A look ahead to the 2008 draft

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http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?...2007&fext=.jsp

Here's a list of high schoolers and college players who should be watched closely for next year's Draft.

Pedro Alvarez, 3B, Vanderbilt
Alvarez was the only college player not eligible for the 2007 Draft who was a Golden Spikes Award finalist. The Vanderbilt third baseman was the SEC Tournament MVP hit .386, slugged .684 and had a .463 OBP during his standout 2007 season.

Jack Armstrong, RHP, Jupiter Community HS, Fla.
The son of the former big league pitcher of the same name, this younger Armstrong is a thin 6-foot-6 righty who throws in the low 90s. He's got room for more with a low-effort delivery. A standout basketball player as well, Armstrong is a terrific athlete.

Jordan Danks, OF, University of Texas
Danks, the younger brother of White Sox pitcher John Danks, was a pretty good prospect out of high school but wanted to go to Texas. He hit .332 in his sophomore year with 19 steals and a .440 OBP.

Ike Davis, OF, Arizona State
Another good draft prospect out of high school, Davis honored his commitment to ASU. He's been a two-way player as a left-handed pitcher, but his future is at the plate. Davis hit .354 as a sophomore and slugged .547.

Anthony Ferrara, Riverview HS, Fla.
Ferrara is a left-hander who has cranked it up into the mid-90s. He had some biceps tendinitis this season, but if he can stay healthy, the sky's the limit.

Aaron Hicks, OF/RHP, Woodrow Wilson HS, Calif.
He might be considered the top high schooler in the class as of right now. Hicks is an athletic two-way player who can reach the low 90s from the mound, but is probably an outfielder in the future and a potential five-tool guy.

Eric Hosmer, 1B, American Heritage School, Fla.
Hosmer is a pure hitter from the left side of the plate, with a very fluid stroke. He's got some leverage for future power. He also can touch 90 mph on the mound, but the bat is his best tool.

Casey Kelly, Sarasota HS, Fla.
The son of Pat Kelly (the one who played briefly for the Blue Jays), Kelly is a big, strong and athletic shortstop. He's one of the top high school quarterbacks in the country as well and he shows the arm strength at short. He's got a short swing with some pop. Even though he's big, he should at least get the chance to stay at short.

Daniel Marrs, RHP, James River HS, Va.
Marrs dealt with a little tendinitis this spring, but sits in the low 90s with his fastball. His secondary stuff is a little behind, but he's a tall right-hander with plus arm strength.

Brian Matusz, RHP, San Diego
The second-team All-American went 10-3 with a 2.85 ERA, striking out 163 and walking just 37 over 123 innings for San Diego. Hitters managed just a .214 average against him during his sophomore season.

Quinton Miller, RHP, Shawnee HS, NJ
A right-hander with a low-90s fastball, he's got more advanced command than some of the other prepsters on this list. He can throw three pitches for strikes and might have a few more ticks on his fastball as he matures.

Tyson Ross, RHP, California
It may not have been a good 2007 draft for college right-handers, but 2008 might be different with Matusz and Ross at the top. Ross had a 2.49 ERA for the Cal Bears, striking out 120 and walked 39 in 115 2/3 innings.

Justin Smoak, 1B, South Carolina
A 16th-round selection in 2005, he would have gone much higher if not for his strong commitment to South Carolina. After hitting .317 with 21 homers as a sophomore, he now has 38 round-trippers in his two years of college ball.

Jacob Thompson, RHP, Virginia
Thompson became the Friday starter this past season, replacing Sean Doolittle, the school's all-time wins leader. That should tell you enough about him, but his 11-0 record, 1.50 ERA, .198 batting average against and 101 strikeouts in 114 innings show he belongs in the group of elite college righties on this list.

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I've seen Quinton Miller pitch in person, my HS played Shawnee this season, he was very impressive.

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http://slam.canoe.ca/Slam/Baseball/C...raft_2008.html

Pos./Name	Home Town	Height/Weight	School/Team(s)	Comments	On Other Lists
1. 2B-SS Brett Lawrie	Langley, BC	6'0", 185 lbs.	Langley Blaze/Can. Youth Team	National team stud since he was 16, Solid line drive hitter	208th on Perfect Game's top 556 HS list
2. RHP Stosh Wawrzasek	Langley, BC	6'1", 200 lbs.	Langley Blaze/Can. Youth Team	10 Ks in 6 IP in a shutout win over North Shore	--
3. RHP Jordan Meaker	Burlington, Ont./Flower Mound, Tx.	6'5" 195 lbs.	Dallas Baptist University	4-2, 3.14 ERA in 10 GS, 56 Ks in 66 IPs.	PG's sixth best college prospect in Texas
4. SS Terrence Dayleg	Surrey, BC	6'0" 190 lbs	Western Kentucky	Smooth as the other side of the pillow, .350, 4 HRs, 28 RBIs	PG's 3rd best college prosect in Kentucky
5. 2B-OF Phil Carey	London, Ont.	6'0", 180 lbs.	Winthrop University	.303, 7 extra-base hits, 1 HR, 18 RBIs	PG's 11th best collegian in South Carolina
6. RHP Brad Furdal	Ancaster, Ont.	6'1" 150 lbs.	Inter-County Terriers	Has hit the high 80s, Impressive breaking ball	268th on PG HS list
7. SS Ivan Hartle	North Vancouver, BC	5'10" 175 lbs.	Coquitlam Reds/Can. Youth Team	Great feel for game, Named top prospect of '05 in Premier League	285th on PG's HS list
8. 1B Randy Schwartz	Kleinburg, Ont.	--	High Point University	.393, 7 HRs, 42 RBIs	PG's fifth best sophomore DH
9. INF Carter Bell	Courtney, BC	6'2", 180 lbs.	Parksville Royals/Can. Youth Team	Names of two former Jays, but moves like Fernandez	372nd on PG list
10. 3B James Kottaras	Markham, Ont.	5'10", 160 lbs.	Ontario Blue Jays	Has the good genes, brother George in the Red Sox system	342nd on PG HS list
11. RHP Nicholas Bucci	Sarnia, Ont.	6'1", 165 lbs	Team Ontario	Clocked in the mid 80s	568th on PG list
12. SS Dale Anderson	Strathmore, Alta.	6'2" 190 lbs	Vauxhall Academy	Good hands, Athletic, 6.9 runner
13. RHP Matthew Bannister	St. John's, NFLD	6'6" 195 lbs.	Thompson Rivers University	Fanned 8 in CCBC semi-final	--
14. OF Lionel Morrill	Taber, Alta.	--	Vauxhall Academy	6.65 runner, Some pop in the bat	--

Others to watch

RHP Shain Beaudreau, Cole Harbour, N.S., Team Nova Scotia
RHP Tom Boleska, Burlington, Ont., High Point University
OF Corey Boutilier, Dartmouth, N.S. Team Nova Scotia
RHP Barrie Chesterman, Langley, BC, Langley Blaze
SS Jeff Cowan, Scarborough, Ont. High Point University

OF McKenzie Dalgleish, North Delta, BC, North Delta Blue Jays
C Greg Densem, Toronto, Ont. Team Toronto
C Marco DiRoma, Bolton, Ont., Ontario Blue Jays
C Trevor Edwards, Leaside, Ont. Toronto Mets
RHP Jordell Farquharson, Mississauga, Ont., Ontario Blue Jays

LHP Ashton Florko, Trail, BC, Lewis-Clark State College
LHP Nick Fogarty, Thornhill, Ont., Ontario Blue Jays
RHP Michael Henry, Sarnia, Ont., Inter-County Terriers
RHP-INF Jeremy Karl, Prince George, BC, Langley Blaze
C Morgan Kielty, Burlington, Ont., University of Pittsburgh

OF Marcus Knecht, Toronto, Ont., Ontario Blue Jays
RHP Tyler Kristiansen, Surrey, BC, White Rock Tritons
LHP Andrew Ledger, Toronto, Ont., Team Toronto
C Brent Mitchell, Paris, Ont., Inter-County Terriers
SS Leonardo Ochoa, Longeuil, Que. ABC

RSS Argenis Paz, Markham, Ont., Ontario Blue Jays
RHP Travis Nevashonoff, Castlegar, BC, Langley Blaze
C Kevin Reimer, Steinbach, Man. Canisius College
C Oscar Rodriguez, Coquitlam, BC, Coquitlam Reds
RHP Curtis Taylor, Coquitlam, BC North Shore Twins
RHP David Walking, Nanaimo, BC, Nanaimo Pirates
INF-OF Brandon Willier, Vancouver, BC, Coquitlam Reds