2006 Great Lakes League Top 10 Prospects
| By Bryan Smith |
| August 16, 2006 |
1. J.B Shuck, lhp/of, Columbus (Ohio State)
A star in tiny Galion, Ohio, Shuck was a second-team All-Freshman selection after a big first season with the Buckeyes. Playing both ways, Shuck continued to excel in both areas during the summer, as he posted a 0.95 ERA and hit .364 with Columbus. Scouts are still undecided on where Shuck's future will take him. At the plate Shuck has a short quick stroke that makes consistent contact, yet provides little power. A quick runner, Shuck is very good in the outfield, where his arm strength plays well. On the mound, Shuck draws praise for his makeup, and the southpaw displays maturity in setting up hitters. His high-80s fastball doesn't blaze radar guns but he has good control of the pitch. Shuck's secondary pitches, including a developing curve, lack consistency.
2. Damon Brewer, lhp, Lima (Bethune-Cookman)
Armed with the league's best fastball, Brewer led the league in saves. His heater, which comes in at 91-93 mph, offers very good arm-side run. Brewer has good control of the pitch, walking just six while striking out 33 in 20 innings. However, he made little progress with his slider during the summer. Headed to Bethune-Cookman from Lake City, Fla., CC, Brewer's lefthanded velocity will go a long way with scouts if he can make progress with his breaking ball.
3. John Baird, rhp, Delaware (Cincinnati)
Hardly used in a deep Birmingham-Southern pitching staff, Baird had the opportunity to transfer closer to home when BSC dropped its Division I baseball program in the early summer and will pitch for Cincinnati next season. Baird's initial move back to Ohio went well, as the righthander did not allow an earned run in the first half of the season. Baird showed a live arm in the spring, albeit one with consistency problems. His best pitch is a hard slider, thrown in the low 80s with inconsistent depth. Baird does have problems throwing the pitch for strikes, leaving the onus on his low-90s fastball; he walked 17 in 37 innings. Coaches liked the arm-side run on Baird's fastball, and he improved his command of the pitch on his way to posting a miniscule 0.97 summer ERA.
4. Chris Kupillas, rhp, Grand Lake (Central Michigan)
Kupillas pitched just 5 1/3 innings with Central Michigan as a freshman in 2006. He drew rave reviews this summer for his pitcher's body (6-foot-6, 230) and performance, as he led the league in opponents average (.150) and strikeouts (52 in 43 innings). Kupillas' low-90s fastball, touching 94, is the key to his arsenal, and his curveball improved as the summer progressed. Like many young pitchers, Kupillas has little feel for his changeup, and at times relies on nothing but his fastball.
5. Kyle Maunus, 3b, Cincinnati (Western Michigan)
After three years of gradual improvement at Western Michigan, and a good beginning to his Great Lakes League season, the Reds jumped on Maunus after 34 games. Now a pro prospect, Maunus left quite the impression on coaches before he left the league. While the third baseman has just shown gap power in the past, many of his doubles should turn to home runs down the road. Maunus achieves this power despite a relatively short swing founded upon a contact-first, patient approach at the plate. In the field, Maunus is a bit better than average athletically, having been tried at second base with Western Michigan. While Maunus doesn't offer a huge ceiling, his stock could improve if he develops home run power as some league coaches predict.
6. Josh Harrison, if, Southern Ohio (Cincinnati)
After a fantastic freshman season for the Bearcats, Harrison hit .347 in 118 at-bats in the summer. A versatile player, Harrison played a multitude of positions, and his future may involve a utility role. Harrison is best suited for second base, which plays to his small frame (5-foot-8), quick feet (6.9 seconds in the 60-yard dash) and good hands. He draws significant praise for his plus makeup as well as excellent instincts and baseball intelligence, explaining his ability to adjust on the fly. A mature hitter who is rarely overmatched at the plate, Harrison offers enough pop to keep defenses honest.
7. Mike Wilson, rhp, Great Lakes (Michigan)
The Wolverines knew when they brought Wilson from Ontario what they were getting themselves into--a project. As a result, during his freshman season, Wilson threw in just eight games, posting a 7.71 ERA. Pitching more consistently in the summer, Wilson thrived, posting a 2.14 ERA. Wilson's 6-foot-6, 225-pound frame includes thick legs, and he has power stuff to go with his powerful frame: a low-90s fastball that touches 94. The pitch generates both numerous strikeouts and walks. Wilson has the makings of a good slider, but the pitch is inconsistent, and Wilson relies heavily on his fastball. Still quite raw, Wilson's potential matches any pitcher in the Great Lakes League--yet no pitcher may be further from reaching it.
8. Travis Jones, 2b, Lima (South Carolina)
A teammate of Damon Brewer at Lake City (Fla.) CC, Jones will head to South Carolina next year. Jones had among the best set of tools in the league, and he should be able to handle the move up to the Southeastern Conference. Jones' best tool is his game-breaking speed and ability on the bases, as evidenced by his 12 stolen bases in 15 attempts. A capable defender, Jones has a weak arm and will be limited at second base at the next level. At the plate, he has a good approach and a short, quick swing that generates good pop. Jones has yet to completely translate his tools into performance, but he should continue to refine his game this fall at South Carolina.
9. Matt Stiffler, of, Southern Ohio (Ohio)
Stiffler hit .367/.447/.500 and drew raves for his makeup as well as his offensive approach. The league leader in doubles, Stiffler has good gap power, though it's doubtful he'll develop much home run power. His best asset is the ability to make consistent, line-drive contact from the left side. Stiffler shows good baseball intelligence on the bases and in the field. The key for Stiffler will be convincing scouts that he can play center at the next level, as he lacks the power for an outfield corner.
10. Mark Sorensen, rhp, Columbus (Michigan State)
After experiencing a sophomore slump with the Spartans during the spring, Sorensen blossomed during the summer, going 6-1, 1.71. What sticks out most about Sorensen is his endurance, as the righthander had three complete games and was third in the league in innings pitched. His biggest strength is his control, especially of his high-80s fastball that touched 91 in the summer. While Sorensen has good feel for a changeup, that pitch and his breaking ball both need improvement, as Sorensen does not miss enough bats, striking out just 28 in 47 innings.