OF
1.
Derek Fisher
5-28-13 - Derek Fisher, OF, Virginia - Like Conforto, the 6’-3”, 210-pound left-hander had a sensational freshman season, hitting .288 with 11 doubles, eight triples, seven home runs and 50 RBI. He has started hot out of the gate for the Cavaliers, going 13-for-38 (.342) over the first 11 games. He has added a double, triple, two home runs and has knocked in 16 runs for undefeated Virginia. A great athlete, he also has an advanced approach at the plate, drawing seven walks to six strikeouts this year and has a .457 OBP. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft/29840#fm24otWuYCEocLQZ.99
5-27-13 - Derek Fisher was a much higher profile prospect than Turner in the same 2011 prep draft class, turning down significant money in the 6th round from Texas. Fisher was a big name for a while in high school, but as a cold weather prospect from Pennsylvania that had an iffy spring and serious swing-and-miss questions, his seven figure price tag limited his options. His freshman year in Charlottesville followed this narrative, as he hit .288 with 22 walks and 61 strikeouts in 219 AB despite flashing upside with 11 doubles, 8 triples and 7 homers as a toolshed with a center field profile. Fisher has made some adjustments at the plate this spring, hitting .309/.423/.533 with 23 BB and 30 K. There's a lot to like here with a 6'3, 210 pound left-handed hitting center fielder that flashes above average speed and power with some aptitude for making adjustments. LINK
6-9-13 - 15.Derek Fisher, OF (Virginia): Even though he underwhelmed a bit in 2013, he’s one of the best offensive prospects at the college level. http://www.minorleaguerundown.com/2013/06/09/2014-mlb-draft-top-30-prospects/
6-10-13 - Derek Fisher, OF Virginia - Fisher was one of my favorite players in the 2011 draft class. He is a good athlete with a line drive swing with good bat speed. There is good power projection in his bat. His approach has improved over the last year at Virginia. http://bigleaguefutures.net/1/2013/06/10/2014-mlb-draft-early-college-names-to-know/
6-13-13 - 17. San Francisco Giants — Derek Fisher, OF, Virginia - A great athlete, the 6’-3”, 210 pound left-hander greatly improved his approach this season cutting down his strikeouts from 61 to 38 over roughly the same number of plate appearances while upping his walks from 22 to 28. Over 53 games, he hit .306 with 12 doubles, seven home runs, stole eight bases and had a .420 OBP/.505 SLG. His size suggests more power will come and, if it does, he will be one of the better all-around college bats available in the 2014 MLB draft. http://beforeitsnews.com/sports/2013/06/2014-mlb-mock-draft-1-0-no-time-like-the-present-2513748.html?currentSplittedPage=2
6-30-13 - Frankie Piliere @FPilierePG - Watching @HarwichMariners take BP - the ball acts very different off Derek Fisher's bat. Easy line drives and big CF carry @UVABaseball
8-14-13 – Through The Fence – Top 50 Prospects – 24. Derek Fisher, OF, Virginia - A great athlete, the 6’-3”, 210-pound left-hander greatly improved his approach this season cutting down his strikeouts from 61 to 38 over roughly the same number of plate appearances while upping his walks from 22 to 28. Over 53 games, he hit .306 with 12 doubles, seven home runs, stole eight bases and had a .420 OBP/.505 SLG. His size suggests more power will come and, if it does, he will be one of the better all-around college bats available in the 2014 MLB draft. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-top-50-prospects/36463#mwWwsFxSUZy7YC5V.99
9-4-13 – Mack’s Mock Draft v1.0 – 8 – Phillies – OF Derek Fisher – Virginia – Excellent gap hitter with above average bat speed. Had a horrible 2013 offensively in school but still projects out as a top draft pick. Projects as one of the top college bats in the draft.
9-29-13 – XMLBScout – 8.)OF, Derek Fisher, Virginia, 6'2 210, L/R, strong durable build with solid ML arm from the OF, has on the way, plus speed once he gets out of the box, could steal 20 bases in ML once he arrives, has straight away power, a lil glitch in his hitting approach but good strength and bat speed to make adjustments with hitting instruction at the pro level. Definite early round follow for 2014. http://xmlbscout.angelfire.com/
9-30-13 – TTF Mock 2.0 - 17. Baltimore Orioles — Derek Fisher, OF, Virginia A great athlete, the 6’-3”, 210-pound left-hander greatly improved his approach this season cutting down his strikeouts from 61 to 38 over roughly the same number of plate appearances while upping his walks from 22 to 28. Over 53 games, he hit .306 with 12 doubles, seven home runs, stole eight bases and had a .420 OBP/.505 SLG. His size suggests more power will come and, if it does, he will be one of the better all-around college bats available in the 2014 MLB draft. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-mock-draft-2-0-draft-order-set/38280#5E3F5j1jWOgE69bJ.99
10-6-13 – Kendall Rogers/PG – College Prospects - 6. Derek Fisher, of, Virginia (Drafted: 2011, Rangers -- 6th round) - Last year, Hunter Renfroe was the guy we tabbed as someone who would take a big step forward. Fisher fits that bill for the 2014 campaign. Fisher is very athletic with a good frame. He has a smooth swing from the left side and has the tools and power to be a feared, elite hitter in college and at the next level.
10-14-13 – Top ’14 College Hitters - 1. Derek Fisher / OF / Virginia — Fischer is going to have to hit — he doesn’t have the arm strength or instincts to be anything but a left fielder — to earn this ranking, but he certainly has the offensive tools to justify it. The left-handed hitting outfielder has above-average bat speed and a linear swing that should lead to above-average power numbers, though we haven’t seen that translate into games as much as one would hope. Consistency has been a problem for Fischer, but with a strong junior season you could see him go very early, as he’s one of the few middle of the order type bats in this class. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2013/10/top-14-for-14-college-hitters/
10-15-13 – Baseball America - 16. Derek Fisher, of, Virginia: Powerful lefthanded swing makes him a potential first-rounder, though his defense and all-around tools are more in question. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-draft-top-50-october-2013-carlos-rodon/
10-18-13 – Matt Garroich – Derek Fisher at Virginia was highly touted out of high school, I had him 20th overall in the draft, and he has done nothing to hurt his stock while a Cavalier. He still has some swing and miss issues, a balding head and big time power but his speed has maintained better than I expected. His toolset is that of a solid regular or better in the majors. http://www.minorleagueball.com/2013/10/18/4851030/2014-mlb-draft-atlantic-region-college-discussion
11-27-13 – Big League Futures Top 25 Poll – 11 Derek Fisher OF Virginia http://bigleaguefutures.net/1/2013/11/26/mlb-draft-top-25-prospects-poll/
12-9-13 – Pine Tar Press - 17- OF Derek Fisher Virginia 8/21/93- He is one of two players who turned down the Rangers out of HS and look to be top 15 picks in this draft. (Max Pentecost the other) His hit tool is the best in the college class but the question mark is his defense. He will be a LF because his arm strength and speed only fit that position. I think he could be a 20-25 HR with 40 2B guy in his prime but bat first (and maybe only) prospect are always a concern. (Brewers @ 12) http://pinetarpress.com/early-look-2014-mlb-draft/
2.
Braxton Davidson
6-13-13 - 14. Philadelphia Phillies — Braxton Davidson, OF, T C Roberson HS (NC) - The 6’-3”, 215 pound left-hander will be one of the best prep bats in the 2014 MLB draft due to his bat speed, advanced approach at the plate and raw power. He shows good pitch recognition and his strong wrists allow him to wait on any pitch. Over 31 games as a junior, he hit .403 with seven doubles, eight home runs, and drew 30 walks for a .600 OBP/.831 SLG. His strong arm would play well in a corner outfield spot. http://beforeitsnews.com/sports/2013/06/2014-mlb-mock-draft-1-0-no-time-like-the-present-2513748.html
7-2-13 - 2014 - Top 100 High School Prospects - 4. Braxton Davidson- OF, T.C. Roberson (NC) HS - Absolutely mashed at TOS. Three home runs, and hit everything hard. Best bat at the event - http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/jeff-sullivans-top-100-2014-prospects/
7-24-13 - 4. Braxton Davidson, 1b/of, Roberson High, Asheville, N.C./Dirtbags - The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Davidson has a large frame with wide shoulders and a strong lower half. Using a wide base and deep hand load, Davidson produces raw plus power, which is his carrying tool. With three home runs in four games, he tied the TOS record and hit more home runs than all of the players at last year’s TOS combined (two). Folklore grew that one homer bounced onto a highway more than 500 feet away. His prodigious power does come at the expense of swings and misses. With adequate speed and arm strength, the North Carolina commit could play an outfield corner, but profiles best at first base. http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/tyler-koleks-heavy-fastball-among-tournament-of-stars-standouts/
7-25-13 – Top 30 High School Prospects For 2014 Draft - 8. Braxton Davidson, 1B/RF, T.C. Roberson HS (NC) - 6'2/215, L/L, Draft Day Age: 17.97, North Carolina commit, Full Report & Video - Quick Take: Davidson is the safest bet on this list: he already has above average raw power with an upper body that should add even more strength to go with elite feel at the plate that already racks up extra base hits to all fields in bunches. He could fit in right field for now and he's one of the younger players in the class. http://sbb.scout.com/2/1310090.html
2013 East Coast Pro Showcase Top 50 Prospects - 3. Braxton Davidson – OF/1B, T.C. Roberson (NC) HS - The most feared hitter in the 2014 class. Davidson hits everything hard and had three home runs at TOS. He continued to hit at ECP. http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-top-50-ecp-prospects/
8-14-13 – Through The Fence – Top 50 Prospects – 15. Braxton Davidson, OF, TC Roberson HS (NC) - The 6’-3”, 215-pound left-hander will be one of the best prep bats in the 2014 MLB draft due to his bat speed, advanced approach at the plate and raw power. He shows good pitch recognition, and his strong wrists allow him to wait on any pitch. Over 31 games as a junior, he hit .403 with seven doubles, eight home runs, and drew 30 walks for a .600 OBP/.831 SLG. His strong arm would play well in a corner outfield spot. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-top-50-prospects/36463#mwWwsFxSUZy7YC5V.99
8-13-13 - The Perfect Game All-American Classic in San Diego - *There aren’t a ton of left-handed bats in this year’s class, but Braxton Davidson (T.C. Roberson High School, N.C.) stood out with easy power and a smooth stroke from the left side. The issue was defensively, as he struggled making throws and I don’t see the athleticism to play right field. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2013/08/thoughts-on-perfect-game-all-american-classic/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter
8-16-13 - 11th All-American Classic - Braxton Davidson (OF/1B, TC Roberson HS (Asheville, NC)): Big 6-foot-3, 215 pound frame; big trunk; square stance; a toe-tap timing; balanced, fluid swing quick to the ball; creates good loft; potential 6/6 hit/power guy; arm is solid and accurate; chance he’s limited to first base, but could be a good one; hit tool is one of the most advanced in the prep class. —Chris Rodriguez http://www.baseballprospectus.com/article.php?articleid=21537
9-11-13 - Sully’s 2014 Top 100 MLB HS Draft Prospects - 3.Braxton Davidson – 1B/OF, T.C. Roberson (NC) HS http://www.ninebaseball.org/Wordpress/sullys-2014-top-100-mlb-hs-draft-prospects/
9-30-13 – TTF Mock 2.0 - 9. Toronto Blue Jays — Braxton Davidson, OF, TC Roberson HS (NC) The 6’-3”, 215-pound left-hander will be one of the best prep bats in the 2014 MLB mock draft (and the real one too) due to his bat speed, advanced approach at the plate and raw power. He shows good pitch recognition, and his strong wrists allow him to wait on any pitch. Over 31 games as a junior, he hit .403 with seven doubles, eight home runs, and drew 30 walks for a .600 OBP/.831 SLG. His strong arm would play well in a corner outfield spot. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-mock-draft-2-0-draft-order-set/38280#5E3F5j1jWOgE69bJ.99
9-29-13 – XMLBScout – 20.)1B, Braxton Davidson, 6'2 205, L/L, TC Roberson HS, Asheville NC, has some bat speed and dead pull power to RF, ave arm strength and knows how to handle the bag, not a burner as far as a runner goes, 4.4 from Left side at best, 7.2, 60 type guy, will go as far as his bat takes him. http://xmlbscout.angelfire.com/
10-9-13 – Early Pick for Cubs - Braxton Davidson, OF, TC Roberson HS (NC) - For all of the power the Cubs have in their system, none of them are left-handed. Davidson is a 6’-3”, 215 pound left-hander with excellent bat speed, an advanced approach at the plate and some serious raw power. He shows good pitch recognition and his strong wrists allow him to wait on any pitch. With 31 games as a junior, he hit .403 with seven doubles, eight home runs, and drew 30 walks for a .600 OBP/.831 SLG. Like Gatewood, he isn’t a speed guy but his strong arm (92 mph) should play well in a corner outfield spot but he could also end up at first base where the power potential would play well when he makes it out of the 2014 MLB draft. Even with his size, there is still a lot of projection left as his frame suggest he could add more weight as he matures. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-early-targets-chicago-cubs-fourth-overall-pick/38723
10-15-13 – Baseball America - 29. Braxton Davidson, 1b/of, Roberson HS, Asheville, N.C.: Young for the class, Davidson provides a powerful lefthanded bat with pop and a feel to hit. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-draft-top-50-october-2013-carlos-rodon/
10-29-13 – Jim Callis – Top 10 World Wood Bat Association World Championship (WWBA) Jupiter, Fla - 9. Braxton Davidson, OF, Dirtbags (Roberson High, Asheville, N.C.) - Packs a lot of left-handed power in his 6-foot-3, 220-pound frame; pitchers rarely challenged him in Jupiter. http://ht.ly/qi5No
11-14-13 - Michael Schwartze - The two top names behind Jackson are Clovis (Calif.) High School shortstop Jacob Gatewood and T.C. Robertson (Ashville, N.C.) High School outfielder Braxton Davidson. Gatewood has big upside with huge raw power, but showed contact issues over the summer, as his swing was often stuck in batting-practice mode during games leading to a lot of swings and misses. Davidson showed enough plate skills to suggest he’s one of the best pure hitters in prep class but may require an eventual switch to first base. His draft stock will carry him, but if he can stick in right field he’s probably a surefire first-round selection come June. http://www.studentsports.com/blog/2013/11/13/baseball-jupiter-wraps-up-2013-showcase-circuit/
11-21-13 – BA Top 100 High School Players - 10 Braxton Davidson OF/1B L/L 6-1 217 Roberson HS, Asheville, N.C. North Carolina http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-high-school-top-100-with-commitments/
B/R – 11-21-13 - 9. Toronto Blue Jays: Braxton Davidson, 1B-OF, Roberson HS (N.C.) - Braxton Davidson is an arguably the best pure hitter among prep prospects. A 6’2”, 215-pound left-handed hitter, the North Carolina commit has a smooth, balanced swing that already produces above-average raw power and will likely develop into a plus attribute as he adds strength. In general, Davidson has an advanced feel for hitting, with the ability to barrel the ball to all fields and collect extra-base hits as though it’s about to go out of style. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1860341-2014-mlb-mock-draft-early-first-round-projections-for-all-30-teams/page/10
12-10-13 – TTF – Top 50 HS Players - 11. Braxton Davidson, 1B/OF, TC Roberson HS (NC) - Power from the left side is always in demand, and at 6’-3” and 215 pounds, Davidson has plenty of it. He may be relegated to first base, in which case a lot of pressure will be put on his bat to produce. He has excellent bat speed and an advanced approach at the plate, with good pitch recognition and the ability to wait on pitches. Over 31 games as a junior, he hit .403 with seven doubles, eight home runs, and drew 30 walks for a .600 OBP/.831 SLG. Committed to North Carolina. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-top-50/40532#zz88YJZTOG8iEa1Z.99
3.
Michael Conforto
5-28-13 - Michael Conforto, OF, Oregon State - After hitting .349 with 14 doubles, 13 home runs, 76 RBI and a slash line of .438/.601/1.039 as a freshman last year, the 6’-1”, 200-pound left-hander was showered with awards and had high expectations coming into this year. After nine games, he was hitting .273 with two doubles, no home runs and four RBI. On Saturday, he went 3-for-7 in a double-header with his first two home runs of the season and five RBI. On Sunday, he went 3-for-5 with two more home runs and seven RBI. The bat has woken up, and I expect a full on assault coming for one of the best overall hitters in the 2014 MLB draft. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft/29840#fm24otWuYCEocLQZ.99
6-9-13 - 28.Michael Conforto, OF (Oregon State): The PAC-12 outfielder has a quality hit tool and improving approach, but will need to hit for more power. Even so, he has a high floor. http://www.minorleaguerundown.com/2013/06/09/2014-mlb-draft-top-30-prospects/
6-10-13 - Michael Conforto, OF, Oregon State - A scout’s quick take on Conforto was that “This kid can flat out rake. I think he’s going to be the best bat in the Pac-12 next year, if not in 2013.” He has very good bat speed with lift. The term “the ball jumps off his bat” is one of the most overused in baseball, but it is definitely appropriate in Conforto’s case. http://bigleaguefutures.net/1/2013/06/10/2014-mlb-draft-early-college-names-to-know/
6-12-13 - Player: Michael Conforto Position: OF School: Oregon State Date of Birth: 3/1/1993 Height/Weight: 6’1/215 Bats/Throws: L/R 2014 Class: College Junior
Scouting Report: One of the top college bats for 2014 Strong, muscular build
Open stance Smooth swing with lift Excellent bat speed Plus raw power
Ball jumps off bat
6-9-13 - 21. Arizona Diamondbacks — Michael Conforto, OF, Oregon State - After an incredible freshman season in which he hit .349 over 58 games with 14 doubles, 13 home runs, 76 RBI and a .438 OBP/.601 SLG, the 6’-1”, 215 pound left-hander has regressed a bit his sophomore year. Over 58 games, he is hitting .326 with nine home runs, 42 RBI and a .450 OBP/.501 SLG. While he has improved his walk rate and approach, the power numbers are down. A great talent, he should be among the better college bats available in the 2014 MLB draft. He has been a little inconsistent in the outfield this season but shows enough to hold down a corner outfield spot. http://beforeitsnews.com/sports/2013/06/2014-mlb-mock-draft-1-0-no-time-like-the-present-2513748.html?currentSplittedPage=2
7-17-13 – Mike Conforto, OF, Oregon State - Conforto has a strong, sturdy build at 6'1, 215" that looks like it's all muscle. He's not going to wow you with his tools the way Turner does but he makes hard contact consistently, including a pair of HRs in the Tuesday game. His bat is his main weapon as he should hit for average that he'll supplement with walks and above average power. Defensively he's probably relegated to LF. He's a little thick legged and doesn't have great range nor did he display good arm strength. That puts a tremendous burden on his bat, but it looks like it's capable of carrying the load. http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-den/2013/07/looking-ahead-to-the-2014-and-2015-mlb-draft-notes-from-the-collegiate-national-team-games/
7-21-13 - Cuba’s Norge Ruiz dominated his first time through the order, striking out five of the first nine batters faced. The second time through the order got off to a strong start for Team USA as Trea Turner (NC State) opened the fourth with a base hit to left center. LSU’s Alex Bregman followed with a base knock to give Team USA a pair of base runners. With one out and runners on the corners, Michael Conforto (Oregon State) broke the scoreless tie with a sacrifice fly to left. http://ht.ly/2yvWIz
8-14-13 – Through The Fence – Top 50 Prospects – 11. Michael Conforto, OF, Oregon State - Maybe the best pure hitter available in the 2014 MLB draft, the 6’-2”, 215-pound right-hander uses the whole field and has a great approach at the plate. I got a chance to see him hit when the Collegiate National team played at Kane County, and I was extremely impressed by the way he handles himself at the plate — waiting for his pitch and driving it to the gaps with ease. He hit .328/.447/.526 over 65 games as a sophomore with 11 home runs and 41 walks. He’s not going to steal many bases, and he will most likely end up in left field. His bat is what will land him in the first round. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-top-50-prospects/36463#mwWwsFxSUZy7YC5V.99
9-4-13 – Mack’s Mock Draft v1.0 – 12 – OF - Michael Conforto – Oregon State – This is a 6-1 bulldog type hitter. Michael Choice-like projected power. I expect he will end this upcoming season as one of the top power hitters in college.
9-30-13 – TTF Mock 2.0 - 18. New York Yankees — Michael Conforto, OF, Oregon State Maybe the best pure hitter available in the 2014 MLB draft, the 6’-2”, 215-pound right-hander uses the whole field and has a great approach at the plate. Surprising that he falls this far in the 2014 MLB mock draft, I got a chance to see him hit when the Collegiate National team played at Kane County, and I was extremely impressed by the way he handles himself at the plate — waiting for his pitch and driving it to the gaps with ease. He hit .328/.447/.526 over 65 games as a sophomore with 11 home runs and 41 walks. He’s not going to steal many bases, and he will most likely end up in left field. His bat is what will land him in the first round. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-mock-draft-2-0-draft-order-set/38280#5E3F5j1jWOgE69bJ.99
9-29-13 – XMLBScout – 15.) OF, Michael Conforto, Oregon St, 5'11 190, L/L, a hitter with good enough defensive skills to reach ML, shows short compact stroke with gap power to RF, should hit 15-20 HR in pro ball, enough speed to be respected and defensively won't be a liability, best suited for the corner OF. Top 4 round guy for 2014! One of best offensive tools hitter coming out of the college ranks for 2014. http://xmlbscout.angelfire.com/
10-14-13 – Top ’14 College Hitters - 13. Michael Conforto / LF-1B / Oregon State — He likely won’t provide much value with the glove or on the bases, but he’s been extremely productive for Oregon State and should hit enough to stick in left field someday. http://mlbdraftinsider.com/2013/10/top-14-for-14-college-hitters/
10-15-13 – Baseball America - 18. Michael Conforto, of, Oregon State: More swing and miss than scouts would like mitigate a physical, powerful corner profile. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-draft-top-50-october-2013-carlos-rodon/
11-27-13 – Big League Futures Top 25 Poll – 11 Derek Fisher OF Virginia http://bigleaguefutures.net/1/2013/11/26/mlb-draft-top-25-prospects-poll/
B/R – 11-21-13 - 28. Oakland Athletics: Michael Conforto, OF/1B, Oregon State University - A 6’1”, 215-pound left-hander hitter, Michael Conforto stands out for his power potential—but unfortunately not much else. Conforto is a mature hitter with plus raw power thanks to above-average bat speed and an ability to consistently drive the ball with backspin carry. Because he’s gradually adjusted his approach over the last year to produce more in-game power, the utility of his hit tool may be tied to his strikeout rate. Defensively, Conforto is limited to left field due to below-average arm strength and speed, as well as his shaky instincts and stiff actions. And if he eventually moves to first base, well, there will be even more pressure for his power to develop. http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1860341-2014-mlb-mock-draft-early-first-round-projections-for-all-30-teams/page/10
4.
Michael Gettys
6-9-13 - 26. Boston Red Sox — Michael Gettys, RHP, Gainesville HS (GA) - An athletic right-hander who has touched 95 mph with hi