2006 Coastal Plain League Top 10 Prospects
| By Aaron Fitt |
| August 29, 2006 |
1. Keon Graves, 3b, Spartanburg (Spartanburg, S.C., Methodist)
An outstanding athlete with a loose, wiry frame, Graves showed flashes of brilliance at the plate and in the field. He uses his strong, quick wrists to generate very good bat speed, and he figures to develop plus power as he fills out his 6-foot-3, 185-pound frame. Graves, 19, is a plus runner who stole 16 bases in 17 attempts, and he has shown an ability to make dazzling plays at the hot corner thanks to his smooth actions and strong arm. Graves remains raw around the edges, as evidenced by his 49 strikeouts in 151 at-bats this summer, but he has more upside than any other player in the league.
2. Jimmy Gallagher, of, Peninsula (Duke)
Gallagher's .423 batting average shattered the CPL's single-season record of .378 and was 68 points higher than the second-best average this summer. His swing has very good rhythm despite his rather upright stance, and he consistently generates line drives to all fields. His quick hands give him an excellent two-strike approach, and he showed some gap power and pull power with his lefthanded swing. Gallagher was slowed this summer by a tight hamstring, but he still showed decent speed in left field, where he likely profiles.
3. Luke Prihoda, rhp, Fayetteville (Sam Houston State)
Prihoda was utterly dominant as the closer for the Swampdogs, setting a league record with 18 saves. He did not allow a run all summer in 28 innings, allowing just seven hits and posting an absurd 54-2 strikeout-walk ratio. He attacks hitters with a 92-94 mph fastball that he can locate wherever he wants, and he never gets rattled. His second pitch is a rather flat slider that could use some sharpening, and his big frame has some softness, but his arm is loose.
4. Nate Parks, of, Outer Banks (Virginia Tech)
A speedy switch-hitter who plays the game with energy and swagger, Parks draws comparisons to Red Sox center fielder Coco Crisp. Parks complements his plus speed with outstanding baserunning instincts, helping him steal 30 bases in 33 attempts this summer. He is an excellent defensive outfielder with a solid arm. At the plate, Parks is a slap hitter who lands hard on his front side and needs to improve his consistency, but he has a bit of gap power now and then.
5. C.J. Ziegler, 1b, Asheboro (Arizona)
The CPL leader in home runs (13), on-base percentage (.498) and slugging percentage (.655), Ziegler possesses the most raw power of any hitter in the league. He has a track record for power, tying for the lead in his juco (wood-bat) conference in the spring and hitting 31 in high school. He is capable of hitting long home runs to all fields. He also has good strike-zone judgment, helping him amass a league-best 48 walks. Ziegler does sometimes chase breaking balls when he falls behind in the count early, and he has a long swing that can leave him vulnerable inside. Ziegler is average defensively and moves OK for a 6-foot-5 first baseman. He's transferring from Pima (Ariz.) CC to Arizona for the 2007 season.
6. Zach Brown, 1b, Thomasville (The Citadel)
Brown hit just one homer in 181 at-bats for The Citadel this spring but showed an aptitude for hitting with wood bats this summer, swatting 12 homers in 203 at-bats. His swing can get long sometimes, but Brown has a tremendous offensive approach and feel for the strike zone. A lefthanded hitter who handles lefthanded pitching well, Brown can crush the ball to right field but can also tattoo the wall to the opposite field. He is a solid defender at first base and even threw three pitches for strikes off the mound.
7. Scott Diamond, lhp, Martinsville (Binghamton)
Diamond led CPL starters with a 0.50 ERA while posting a 55-13 strikeout-walk ratio in 54 innings. He has good command of three pitches: an upper-80s fastball with sink and run, a curveball and a cutter (that his teammates refer to as the "Diamond Cutter"). He does a good job getting ahead of hitters early in the count. Diamond's mechanics are mostly smooth, although he jerks his head sometimes, and he's got an outstanding pickoff move.
8. Steve Condotta, ss, Martinsville (Florida Tech)
Though Condotta was second in the league with a .355 batting average, he stands out most for his defense. A native of Toronto, Condotta has plus range at shortstop, effortlessly gliding to his backhand side or up the middle, and his infield actions are very smooth. He also has an above-average arm. Offensively, Condotta has a pesky approach well suited for the top of the order, and he has the ability to shoot the ball into the gaps.
9. Jeff Fischer, rhp, Edenton (Eastern Michigan)
The Mid-American Conference pitcher of the year as a sophomore this spring, Fischer kept his success going this summer, posting a 4-3, 2.05 record for Edenton. He has a big 6-foot-4, 210-pound frame and a loose arm, and coaches like his easy delivery, though one scout said his arm action was ugly. He throws three pitches for strikes, including an above-average changeup, a heavy 89-92 mph fastball that touches 93 and a decent slider.
10. Mike Flye, rhp, Wilson (East Carolina)
Flye is a very aggressive closer who comes right after hitters with his 89-91 mph fastball and nasty slider. He has an electric arm and a projectable 6-foot-3 frame that suggests he could add velocity. Flye is very intense on the mound and has good command, as evidenced by his 37-11 K-BB ratio in 31 innings for the Tobs. He flashes an occasional changeup that needs refinement.