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Baseball America: Preseason All Americans
Posted on 1/30/17 at 8:47 am
Posted on 1/30/17 at 8:47 am
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1ST TEAM
Jeren Kendall, Vanderbilt, OF
Alex Faedo, Florida, SP
Tanner Houck, Missouri, SP
Kyle Wright, Vanderbilt, SP
2ND TEAM
Dalton Guthrie, Florida, SS
Jake Mangum, Mississippi St, OF
Alex Lange, LSU, SP
Brady Singer, Florida, SP
Corbin Martin, Texas A&M, RP
3RD TEAM
Mike Rivera, Florida, C
Deacon Liput, Florida, 2B
Jonathan India, Florida, 3B
Wil Crowe, South Carolina, SP
1ST TEAM
Jeren Kendall, Vanderbilt, OF
Alex Faedo, Florida, SP
Tanner Houck, Missouri, SP
Kyle Wright, Vanderbilt, SP
2ND TEAM
Dalton Guthrie, Florida, SS
Jake Mangum, Mississippi St, OF
Alex Lange, LSU, SP
Brady Singer, Florida, SP
Corbin Martin, Texas A&M, RP
3RD TEAM
Mike Rivera, Florida, C
Deacon Liput, Florida, 2B
Jonathan India, Florida, 3B
Wil Crowe, South Carolina, SP
quote:
OUTFIELD
JEREN KENDALL, VANDERBILT
A high price tag out of a Wisconsin high school kept Kendall from signing in 2014, and scouts have been waiting patiently ever since. Kendall has better tools than last year’s top outfielder, Louisville’s Corey Ray, a similar player as a left handed bat with speed. But Kendall is a 70 runner to Ray’s 60, and scouts consider him a potential plus defender in center field—which he’ll play for the first time this season for Vanderbilt—after seeing him there with the CNT.
Kendall also has excellent bat speed and a chance to hit for plus power if his approach and feel for hitting continue to improve. He’s struck out 122 times in 435 college at-bats, but scouts still consider him a potentially above-average hitter.
“He has natural, smooth athleticism,” one national crosschecker said, while another added. “The only question is the bat, especially the left-on-left question. The industry will zero in on the bat.”
STARTING PITCHERS
ALEX FAEDO, RHP, FLORIDA
Faedo missed time in the fall due to minor knee surgery but is expected to be fully healthy when the Gators’ season starts. He’d moved ahead of Puk in the team’s rotation last season and has two easy plus pitches at his best in his mid-90s fastball and powerful mid-80s slider. He’s a strike-thrower with just 37 walks in 166 career innings, while striking out 192 (10.4 K/9). Faedo’s body still has some developing to do, and scouts are convinced that despite his performance, the best is yet to come.
“He’s got some delivery issues,” one scouting director said, “but you can’t deny that he has performed at an elite level, and that he’s shown command of two plus pitches against good competition.”
TANNER HOUCK, RHP, MISSOURI
Lean and athletic at 6-foot-5, 215 pounds, Houck has the fastest arm in the class’ potential starters, and his pure arm speed helps him overcome some timing issues in his delivery. He pounds the zone with a lively fastball with plus life as well as plus velocity from an unconventional, low-three-quarters slot. He needs to more consistently stay on top of his slider, a pitch with sharp bite at times but that was inconsistent last summer with Team USA. He’s already shown impressive durability for Missouri, working more than 100 innings in each of his first two seasons. He’s working with a new coaching staff this season with the Tigers, with Steve Bieser replacing retired coach Tim Jamieson.
KYLE WRIGHT, RHP, VANDERBILT
A reliever as a freshman, Wright moved into Vanderbilt’s rotation as a sophomore and now is the undisputed leader of the staff. Vandy’s pitching tradition includes 10 picks in the first two rounds since first-rounder Jeremy Sowers (2004). Wright has the potential to be the first college pitcher drafted thanks to his profile size (6-foot-4, 220 pounds), clean arm and fastball command, the best among the four first-team All-Americans.
Wright’s body attracts the most attention, as he still has projection, and he repeats his arm action and delivery well, so scouts are confident he’ll hit more 95 mph readings down the line. He sits 90-92 more often presently, with cutting action at its best, and his curveball has been above-average as well. His changeup rates as his third pitch and will be a focus.
quote:
Every year Baseball America surveys scouting directors and national crosscheckers asking them to vote on our Preseason College All-America team. This year 17 of the 30 teams participated, giving a solid cross-section of how scouts view the college talent heading into the 2017 season. As we have for more than 30 years, we ask scouting directors’ opinions because we’re attempting to look forward with this team, not back at past accomplishments. Our end of season College All-America Team rewards results, but our preseason list is a look at the top talent in college baseball.
This post was edited on 1/30/17 at 8:49 am
Posted on 1/30/17 at 8:50 am to Farmer1906
Let's see how Florida manages to not win this year
Posted on 1/30/17 at 8:50 am to Farmer1906
Gave UF 6 all americans but they arent their #1 or #2 team in the pre-season Top 25. Interesting
Those #1/#2 teams only had a combined 3 all americans, by comparison
Those #1/#2 teams only had a combined 3 all americans, by comparison
This post was edited on 1/30/17 at 8:52 am
Posted on 1/30/17 at 8:52 am to MsState of mind
Once again, UF is loaded with talent. Vandy has some high-end players.
I am a little shocked Hill didn't make the 3rd team for A&M. He was pretty good last year.
9-2, 2.51 ERA
I am a little shocked Hill didn't make the 3rd team for A&M. He was pretty good last year.
9-2, 2.51 ERA
Posted on 1/30/17 at 8:53 am to thunderbird1100
These are MLB scouts making these teams. The preseason poll, I believe, is done by in-house writers.
Posted on 1/30/17 at 8:58 am to Farmer1906
But still. What exactly is a preseason all American? It's not actually an award.
Posted on 1/30/17 at 9:01 am to AtlantaLSUfan
It's clickbait to garner discussion and hype
Same thing as like preseason rankings in every sport.
Same thing as like preseason rankings in every sport.
Posted on 1/30/17 at 9:56 am to Farmer1906
Yeah, pre-season all American picks are just hype and click bait. If Lange is back in form like his Freshman campaign no way he doesn't make 1st team all American
Posted on 1/30/17 at 2:07 pm to MsState of mind
quote:
Let's see how Florida manages to not win this year
Same story last preseason. Florida was supposed to have so much talent that everybody else was playing for 2nd!
Posted on 1/30/17 at 3:00 pm to thunderbird1100
quote:
Gave UF 6 all americans but they arent their #1 or #2 team in the pre-season Top 25. Interesting
Baseball America got trigger happy with the Florida players this preseason.
I agree with Faedo, Rivera, and Guthrie.
Don't see how India and Liput are third team All American's as they hit 0.303 and 0.270 respectively in a heavily protected lineup a season ago.
Posted on 1/30/17 at 3:15 pm to Adam4848
But they're projecting, not looking at past accomplishments.
Posted on 1/30/17 at 3:23 pm to FishFearMe
quote:
Same story last preseason. Florida was supposed to have so much talent that everybody else was playing for 2nd!
Same story almost every year for UF. So much talent, not enough fight.
Posted on 1/30/17 at 3:25 pm to Farmer1906
Out of all of the players that we have back, the only one to be named on any of these lists is Crowe, who didn't even play last year after getting Tommy John Surgery.
Posted on 1/30/17 at 5:47 pm to BloodSweat&Beers
quote:
Same story almost every year for UF. So much talent, not enough fight.
We have plenty of fight. Our problem has been offense in all sports lately. We had Peter Alonso last year and that was it. The rest were OK but not great. JJ cooled off after a great freshman season in 2015. We finished 52-16 and lost 2-1 to eventual champ Coastal Carolina and 3-2 to Texas Tech, who was knocked out by Coastal in the next round.
And just like Mac, Sully has worked all off-season to improve the offense. We had the top ERA in the conference but were 7th in Batting average. I am lowering expectations this year but hoping to still make it to Omaha.
This post was edited on 1/30/17 at 5:57 pm
Posted on 1/30/17 at 5:51 pm to Farmer1906
Faedo is legit. No doubt.
Posted on 1/30/17 at 7:34 pm to Farmer1906
I'm hoping Jeren Kendall will be a Cincinnati Red with the 2nd pick next June. Nick Senzel from UT looks to be the real deal. Let's add another SEC stud.
This post was edited on 1/30/17 at 7:35 pm
Posted on 1/30/17 at 7:38 pm to msudawg1200
'stros just picked up 2 more picks from cheating arse St Louis so we might have some room for SEC studs like Bregs & Reed.
This post was edited on 1/30/17 at 7:38 pm
Posted on 1/30/17 at 7:56 pm to Farmer1906
I saw that. Good for the Stros. I also heard they'll get 2 million from the Cards also. I still think they got off light. I think the picks are in the 50's and 70's.
Posted on 1/30/17 at 7:58 pm to msudawg1200
They already gave up their first for signing Fowler. They may be light in a few years when this draft comes back around.
Posted on 1/30/17 at 8:07 pm to Farmer1906
Couldn't happen to a better group. I can't stand them.
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