Some of the top players eligible for Thursday’s first-year player baseball draft (with position, school, height, weight and class):
YONDER ALONSO
1B, Miami, 6-foot-2, 215 pounds, Jr.
Left-handed hitting offensive leader of top-ranked Hurricanes is batting .370 with 21 home runs and 66 RBIs entering super regionals. Great eye at plate – 69 walks, 30 strikeouts – and has power to all fields. Also solid defensively. After coming to U.S. from Cuba when he was 9, was drafted in 16th round by Twins out of high school in 2005, but should go in first 16 picks this time around.
PEDRO ALVAREZ
3B, Vanderbilt, 6-2, 212, Jr.
d in 14th round by Red Sox out of high school, but elected to go to Vanderbilt, which could become first college or high school with consecutive No. 1 picks after David Price was drafted by Tampa Bay last year.
GORDON BECKHAM
SS, Georgia, 6-0, 185, Jr.
Unanimous pick for Southeastern Conference player of year ranks among nation’s leaders in several offensive categories while hitting .397 with 24 HRs and 65 RBIs entering super regionals. Has started every game of three-year career for Bulldogs and has steadily improved offensive numbers each season while showing good range at shortstop. Won Cape Cod League home run title last summer. Undrafted out of high school, he could be one of first position players taken.
TIM BECKHAM
SS, Griffin H.S. (Ga.), 6-0, 188
Recognized as one of best pure athletes in draft, he could be first overall pick by Tampa Bay. No relation to Georgia’s Gordon Beckham, this Beckham is labeled a legitimate five-tools player and gave up his first loves (football and basketball) to concentrate on baseball as a youngster. Starred during last summer’s high school showcase events, and was hitting .500 with 5 HRs and 31 RBIs, along with 16 SBs this season.
AARON CROW
RHP, Missouri, 6-2, 205, Jr.
Big 12 pitcher of year finished season undefeated while setting school’s single-season record for wins (13), which leads country, and posting string of 43 scoreless innings pitched, unofficially tied for fourth-longest streak in NCAA Division I history. Struck out 127 and walked just 38 in 107 1-3 innings with mid- to high-90s fastball, hard sinker and excellent control. Led Cape Cod League with 0.67 ERA last summer and was named No. 1 prospect by Baseball America.
JOSHUA FIELDS
RHP, Georgia, 6-0, 180, Sr.
One of nation’s best closers during his four-year career holds school and SEC records for saves with 39 entering super regionals. Has 16 saves, and allowed just 12 hits in 31 2-3 innings this season. After being selected by Atlanta in second round last year, chose to return for senior year instead, making him highest-unsigned pick from 2007. Has improved control on his mid-90s fastball and low-80s breaking pitch since last year.
AARON HICKS
OF-RHP, Wilson H.S. (Calif.), 6-2, 170
y depend on team that drafts him.
ERIC HOSMER
1B, American Heritage H.S. (Fla.), 6-4, 215
Left-handed hitter has terrific eye and slugging potential with power to all fields, batting .476 with 11 HRs and 26 RBIs this season. Labeled by some scouts as perhaps the best overall bat among high school players. Also served as closer for high school squad, but future at next level is at the plate. Considered a more than adequate defensive first baseman with good athleticism.
SHOOTER HUNT
RHP, Tulane, 6-3, 200, Jr.
Conference USA pitcher of year was 9-4 with 2.68 ERA with 126 Ks and limiting opponents to .175 batting average. Switched from catcher in junior year of high school. Transferred to Tulane after a year at Virginia and has been outstanding since. Fastball sits at 91-93 mph and has lots of movement, and terrific breaking ball. Birth name is Steven, and got his nickname from Dennis Hopper’s character in the film, “Hoosiers.”
BRIAN MATUSZ
LHP, San Diego, 6-4, 200, Jr.
team last summer, and projects to be a possible front-line starter in majors. Will likely be first pitcher selected.
BUSTER POSEY
C, Florida State, 6-1, 205, Jr.
Enters super regionals leading Division I players in hitting (.468), on-base percentage (.572) and slugging percentage (.897), and also has 24 HRs, including five in as many games in the regionals, 86 RBIs and 85 runs. Played shortstop as freshman, but moved behind plate for first time in his career as a sophomore and became one of nation’s top defensive catchers. Has also pitched in relief for Seminoles. Could be one of first players drafted.
KYLE SKIPWORTH
C, Patriot H.S. (Calif.), 6-3, 195
Rated as top high school catcher in draft, Skipworth also is ranked by Baseball America as best pure hitter among prep players. Lefty batter was hitting .584 with 12 HRs, drives ball to all fields and set a California state record with 18 straight hits in April. Has outstanding arm strength behind plate, and has consistently improved his receiving skills.
JUSTIN SMOAK
1B, South Carolina, 6-4, 215, Jr.
Switch-hitting slugger is considered a total package at first base with tremendous power and superb defensive skills and started every game in his Gamecocks career. Hit .383 with 23 HRs and 72 RBIs – showing consistency from both sides of plate – while making just five errors in 63 games. Excellent plate discipline with 57 walks and 28 Ks.
BRETT WALLACE
3B, Arizona State, 6-2, 235, Jr.
Pac-10 Triple Crown winner for second consecutive year was hitting .414 with 21 HRs and 81 RBIs for Sun Devils entering super regionals. Lefty has great bat speed and exciting power potential despite unorthodox swing in which he keeps back elbow up as pitch comes in and kicks out front foot and does very little pivoting with back foot – but it all works well. Dropped close to 25 pounds before season, moved from first base to third and showed enough athleticism to remain at hot corner at next level.
JEMILE WEEKS
2B, Miami, 5-10, 175, Jr.
Brother of Milwaukee’s Rickie Weeks is hitting .366 with 11 HRs, 57 RBIs and 19 stolen bases, and became Hurricanes’ career leader in triples (19). One of most athletic middle infielders in draft has made quite a few dazzling plays during career. Switch-hitter has good pop for player his size, but doesn’t project to be quite the slugger his brother is.