BluGrass Baseball 2011 draft preview

University of Kentucky

The headliner: RHP Alex Meyer – UK junior right-handed pitcher Alex Meyer is expected to be selected tonight in the first round of the MLB draft. Mock drafts have had Meyer projected to be selected as high as No. 6 by the Nationals, which would make him the highest drafted UK player ever. He wouldn’t be the highest drafted player from Kentucky though as St Xavier right-handed pitcher Matt Anderson was selected with the No. 1 pick in the 1997 draft.

The question mark: RHP/1B Braden Kapteyn – UK junior two-way player Braden Kapteyn appeared ready to take off as a reliever entering the 2011 season after posting a 0.64 ERA in the prestigious Cape Cod League last summer. Scouts have long seen Kapteyn as a pitcher at the next level, but he has consistently been more successful with the bat in college. In three seasons at UK, Kapteyn batted .304 with 16 home runs, 97 RBI and 91 runs scored. As a pitcher, he is 7-3 with a 7.03 ERA.

The sleeper: 3B Thomas McCarthy – UK junior third baseman Thomas McCarthy ended the season as UK’s best hitter after batting .605 with three home runs and 16 RBIs during a ten-game hitting streak to end the season. On the year, McCarthy batted .371 with seven home runs, 39 RBIs and 32 runs scored. McCarthy and UK hitting coach Brian Green work to revamp his swing after transferring to UK from Feather River College in Oregon, and their work paid off with a .411 batting average in Southeastern Conference play. McCarthy doesn’t have stand-out power, so his bat might profile better at second base as a professional.

Others who could be drafted: RHP Jordan Cooper, C Michael Williams, SS Taylor Black, OF Cameron Flynn, OF Chad Wright, OF/INF Neiko Johnson

University of Louisville

The standout: RHP Tony Zych – UofL closer Zych is among the best relievers in college baseball and is unlikely to last beyond the second round Tuesday. Zych was 0-2 with a 3.00 ERA and 13 saves in 28 games this season. After the summer 2010 season, Zych was named the best prospect and best reliever in the in the Cape Cod League. UofL head coach Dan McDonnell briefly tried to make Zych a starter as a sophomore, but he struggled in that role leaving his professional future likely in the bullpen. Among Kentucky’s likely draftees this year, Zych has a chance to reach the majors the quickest.

The question mark: OF Stewart Ijames – UofL redshirt junior outfielder Stewart Ijames was the 29th round pick of the New York Yankees in 2010 but returned to Louisville for his junior season in hopes of improving his draft stock. Ijames’ batting average took a major hit in 2011, dropping from .324 as a sophomore to .247 as a junior. The change in bats at the college level likely played a big role in that drop, but Ijames continued to post impressive power numbers with 10 home runs this season.

The sleeper: RHP Justin Amlung – UofL redshirt sophomore ace Justin Amlung may be unlikely to sign a professional contract with two years of college eligibility remaining, but he has gone from walk-on to the Cards’ best pitcher in three years. Amlung was 10-2 with a 2.31 ERA and 80 strikeouts to go with 27 walks in 105 innings this season. The right-handed pitcher held opponents to a .206 batting average and was named first-team All-Big East following the season.

Other players who could be drafted: 2B Ryan Wright, RHP Mike Nastold, RHP Derek Self, RHP Gabriel Shaw, C J. J. Ethel, RHP Keith Landers

Western Kentucky University

The standout: OF Kes Carter – WKU junior outfielder Kes Carter rocketed up draft boards with a strong 2011 season and has a chance to be selected in the first two rounds of the draft. Carter batted .344 with seven home runs, 40 RBIs, 46 runs scored and eight stolen bases in 2011. Baseball America described Carter as a five-tool player in ranking him as the No. 3 prospect in the state behind Meyer and Zych. Carter has a chance to be the highest drafted player in WKU history.

The question mark: C Matt Rice – WKU senior catcher Matt Rice has done nothing but hit during his time in Bowling Green, but that didn’t help him be drafted any higher than the last pick in the 2010 draft. Rice leaves WKU as the schools career hits and RBIs leader, and was named the Capitol One Academic All-American of the Year for his exploits off the field. Rice’s status as a Rhodes Scholar finalist likely influenced his fall in the 2010 draft, but teams will have to decide if Rice’s unorthodox batting stance and large frame for a catcher can profile into the professional game earlier in the 2011 draft.

The sleeper: RHP Phil Wetherell – WKU junior right-handed pitcher Phil Wetherell can hit 95 m.p.h. on the radar gun, but he probably hasn’t received the exposure of some of the drafts top college relievers. As a junior, Wetherell was 2-3 with a 4.25 ERA and five saves in 30 appearances. He struck out 44 batters and walked 19 in 59 and one-third innings. He pitched just 29 innings as a sophomore after transferring to WKU from Kaskaskia Community College.

Other player who could be drafted: OF Jared Andreoli, SS Logan Robbins, OF Ryan Hutchinson, RHP Rye Davis, INF Ivan Hartle, RHP Brian Edelen

Ohio Valley Conference teams

The standout: C Taylor Davis – Morehead State University junior catcher Taylor Davis fell short of being named the OVC player of the year, but he still opened eyes with a .414 batting average, 13 home runs, 48 RBIs and 46 runs scored in 2011. Davis may have to wait until the second half of the 50-round draft to be selected this season, but he will have a chance to prove his worth to whatever team drafts him by playing in the Cape Cod League this summer.

The question mark: SS Richie Rodriguez – Eastern Kentucky University junior shortstop Richie Rodriguez has been a standout with the bat in three seasons with the Colonels, but he isn’t included in Baseball America’s list of the top 25 prospects in the state. Rodriguez batted .357 with two home runs, 26 RBIs, 44 runs scored and 19 stolen bases in 57 games. He was named a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American following the 2009 season, and was named first-team All-OVC following the 2010 season.

The sleeper: RHP Matt Fyffe – EKU right-handed pitcher Matt Fyffe sat out the 2010 season with an injury, but rebounded in 2011 to strikeout 62 batters in 67 innings. Fyffe rotated between the Colonels’ starting rotation and bullpen as a redshirt junior. He didn’t record a win on the season, but did boast just under a 3-to-1 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He saved two games for EKU and made eight starts. Baseball America ranks him as the No. 20 prospect in the state.

Other players who could be drafted: OF Jacob Daniel (EKU), RHP Stephen Hefler (EKU), OF Zach Noonan (Murray State), LHP Jake Donze (Murray State), C Jacob Rhodes (Murray State), OF/INF Andrew Deeds (Morehead State)

Kentucky high schools

The standout: RHP Chandler Shepherd – Lawrence County High School ace Chandler Shepherd enters next week’s KHSAA state baseball tournament as the state’s best high school draft prospect. His strong commitment to the University of Kentucky may scare some teams away, but he should be able to introduce himself as a MLB draftee to the fans at Whitaker Bank Ballpark. Shepherd rebounded from Tommy John surgery to lead Lawrence County to the 15th region title this season after setting a state-record with 46 consecutive scoreless innings as a sophomore.

The question mark: RHP/INF Ryan Loehnert – St. Xavier senior pitcher Ryan Loehnert threw just 14 innings during the regular season due to an injury, but as a University of Kentucky signee he brings the pedigree of a Southeastern Conference commitment into the draft. He may not have been seen by many scouts due to the low number of innings as a senior, but he could experience a boost from pitching with fellow Division-one signees and draft prospects Matt Spalding and Ian Tompkins. Loehnert is a two-way player, so his future is not necessarily on the mound.

The sleeper: 1B Jackson Laumann – Baseball America rates Boone County High School first baseman Jackson Laumann is as state’s best high school position player, but his name should also help him into a late-round selection. Laumann is the son of White Sox scouting director Doug Laumann, meaning that if nothing else the White Sox can be expected to take a late-round flier on him. The White Sox selected Laumann’s former teammate Ronald Cotton last year. Laumann could follow Cotton to the University of Cincinnati if he does not sign a professional contract.

Other players who could be drafted: RHP Matt Spalding (St. X), LHP Ian Tompkins (St. X), RHP Mark Biggs (Warren East HS), RHP Taylor Martin (Lexington Catholic), RHP Spencer Drake (Eastern), OF Ryan Fucci (Tates Creek)

Out-of-state Ky. collegians

The standout: LHP Nick Maronde – Lexington Catholic alum Nick Maronde, now a left-handed pitcher at the University of Florida, was ranked the No. 19 high school draft prospect in 2008 by Baseball America. He has made a cameo as a starting during his three-year Florida career but has mostly pitched out of the Gators’ bullpen. Baseball America ranks him the No. 130 prospect in the 2011 draft, and he’ll likely be given a shot to start as a professional by a team that takes him in the first five rounds.

The question mark: OF Cory Farris – Boone County HS alum Cory Farris, who spend two years at UK before transferring to Cumberland University for his junior season, was selected by the White Sox in the 43rd round of the 2008 draft following his senior year of high school. Farris has always shown plus power during college – he hit nine home runs in just 63 games at UK – but he has struggle to make contact as well. He batted .279 with 12 home runs and 53 RBIs in 62 games for Cumberland this season.

The sleeper: LHP Jeremy Dobbs – Daviess County High School alum Jeremy Dobbs was selected in the 30th round of the 2008 draft by the Baltimore Orioles after his senior year of high school. Dobbs struggled during his first two seasons at Austin Peay, but was 9-3 with a 3.59 ERA as a junior en route to being named the OVC pitcher of the year. Dobbs struck out 87 batters and walked 52 in 90 and one-third innings this season.

Other players who could be drafted: LHP Jack Snodgrass (Bowling Green High School, Austin Peay), OF Justin Riddell (Lexington Catholic High School, Cincinnati), Zach Osborne (Pleasure Ridge Park, Tennessee), RHP Damon McCormick (St X., Valparaiso), 3B Andy Burns (UK, Arizona)

Photo of Braden Kapteyn by Jon Hale.