http://www.baseballamerica.com/draftdb/2006state.php?st=fl


1 15  Chris Marrero  3B  Monsignor Pace HS, Opa Locka, Fla.  $1,625,000

Marrero entered his senior season with high expectations, and by most
accounts did not live up to them. He held down the starting third base job
since his sophomore season at Monsignor Pace, and asserted himself as the
nation's top prep position player in the fall, displaying remarkable power at
a showcase in Orlando. Marrero has the look scouts savor. Tall, strong, lean
and loose, he shows average to plus tools in all five categories, with 70
power on the 20-to-80 scale. His swing has good leverage and he can drive
balls out to all parts of the park. He has adequate plate discipline and good
pitch recognition. He hasn't shown an ability to make consistent hard
contact, but remains high on draft boards based on projection and power. He
needs to improve his plate coverage, as he prefers to pull the ball, and
tends to fly open and miss pitches on the outer half. He has
well-above-average arm strength and shows some ability to make accurate
throws from different arm angles and on the run. Some scouts envision him
moving to first base or left field, developing into a player the ilk of Pat
Burrell. Marrero's power potential won't let him slide out of the first
round.



1 22  Colton Willems  RHP  John Carroll, Fort Pierce, Fla. $1,425,000
                           Catholic HS

Willems surfaced as an elite arm last summer, garnering most valuable pitcher
honors at the Cape Cod Classic in July. His velocity spiked this spring, and
he came out pitching at 92 mph and bumping 97 in a relief outing. He is
compared to Matt Latos, another hard-throwing righthander from southeast
Florida, and Willems holds the edge entering the draft because of better
makeup and fastball command. Willems pitches off his fastball and spots it to
all four quadrants of the strike zone. He has thrown both a curve and a
slider, and both pitches are inconsistent. His slider will likely be his best
secondary option. His changeup isn't a put-away pitch, but he does have a
feel for it. While he's not muscular, he should be able to log innings as a
back-of-the-rotation starter. He could be drafted as high as the back of the
first round.



2 59  Sean Black  RHP  Lenape HS, Medford, N.J.

A converted shortstop, Black has been one of the spring's rapid risers. He is
tall and athletic with a fresh arm because he pitched only sparingly a year
ago, when he topped out at 88-89 mph with his fastball. This year he came out
of nowhere to touch 95, although he pitches at 88-92. His curveball is
inconsistent and has received mixed reviews. When it's on, it's a 75-78 mph
power curve with hard downer action and good rotation that some scouts rate
as a 60 (on the 20-80 scouting scale) future pitch. His changeup is in its
early stages but he is developing some feel for it. Everything about Black is
raw, including his delivery, which is workable but needs to be polished. He
has a quick, electric arm and throws hard without much effort. Black is a good
competitor who has come on fast and pitched well against the best competition
he has faced--he held Bishop Eustace shortstop Bill Rowell to 0-for-3 and beat
Seneca High, one of the best teams in New Jersey.



2 70  Stephen Englund  OF  Bellevue (Wash.) HS  $515,000

A third-team preseason All-American and key recruit for Washington State,
Englund has all the tools scouts could want in a high school hitter. Like
many of his peers, he just didn't show the most important tool--hitting--
often enough as a high school senior. Englund is an excellent athlete and
passes the "eye test"--he looks like a player in uniform. The same is true
in batting practice, when Englund can put on a show with long home runs
thanks to his excellent bat speed and a swing with plenty of leverage.
Englund also impresses during infield practice, showing off a plus arm that
should help him make the transition to third base from his prep position
of shortstop. But in games, the tools just haven't played consistently. As
one scout put it, his high school career just has involved too much drama,
including being kicked off the team once and reinstated. Englund's inability
to close up holes in his swing points to his inability to make adjustments,
and even his advocates warn that Englund's bat could take five years to
reach its potential. Scouting directors and organizations that covet high-end
tools are likley to be too tempted to let Englund slide out of the first
five rounds, however.



3 91  Stephen King  SS  Winter Park (Fla.) HS  $750,000

A mediocre senior season and leg injuries hurt King's stock, but his
potential to develop into a five-tool shortstop in the mold of Bobby Crosby
or J.J. Hardy is why he should be drafted in the first three rounds. He
easily passes scouts' eye test, with a strong, slender body and tapered
waist. He'll have to make some adjustments in his swing and approach, which
currently keep him from getting a good load and trigger in his swing. Good
fastballs tend to tie him up, but he has the bat speed and feel for the
strike zone to become an above-average offensive player with at least average
power. He has good actions up the middle, good hands and above-average arm
strength. He's a solid-average runner. The club that buys into King's future
with the bat could take him as early as the supplemental round. He's considered
signable in the top three rounds.



4 121  Glenn Gibson  LHP  Center Moriches (N.Y.) HS  $350,000

Gibson is the son of former major league lefthander Paul Gibson, who pitched
eight seasons with the Tigers, Mets and Yankees. The younger Gibson is a
classic pitcher's son, with excellent feel for pitching, clean mechanics and
great makeup both on and off the field. He is the opposite of New York's other
top prep prospect, Dellin Betances, because he is polished and has a
repeatable downhill delivery but lacks present velocity. Gibson's fastball
sits at 86-88 mph and touches 90 every once in a while, but his 6-foot-4
frame has plenty of projection to it. What he lacks in fastball velocity he
makes up for with two promising secondary pitches. Gibson has always had
confidence in his changeup, which rates as at least an average pitch and
could get better. His 76-77 mph curveball with good bite has been a revelation
--it projects as a plus pitch and is already major league average according
to most scouts. The biggest question about Gibson is that he has not faced
strong competition in high school, but his overall package of command,
secondary stuff, makeup and projectability should land him in the top five
rounds.



5 151  Cory Van Allen  LHP  Baylor  $170,000

Van Allen was the third-highest unsigned pick from the 2003 draft, following
earlier third-rounders Andrew Miller (Devil Rays) and Drew Stubbs (Astros).
While Miller and Stubbs are lock first-rounders three years later, Allen looks
more like a fifth-rounder because he hasn't progressed. He's still a lefthander
with good velocity, but he hasn't developed his secondary pitches or his
command as much as scouts would like. Van Allen has an 89-91 mph fastball
that reaches 93, but it doesn't have much life. His changeup has its moments,
though he doesn't locate it well on a consistent basis. He also has a slider
that needs a lot of work. Van Allen mostly works up in the strike zone, which
makes him more hittable. The raw ingredients are there, but the team that
drafts Van Allen will have to teach him a breaking ball and add movement to his
fastball.



6 181  Zech Zinicola  RHP  Arizona State  $147,500

Most college players live on campus as freshmen; Zinicola lived in a mobile
home his parents brought from California. The oldest of six children,
Zinicola is both a free spirit and a bulldog, particularly out of the
bullpen, where he's shown closer moxie and led the Sun Devils in saves the
last two seasons. Some scouts believe he's eccentric, while others see an
immature player who won't play by the rules. He missed one weekend this
spring with an academic suspension, and he's considered signable. An unsigned
44th-round pick out of high school (Braves), Zinicola spent his first two
seasons both hitting and pitching, but in 2006 he had only one at-bat and
settled into the bullpen after two starts. His stuff plays well in a relief
role, as he's pumped his low 90s fastball as high as 95 mph while showing an
average changeup with split-finger action. His slider remains inconsistent,
and to be a big league closer Zinicola will have to hit his spots more
consistently.



7 211  Samuel Brown  RHP  Millbrook HS, Raleigh, N.C.


8 241  Sean Rooney  C  Saddleback (Calif.) CC  $90,000



9 271  Joey Rosas  LHP  Yavapai (Ariz.) JC

Rosas has a chance to be a first-day draft. Slight at 6-feet, 160 pounds, he
has a loose arm with pitchability and a mid-80s fastball that touches 90 mph
at times. He controls his breaking ball and changeup and throws quality
strikes. How much projection is left for his slight frame is up for debate.



10 301  Marcus Salmon RHP Sunset HS, Miami


11 331  Desmond Jones  RHP  Middle Georgia JC


12 361  Cole Kimball  RHP  Centenary College



13 391  Hassan Pena  RHP  Palm Beach (Fla.) CC

Cuban defector Pena was returning to the mound as the draft drew closer after
an arm ailment shelved him during the spring. His fastball has been up to 93
mph.



14 421  Brett McMillan  1B  UCLA



15 451  Dustin Dickerson  3B  Midway HS, Henrietta, Texas

One of the top high school hitters in Texas this spring, Dickerson should go
off the board somewhere between the second and fourth rounds. He incorporates
his hands well into his swing and employs a sound whole-field approach. At
6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, he offers plenty of strength and raw power. He also
has displayed an aptitude for making adjustments at the plate. While Dickerson
isn't one-dimensional, he'll be drafted mainly for his bat. He has good
athleticism and speed for his size, and he played wide receiver on Midway
High's district champion football team. But he has just adequate arm strength
and glovework at third base, so he might move to an outfield corner or first
base down the road. He's a good student committed to Baylor, but he should
sign if he gets drafted as high as expected.



16 481  Patrick Nichols  C  Old Dominion


17 511  Erik Arnesen  RHP  Grove City (N.J.) College


18 541  Adam Carr  RHP  Oklahoma State



19 571  Sam Dyson  RHP  Jesuit HS, Tampa

The club that believes it can teach Sam Dyson how to create better movement
on his mid-90s fastball might pop him as early as the third or fourth round.
He has been up to 96 mph this season, but he pitches up in the zone and his
fastball lacks life. He has a good body and his arm works well. Dyson needs
to improve his mound presence and his tempo is too slow, and he lacks a
consistent secondary pitch.



20 601  Alberto Tavarez  RHP  Western Oklahoma State JC

21 631  Christopher French  OF  New Mexico JC

22 661  Robert Jacobsen  1B  George Mason

23 691  Forrest Beverly LHP South Carolina

24 721  Richard Caputo  3B  Hofstra

25 751  Jim Birmingham  LHP  Overbrook HS, Pine Hill, N.J.

26 781  Brett Logan C Houston

27 811  Dan Pfau  LHP  George Washington DC

28 841  Michael Robinns  LHP  Meridian (Miss.) CC



29 871  Khris Davis  OF  Deer Valley HS,  Glendale, Ariz.

Outfielder Khris Davis, a Cal State Fullerton signee, is the best high school
hitter in Arizona from a pro standpoint, but opinion is mixed on how ready he
is for pro ball. His father Rodney has a long background in baseball, having
played at Fresno State and in the Dodgers organization. He also scouted and
is now a coach in the Angels system. His son is a good athlete and covers 60
yards in 6.8 seconds, and has shown hitting ability as well. He helped lead
Deer Valley High to a state championship, scoring the game-winning run and
knocking in the other run with a sacrifice fly. Davis has said he is willing
to sign if drafted in the first three rounds, and might find the right fit if
he finds a club that believes in his power. His below-average arm and
below-average power make him a tweener for many scouts, and a club will have
to believe in his power to keep him from playing for the Titans. One scout
said the best comparison for Davis is Jay Payton, and Davis was gaining
momentum after hitting a long home run in a game played at the Brewers'
spring-training complex in Maryvale.



30 901  Burt Reynolds  SS  Essex County Vocational , Bloomfield, N.J.
                           Technical HS


31 931  Zach Baldwin  LHP  West Virginia State

32 961  Joseph Welsh  LHP  Toledo

33 991  Tyler Moore  1B  Meridian (Miss.) CC

34 1021  Taylor Kinzer  OF  Homestead HS, Fort Wayne, Ind.



35 1051  D'Vontrey Richardson  OF  Lee County HS, Leesburg, Ga.

Florida State signee D'Vontry Richardson split time between baseball and
football in high school, and he is considered more advanced in football.
He could play both sports at FSU, and his plus speed and strength are an
intriguing blend. He swings and misses often, has a raw approach at the plate
and needs to improve his pitch recognition.



36 1081  Jeremy Goldschmeding  SS  Dallas Baptist



37 1111  Austin Hudson  RHP  Boone HS, Orlando

Hudson opened the spring showing an 84-87 mph fastball, but a month into the
season he was pumping his fastball in at 93 mph. He has a good pitcher's
build and some projection, and he has drawn comparisons to Rockies
righthander Aaron Cook for his heavy, sinking fastball. Hudson was shelled in
a showdown with Orlando's Bishop Moore, primarily because he has little feel
for a breaking ball and must keep his fastball down in the zone to succeed.
In another outing against Justin Edwards and Olympia High, he retired 14
batters on ground balls in a five-inning stint. He has a loose, quick arm,
but doesn't repeat his delivery well. His mid-70s curve lacks depth and snap.
He shows some feel for a changeup.



38 1141  Zach Von Tersch  RHP  Cedar Falls (Iowa) HS

Righthander Zach Von Tersch is strongly committed to Georgia Tech. Scouts
love his 6-foot-6, 200-pound frame and the way his arm works. He should throw
hard once he fills out, but he currently works at 85-86. He also has a decent
curveball.



39 1171  Andrew Doyle  RHP  Alleman HS, Rock Island, Ill.

Scouts put righthander Andrew Doyle in the same class as Zach McAllister and
Wade Kapteyn, but they'll have to wait three years to get him because he's
strongly committed to Oklahoma. His stuff isn't quite as good as McAllister's
and Kapteyn's, but it could be down the road. Doyle is projectable at
6-foot-3 and 210 pounds and just needs refinement. He achieves nice run and
sink on an 89-90 mph fastball that tops out at 92, and he spins a hard
breaking ball. He may need to raise his arm angle from its present low
three-quarters slot to achieve more consistency.



40 1201  Nick Pierce  RHP  DeMatha Catholic HS,  Hyattsville, Md.


41 1231  Brad Peacock  C  Palm Beach Central HS, Wellington, Fla.



42 1261 Javier Martinez  RHP  Fordham

Fordham righthander Javier Martinez is the brother of Joseph Martinez, who
was drafted by the Giants in the 12th round last year out of Boston College.
His lively fastball touched 94 mph in 2005, but his velocity has been anywhere
between 86-92 this year as he has struggled with his confidence and control
(64 walks in 86 innings). Martinez flashes a decent curveball but has not
commanded it well for most of the season. As a Fordham junior, he's likely
headed back for his senior year.



43 1290  Cory Anderson  RHP  U.S. Coast Guard Academy (Conn.)

44 1319  Chad Jenkins  LHP  Caravel Academy HS, Bear, Del.

45 1348  Adam Kramer  RHP  New Mexico JC

46 1377  Jayson Brugman  SS  South Mountain (Ariz.) CC

47 1405  Josh Rodriguez  C  Red Mountain HS, Mesa, Ariz.

48 1433  Kyle Page  OF  Brevard County (Fla.) CC



49 1461  Jarred Holloway  LHP  Russellville (Ark.) HS

Lefthander Jarred Holloway is still the state's top prospect, but his stock
has dropped a little over the course of the spring. Though he's big (6-foot-3
and 210 pounds) and strong (his fastball sits at 89-91 mph), scouts would
like him to tone up his body and show good stuff on a more consistent basis.
While his curveball is promising, his command needs a lot of improvement.
He's likely to opt to pass on pro ball for now and attend Mississippi State.



50 1489  J.J. Pannell  RHP  George Mason

J.J. Pannell might have one of the best arms in the state, but scouts'
opinions on him depended on when they saw him. He could be drafted as soon as
the fifth round or slip into the double-digit rounds. His quick arm generates
a 90-94 mph fastball, and his command of that and his power breaking ball
vary by the start. His slider has topped out near 82 mph, but on other days
it's 72. Pannell throws with funky mechanics and a good deal of effort. That,
plus a 2-5, 7.61 record could scare teams away.