Major League Baseball's amateur draft will be held from June 7th-9th, so we're going to introduce you to some of the top players available between now and then.
The Texas flamethrower demographic is one of the most exciting the amateur draft has to offer, listing Roger Clemens, Josh Beckett and many, many others among it's alumni. This year's addition to that club is 6-foot-7, 230 lb. righthander Jameson Taillon from The Woodlands HS, the same school that produced Blue Jays' prospect Kyle Drabek.
Baseball America ranked Taillon as the second best prospect in the draft class behind Bryce Harper, while ESPN's Keith Law had him third (sub. req'd for both). MLB.com's Draft Report indicates that his fastball sits in the 94-99 mph range and features "explosive movement." He also backs it up with a pair of good breaking balls. Law says that Taillon tends to rush through his delivery, which results in high school hitters squaring up his pitches more than they should be able to against a guy throwing that hard. The MLB.com link features video.
No high school righty has ever been selected first overall, and that trend will continue in 2010 thanks to Harper's presence. Taillon is the best pitcher in the draft, though he's maxed out physically and doesn't offer the same potential for growth as a typical high schooler. Jim Callis of Baseball America projected the Orioles to select Taillon third overall in his latest mock draft.
Just wondering, but how do we know he’s maxed out physically?
6 foot 7 and 230 pounds, do you really want him to get any bigger?
The Pirates HAVE to draft his guy. 6’7 with a power fastball, he must be Huntington’s wet dream. You can’t get guys like this very often so you have to take a chance and draft one.
Every rumor says the Pirates don’t want to draft a high school pitcher this high. They’d rather go over slot to lure high school pitchers away from college later in the draft like they did last year.
Note to the team that drafts him: Don’t give in and make him a reliever just because the MSM comments on his fastball or mentality, give him time to develop as a starter, thanks.
6’7 power pitcher? The entire Tigers organization is envious of the Orioles
Taillon will be the best player to come out of this draft, in my opinion.