitter and solid defensive catcher. Washington took University of Virginia third baseman Ryan Zimmerman with the fourth pick. Zimmerman, who set a Team USA record with a .468 batting average last summer, is also a tremendous defensive player who's been described as a future Gold Glover. Miami third baseman Ryan Braun was selected fifth by Milwaukee. The offensive leader of the Hurricanes is batting .396 with 18 homers and 75 RBIs. Toronto took Cal State Fullerton left-hander Ricky Romero with the sixth pick. The Big West pitcher of the year is 12-5 with a 2.95 ERA for the defending College World Series champions. Long Beach State's Troy Tulowitzki went seventh to Colorado. The successor to AL Rookie of the Year Bobby Crosby at shortstop for the 49ers is considered an even better all-around athlete. Tampa Bay then took Townsend. The New York Mets selected hard-throwing righty Mike Pelfrey of Wichita State with the ninth pick. The 6-foot-7 Pelfrey is a two-time Missouri Valley Conference pitcher of the year. With the 10th pick, Detroit took North Carolina high school outfielder Cameron Maybin. Florida high school outfielder Andrew McCutchen went next to Pittsburgh, followed by Texas high school outfielder Jay Bruce to Cincinnati. Baltimore chose Virginia high school catcher Brandon Snyder; Cleveland selected Arizona outfielder Trevor Crowe; and the Chicago White Sox picked Texas Christian right-hander Lance Broadway with the 15th selection. This year — the draft's 40th anniversary — marks the first time the selection order is based on the previous year's record from worst to best, regardless of league. In past years, the picks alternated between leagues. The draft lasts 50 rounds and is conducted through Wednesday by conference call. San Diego selected California high school shortstop Matt Bush with the first pick last year.
So is Josh going to sign? What about Koby? I bet he is leaning towards Texas Longhorns. Good draft? Grade?
THE ASTROS PICKED HIM UP IN THE 20TH ROUND! That's awesome news for me, and I know it's probably a dream come true for him. He would have gone probably 10 rounds (at least) earlier, but he has a question on whether or not he'll even graduate this year. (he's not the sharpest tool in the shed, but he can pitch) He has to pass his TAKS tests in August to fuly graduate. Does anyone know if that will keep him out of Low-Class Rookie League(Tri City) until August? I hope not, because there is a NY-PENN league team in Tri City's division that is based in my town, and I'd love to watch him pitch this year.
Mitchell might be a DFE guy (draft-follow-evaluate), where he would pitch for a community college somewhere next season & sign before next year's draft. The Astros have used 20ish round picks on these types of players very successfully in the past. Koby will most likely sign with Houston, he & dad sounded thrilled on the radio yesterday.
I could see that happening...as long as there is a college still willing to take him. As far as I know, he didn't really have a college choice picked out. I saw reports from some site saying that UT, A&M, Houston, Rice, etc. were interested in him, but I don't think he really ever pondered that option. No way he would have gotten into Rice anyway...
http://houston.astros.mlb.com/NASAp...t_id=1080707&vkey=news_hou&fext=.jsp&c_id=hou Another Clemens among Day 1 finds Scouting director Ricciarini offers insight on picks By Alyson Footer / MLB.com HOUSTON -- Koby Clemens signed a letter of intent last fall to play at the University of Texas, and now he has to decide whether he wants to first go to college, or sign with the Houston Astros, who drafted him in the eighth round of Tuesday's First Year Player Draft. Koby Clemens, a senior at Memorial High School, signed as a third baseman, but he appears to have some of his dad's pitching prowess, too. The eldest Clemens kid struck out 86 batters of 66 1/3 innings this year, allowing 49 hits and 45 runs for a 3.17 ERA. Earlier this season, he threw consecutive no-hitters. As a hitter, he batted .523 (56-for-107) with 14 doubles, one triple, 10 homers and 55 RBIs. Now it's decision time. "I've got a lot of big decisions," Koby Clemens said. "Either going straight to the pros or go to the University of Texas. So I've got two really great options." "I don't know if it could be any tougher now," Roger Clemens said. "If it had been another team, another professional team somewhere else in the country, the decision might not have been that hard. He deserves it. He's worked extremely hard." The Astros risked using a relatively high pick on a player who seemed intent on going to college, but general manager Tim Purpura said it was worth the risk. He and scouting director Paul Ricciarini emphasized how much of an advantage a son of a Major Leaguer has over the rest of the draft class, because there is a maturity factor that comes along with having grown up in the big leagues, so to speak. "Major League pedigree, to me, is important," Purpura said. "It gives you sometimes a more polished look." Said Ricciarini: "They've been around the game. Koby's a strong kid and he's going to get stronger. He's got power, he's got arm strength. We're going to send him out as a third baseman and he's talked about maybe going behind the plate eventually. You start to activate your imagination a little bit. "He's really a baseball player. They have such a distinct advantage of being in the arena that we don't have any risk there with him dealing with the daily issues of professional baseball. There's no guess work like we have to do on the other kids." Purpura doesn't have an indication as to which way Koby Clemens is leaning. "I don't think it's a foregone conclusion he'll sign with us and I think it's similar with UT -- I don't think it's a foregone conclsion he'll go there," Purpura said. "They've got options they have to think about and explore." Said the Rocket: "He'll have another decision here probably within the next two weeks." Earlier on Tuesday, the Astros selected left-handed pitcher Brian Bogusevic, a junior at Tulane University, as their first-round pick (24th overall). The Astros selected a total of 20 players in the first 18 rounds of the draft, including a sandwich pick in between the first and second round and two picks in the third. The following are Ricciarini's comments on each player selected during Day One of the draft: No. 38 Eli Iorg, OF, Tennessee "Son of former Major League Garth Iorg, Eli is a five-tool player. He played in the College Classic at Minute Maid Park this year and he's a kid you just couldn't take your eyes off of because of the way he plays the game. His makeup's impeccable. Very competitive. Legitimate power/speed combination. Projected in right field, he can also play some center field. Similar to Jason Lane, with better speed and better base-stealing ability." No. 72 overall: Ralph Henriquez, C, Key West (Fla.) HS "Switch-hitting catcher and son of Braves roving catching instructor Ralph Henriquez. Catch-throw defensive type. He can probably catch at a higher level than where we're going to start him. We want him to get as many at-bats as possible. Strong, durable, very bubbly-type kid." No. 89 overall: Tommy Manzella, SS, Tulane "Well-rounded kid. He makes all the routine plays. He has terrific instincts. He's a very poised, intelligent player. Has a good chance to be well rounded player. Unlike a Tim Bogar type, who could play every day but his bat held him back somewhat...this kid's got a chance to hit." No. 104 overall: Josh Lindblom, RHP, Harrison (Ind.) HS "Physical size, strength, he throws above average -- 90 to 94 mph, in that range. Just a power curveball. He had a little bit dip in his season, being a cold-weather pitcher, minor injuries set him back. We looked at the intangibles -- how did he deal with adversity? He just kept battling through it. Projected to be a No. 3, 2-type starter." No. 134 overall: Josh Flores, OF, Triton (Ill.) College "He might be the fastest runner we have, with Willy Taveras. Pure speed guy. He doesn't have Willy's arm strength, but he has more power. Can be an exciting base stealer." No. 164 overall: Bill Hart, 3B, Southern California "Former USC quarterback. Big, strong, very competitive. He's like a shorter Troy Glaus. Very good defensively. We have to project a little bit on his bat because he hadn't played baseball until two years ago. He just started to get back in the fold. He has power potential, corner potential. This kid really comes to play." No. 194 overall: Brandon Barnes, LF/CF, Cypress (Calif.) College "He was drafted as a left fielder, but we'll start him off more than likely in center field -- build his arm strength and give him the ability to play the aggressive position. He's so aggressive. He's a strong, muscular, flexible built kid who profiles out as a power/speed guy." No. 224 overall: Tim Johnson, SS, Wissahickon (Pa.) HS "He has strong tools across the board. He's a little bit of a sleeper. He didn't get very many looks because of the weather. He really has above-average defensive skills. Very athletic kid, well-above-average runner." No. 254 overall: Koby Clemens, 3B, Memorial (Texas) HS "He's strong. Kind of a compact, athletic kid that's going to get stronger up top. He's got powerful legs, like his dad. He's strong fingertip to elbow. Has hitter's strength. He can be an exciting player." No. 284 overall: Jordan Meaker, RHP, Flower Mound (Texas) HS "Tall, rangy kid. 6-foot-6. It's pure projection as far as how hard this guy can throw. He may be a pure power guy in time. He's throwing 90-93 now with a live arm. Breaking ball needs some work. He's going to need to make some mechanical adjustments, but he's very coordinated." No. 314 overall: Allen Langdon -- OF, Eagle (Idaho) HS "Left-handed-hitting outfielder, a compact, muscular kid. He's got strength. He's an average runner, at best, but has an above-average arm. He's kind of a Brian Giles type. He's got that kind of power potential. Above-average arm strength and projects out in right field." No. 344 overall: Cory Lapinski, LHP, Illinois Wesleyan "Left-handed pitcher who really knows how to spin a curveball. Hits anywhere from 88-92 mph on the speed gun with good tail and sink. Will need a better changeup." No. 374 overall: Thomas Fairchild, RHP, U. of Southern Maine "Curveball is his outpitch. He's not a fully developed kid, but pretty much near. What you see is kind of what you get, but it's pretty good. Hits 89, 92 with good sink. Uses curveball well, and that can be a good strikeout pitch for him in pro ball. He'll have to develop a better changeup on lefties." No. 404 overall: Eric King, SS/2B, Tennessee "He projects out more as a second baseman who can play short, kind of like how Eric Bruntlett and Jose Vizcaino play at second when we need them to. More of an offensive second baseman -- quick, agile, athletic kid." No. 434 overall: Mark Ori, 1B, Northwestern "The first pure left-handed bat we were able to get in the draft. He's a power-potential guy. He's got more line drive, gap power now. We've seen his pure power and we think he can really develop as a power hitter." No. 464 overall: Eric Sheridan, RHP, Saddleback (Calif.) CC "He's an arm strength kid who really needs to gain a feel for his secondary pitches. He's more of a one-pitch guy who can throw a slider. We've seen signs of it." No. 494 overall: Aaron Bulkley, CF, Le Moyne (NY) College "Tall, rangy kid, very athletic. He's a pure center fielder. He can steal bases. It'll come down to his bat, whether he's an everyday guy or a fourth outfielder." No. 524 overall: Andrew Kroeker, C, Biola (Calif.) "Left-handed hitting hitting catcher. He just comes to play. He's hard-nosed. You've got to let him go level to level. He'll overachieve because of his pure ability, but he can catch and throw and he's got some power." No. 554 overall: Brian Needham, RHP, John Foster Dulles (Texas) HS "We used a lot of projection. A likely draft and follow. He's got so much ceiling. We've seen him up to 94 mph on speed guns. I'm not a big gun guy, but he's got a live arm, and is very coordinated for a tall, lanky kid. We'll follow him this summer."
Bogusevic is on ESPN2 right now. Down 5-0 and it's only the 2nd inning. The good news is, only 3 of those runs are earned. The bad news is, the unearned runs are due to an error by our 3rd round pick, Tommy Manzella. This is my first time seeing Bogusevic. He seems to have kind of a funky follow through. Obviously, this doesn't seem like the best game to see him. On the plus side, some of these hits aren't very hard- and one was a double that bounced over the infield- something you won't see happen with wood bats.
Has anyone else seen these numbers on OF Hunter Pence (2004 1st round pick) and SP Troy Patton ? Hunter Pence 58 227 46 78 12 2 22 51 160 28 42 7 3 .418 .705 .344 1 BA: .344 HR: 22 RBI RBI: 51 OPS: .1123 Troy Patton 4 0 0.98 12 12 0 0 0 64.1 42 11 7 1 17 78 Wins 4 Losses 0 ERA: 0.98 Innings: 64.1 K's: 78 I know it's only rookie ball ... but damn. Does anyone know if A players play in the future's game or is it just for AA and AAA
