2006 New England Collegiate League Top 10 Prospects
| By Kristin Pratt and John Manuel |
| August 30, 2006 |
1. Chris Friedrich, lhp, Vermont (Eastern Kentucky)
Caoches say Friedrich combines a knack for pitcing with a low-90s fastball that has good life. He also has good command of two secondary pitches, a curveball and a changeup. Friedrich went 2-0, 1.41 this summer with a sparkling 36-5 strikeout-walk ratio in 32 innings, then won both of his playoff starts to help lead Vermont to the league championship. His feel for pitching allowed him to limit hitters to a .152 average as he followed up his Ohio Valley Conference freshman-of-the-year performance. He was 10-2, 1.98 this spring.
2. Andres Perez, 3b/of, Torrington (Stony Brook)
The much-traveled Perez has played at Lamar, Gulf Coast (Fla.) CC and now Stony Brook in his college career, and still has excellent tools to go with a raw approach. Perez was the only player league coaches could say had five tools, and he hit .355/.423/.609 and finished second in the batting race. A rising senior, Perez has a strong, live body and bat speed, but he is overly aggressive at the plate. Defensively, he wasn't polished enough in his tries at third base and was better suited right now to a corner outfield spot, where his plus arm played well.
3. Curt Smith, 3b, Vermont (Maine)
A native of Curacao, Smith has fleet feet and a sharp bat in his arsenal. He stole 20 bags in 22 attempts, and batted .323/.419/.384 this season. Far from a slap-and-dash hitter, though, Smith has strength and some power, which will help as he mans third base for the Black Bears next season as a junior.
4. Chris Dominguez, 3b, Newport (Louisville)
Dominguez was considered a top prospect out of Gulliver Prep in Miami before an uneven senior year, and he needed the at-bats he got this summer after taking a medical redshirt at Louisville in 2006. Dominguez has power tools at the plate and with his throwing arm from third base. His 11 home runs led the league, and Dominguez showed enough range and good enough hands to stay at third base. However, his approach at the plate remains raw, as he hit .201 and struck out a league-high 54 times in 154 at-bats. Let's hope it was the rust.
5. Pat McAnaney, lhp, Newport (Virginia)
McAnaney's outstanding command of a three-pitch mix helped the rising junior dominate NECBL hitters. He went 7-0, 1.74 and posted a 55-9 strikeout-walk ratio in 52 innings, all while giving up just 33 hits. McAnaney lived in the upper 80s with his fastball and changed speeds effectively.
6. Jay Monti, rhp, Holyoke (Sacred Heart)
Monti, who started in the all-star game and struck out the side in one inning, challenged McAnaney for the most dominating line in the league. In July, he struck out 13 Concord batters in a 3-0 complete-game victory. Coaches gave McAnaney an edge as a prospect because he's a southpaw, but Monti has better stuff, throwing his fastball between 90-92 mph. He also has a solid breaking ball that he threw for strikes, going 5-1, 1.62 while posting a 59-9 strikeout-walk ratio. Coaches also liked the competitiveness he showed on the mound.
7. Jim Murphy, 1B, Newport (Washington State)
Murphy, a rising junior, would have won the NECBL triple crown if not for Dominguez and his 11 homers. Murphy led the league in batting (.358) and RBIs (40) while hitting .358/.458/.635. Torrington head coach Greg Hunt said Murphy always seemed to give his team the big hits it needed. The righthanded hitter also is surprisingly nimble around first base defensively, despite his 6-foot-3, 255-pound frame.
8. Mark Murray, rhp, Vermont (Evansville)
One of the top relievers in the league, Murray gave up just two runs all summer, both unearned, and kept his ERA perfect through the playoffs as well. The slightly built (6-foot-1, 170 pounds) rising senior was essentially unhittable with his tough, heavy sinker in the upper 80s and solid control of the pitch.
9. Brendan McKearney, rhp, Newport (Washington)
McKearney was one of the league's harder throwers working in a relief role for the Gulls, sitting at 89-92 mph with his fastball. He has some movement on the pitch, giving up just 10 hits in 29 innings while striking out 30. He has a funky arm action that keeps him from having good command (15 walks), but he has a fine pitcher's body (6-foot-3, 190 pounds) that could offer projection if he smooths out his arm.
10. Willy Fox, util, Pittsfield (Wake Forest)
A versatile player who can play second base, third base or the outfield, Fox batted .341/.496/.427, ranking fifth in the league in batting. While coaches described him as a contact hitter, he struck out 34 times, unacceptable for a player with modest power. Fox is a savvy basestealer (17 in 20 tries) who is transferring from Arizona State to Wake Forest for his junior season.