PHOENIX, AZ- The Power Showcase was a success yet again, in its sixth year under the helm of director Brian Domenico. For the first time, the Power Showcase incorporated games and full-scale workouts in conjunction with the home run derby to highlight some of the best prep players in the world.
Tuesday, December 27th, was dedicated entirely to the preliminary round of the Home Run Derby as 91 hitters took their cuts at Chase Field trying to qualify for the championship round Wednesday afternoon. Only five were invited back and Kyle Carter, an outfielder/pitcher from Columbus High School in Georgia, would end up wearing the crown after a spectacular seven-home run performance in the final.
But the week was about much more than home runs. There were three games played Wednesday at Chase Field, then full-scale pro workouts on Thursday at Goodyear Ballpark, the spring training home of both the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians. Scouts and fans were able to see these young men show all aspects of their game.
The pro workout day was split into two sessions on Thursday, a morning with underclassmen and an afternoon involving the high school seniors.
Both sessions began with the 60 yard-dash. The three fastest times among the underclassmen belonged to juniors: Oregon-bound Dane McFarland (JSerra Catholic HS, CA) ran a 6.90, J.P. Crawford (Lakewood HS, CA), who’s headed to Southern California, ran 6.91, and LSU-commit Charlie Yorks (Barbe HS, LA) finished in 7.03 seconds.
It was, understandably, a slower group than the seniors who also benefitted from an afternoon track without the morning dew the underclassmen had to battle. Nick Williams (Galveston Ball HS, TX) was far and away the fastest, blazing the 60 yards in 6.62 seconds. A distant second was Cort Brinson’s (Oak Grove HS, MS) 6.78 run while three others tied at 6.83.
The 60 yard-dash was followed by full defensive workouts for outfielders, infielders, and catchers, before each player took their swings in a pro-style batting practice on the field at Goodyear Ballpark.
The value of playing among some of the world’s best prep players was not lost on any of the young men in attendance, nor was the thrill of doing it on major league facilities. Perhaps a number of these teenagers will come back to Chase Field or Goodyear Ballpark as major leaguers in years to come and recall the exciting week they enjoyed playing in the Power Showcase back in December of 2011.
We close with a ranking of the Top-10 Prospects from the Power Showcase. This includes only 2012 draft-eligible players and is purely subjective, based on Power Showcase scout Anup Sinha’s notes. Much will change from here on out, but this is where Sinha sees these players looking towards the upcoming draft and beyond. Performance at the Power Showcase is important, but past observations are very much taken into account. So even though the #1 prospect was unable to play in the game portion of the event due to a hand injury, he was still ranked because he’s potentially the highest pick among the group in the 2012 Draft.
TOP-10 PROSPECTS AT 2011 POWER SHOWCASE (2012 GRADS ONLY)
1. Nick Williams, OF, Ball HS (TX) *University of Texas
One of the nation’s top power/speed threats, the lanky 6’2”, 185 lefthanded hitter was unable to display his bat due to the hand injury but still ran the fastest 60 yard-dash (6.62). Very athletic with all-around potential, scouts just want to see him get better reads in the outfield and throw more accurately. With some polish, Williams could be 1st-round pick in June. Recruited by premium programs as a quarterback in football, but plans to concentrate on baseball at next level.
2. Tanner Rahier, SS, Palm Desert HS (CA) *University of San Diego
Athletic shortstop with size (6’1”, 190 lbs) and big bat-speed at the plate. Rahier showed his power by finishing in a tie for second in the HR Derby and then displayed slick defensive skills during the game and workout. Rahier has a chance to stay at shortstop at the highest level or move and become an above-average fielder just about anywhere else.
3. Kyle Carter, OF/LHP, Columbus HS (GA) *University of Georgia
The Home Run Derby champ is an all-around star who can hit, play a very good outfield, and also pitch. UGA will get a lot of bang for their scholarship bucks. The 6’0”, 200 lb Carter is lefthanded all the way with an advanced bat that could move him quickly through a farm system. Lack of physical projection is the only detractor for Carter to go high in the draft. Former Little League World Series hero still seems to come up big in big games.
4. Clint Coulter, C, Union HS (WA) *Arizona State University
A physically imposing 6’3”, 230 lbs, Coulter is an advanced hitter with power from the right side. He also shows solid receiving skills. Coulter’s arm is a little below-average by MLB standards but he has enough athleticism and quickness in his feet to make up for it in the long haul. Coulter ranks among the nation’s top backstop prospects for the 2012 Draft.
5. Avery Romero, 3B, Menendez HS (FL) *University of Florida
Romero’s bat ranks among the best in the nation and he shows a strong arm and very soft hands for the infield. Lack of projection on his solid 5’10” frame hurts him some in the eyes of pro scouts as does a lack of pure speed. The bat and the intangibles rate so high that he can still go early in the draft next June. Romero, like Rahier above, could end up a very good infielder-to-catcher conversion down the road.
6. Chris Chinea, C, Gulliver Prep HS (FL) *Louisiana State University
Nobody hit the ball better and harder in the games and Chinea also showed the best throwing arm from behind the plate, registering workout pop-times in the 1.85-1.90 second range. Chinea is an instant impact freshman for Louisiana State and a likely middle-order hitter in the SEC. His tools will get serious pro attention, though a lack of projection on his thickly built 5’10” frame will concern scouts looking forward.
7. David Graybill, OF/RHP/1B, Brophy Prep HS (AZ) *Arizona State University
Graybill is all about projection and it goes for both his pitching and his hitting. Graybill is mostly an 86-88 MPH fastball guy now, but with a loose arm, athletic delivery, and sturdy strong 6’4”, 230 lb frame that will surely fill out. He shows the makings of a big league curveball. At the plate, Graybill shows a compact righthanded hitting stroke with big power potential and he’s also an average runner despite his size. Of all the seniors at the event, he’s the one farthest from his ceiling and that tends to excite scouts.
8. Austin Dean, OF/2B, Klein Collins HS (TX) *University of Texas
Dean proved to be one of the nation’s most advanced hitting prospects. A rangy-built 6’1”, 185 lb righthanded hitter, Dean doesn’t have big power but is blessed with a quick swing, loose hands, and the ability to work counts. He’s shown he can run well and has the athleticism and instincts to become a solid-average big league defender at 2B/3B/OF.
9. Kayden Porter, RHP/1B, Spanish Fork HS (UT) *University of North Carolina
Porter didn’t perform particularly well at the event, but the 6’5”, 240 lb powerhouse is a potential early-round pick both as a slugging first baseman and as a pitcher. Unusually athletic at his size, Porter has a rifle arm on the infield that throws in the low-90s on the mound (though he did not pitch in Phoenix). Porter needs to polish up his hitting approach and defensive skills to be a high pick in June.
10. Cristian Munoz, C, International Baseball Academy (PR) *Bethune-Cookman University
Munoz has lefthanded bat-speed and power to defy his size (5’10”, 185) and running speed to defy his position (catcher). There’s not much projection on Munoz’s mature frame, but his present-day tools are so impressive that scouts will take a long look at him in the spring. Munoz can become a competent big league receiver and thrower in due time.
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