| Check back throughout the offseason as we add a new player to our College Prospect Rankings each week | ||||||||||||||
| No. | Player | Pos | Notes | Age | YR | TM | CON | |||||||
| 1 | Pedro Alvarez | 3B | Exceptional combination of unmatched power and true bat skills | 20.5 | Jr. | VAN | SEC | |||||||
| 2 | Justin Smoak | 1B | Switch-hitter holds a sweet, powerful stroke and keen eye at the dish | 20.6 | Jr. | SC | SEC | |||||||
| 3 | Brian Matusz | LHP | Powerful lefty with the polish and arsenal to be a dominant pro pitcher | 20.5 | Jr. | SD | WCC | |||||||
| 4 | Brett Wallace | 1B | Beastly slugger (6-foot-1, 245-pounds) mashes w/ a sound approach | 20.9 | Jr. | ASU | Pac-10 | |||||||
| 5 | Tyson Ross | RHP | 6'5'', 215-pounder offers advanced secondary stuff, power fastball | 20.3 | Jr. | CAL | Pac-10 | |||||||
| 6 | Lance Lynn | RHP | 6-foot-5, 260-pound mountain man went 146 K vs. 44 BB in 123.1 IP | 20.2 | Jr. | UMS | SEC | |||||||
| 7 | Yonder Alonso | 1B | Excellent combination of patience (64:31 BB to K), power (40.5% XBH) | 20.3 | Jr. | MIA | ACC | |||||||
| 8 | Jacob Thompson | RHP | Carries plus curve, keeps runners of base paths: .198 BAA, 2.53 BB/9 | 20.7 | Jr. | UVA | ACC | |||||||
| 9 | Brandon Crawford | SS | Excellent defender, all-around athlete went .335/.405./504 last season | 20.5 | Jr. | UCLA | Pac-10 | |||||||
| 10 | Jemile Weeks | 2B | Solid patience, power, speed skills; injury woes are cause for concern | 20.5 | Jr. | MIA | ACC | |||||||
| Honorable Mentions: Roger Kieschnick (OF, Texas Tech) and James Darnell (3B, South Carolina). | ||||||||||||||
| * Ages are as of 8/20/07 (only draft-eligible players are considered) | ||||||||||||||
| ** TM is the player's school | ||||||||||||||
| *** CON is the player's conference | ||||||||||||||
| **** Our rankings combine a player's ceiling with the odds that he'll reach it and favor recent production | ||||||||||||||
| <<< Click here to see our August 7th College Prospect Rankings | ||||||||||||||
| <<< Click here to discuss these rankings in our forums | ||||||||||||||
With the 2007 MLB Draft in the past and next year’s installment a mere 10 months away, it’s never too early to get a head start on evaluating a new class of talent. To make sure that college baseball’s presence is felt year-round this offseason, Project Prospect will continue to preview the nation’s best collegiate talent by presenting College Prospect Rankings approximately every other week this offseason. Each installment will offer a longer list of rankings, as we build up to our weekly updated in-season Top 25 College Prospect Rankings.
Roger Kieschnick, OF, Texas Tech (1/21/87)
Owner of a projectable 6-foot-3, 210-pound frame, Roger Kieschnick has made explosive power displays a part of his daily routine. Kieschnick posted a .302/.373/.621 line last season, launching 13 homers and pounding out 25 doubles to yield an eye-opening 61.4% extra base hit rate. If the Rockwall, Tex. native can develop enough patience (24:44 K to BB) to rival his slugging prowess, the results could be daunting.
James Darnell, 3B, South Carolina (1/19/87)
Heading into the 2008 campaign, the Gamecocks' brass has to be feeling good about its corner infield slots. Justin Smoak is a household name already; and James Darnell is going to be. Manning the hot corner, Darnell went .331/.450/.615 in 2007, thanks in part to an excellent 51:35 K to BB clip. A 6-foot-2, 195-pounder, Darnell has also seen significant time in the outfield. Regardless of whether he's destined for a corner infield or outfield slot, the fact remains that Darnell will be carrying his bat there with him.
Ready to get a start on next year’s draft boards, too? Adam Loberstein can be reached at aloberstein@projectprospect.com.