Bryce Mosier thought he had his mind set on attending San Diego State University.
Mosier, a 33rd round pick by the White Sox in June’s amateur draft, had Sox scout George Cachigian come to his house and make him an offer to sign last week.
With the offer not being what he wanted, Mosier was planning on delaying pro ball and playing collegiately for three years, which is what players are forced to do before they’re eligible for the draft again.
However, Mosier ended up having a change of heart. He talked to people he knew who had played college ball and decided that going pro straight out of high school would be better in the long run. …
Bats: R
Throws: R
Height: 6’02″
Weight: 200
Born: 1993-05-21
Bryce Mosier, a physical catcher with a slightly above-average arm and solid receiving skills. Mosier impressed scouts at the Jesse Flores Memorial All-Star Game in November, earning MVP honors with a two-run triple. He has some feel for the barrel and power potential, and he could sneak into the back of the top 10 rounds.
Bryce Mosier (Valhalla HS) should be a very good college catcher at the next level. He will throw and catch enough and showed some pop during BP. He’s not a physically imposing catcher and won’t be a basher, but he’s going to some value for the next few years.
Bryce Mosier is a 2011 C/3B with a 6-2 185 lb. frame from El Cajon, CA who attends Valhalla HS. Tall well proportioned build, good present strength. Tall balanced hitting stance, good balance, shows nice bat speed, ball comes off the barrel hard, solid gap power, hits under control, polished hitter who should keep improving. Good raw arm strength behind the plate, 1.93 best pop, compact release, straight back receiver, still developing footwork/quickness.
Brandon Parrent is a 2008 LHP with a 6’2”, 180 lb. frame from Flower Mound, TX who attends Flower Mound HS. Tall athletic build, long loose arm action on the mound, good arm speed, smooth balanced delivery, finishes well to the plate, ball comes out of hand clean, works both sides of the plate, velocity projects, throws strikes, tight rotation on curveball, nice cut action on change-up, knows how to pitch, very good pitchability, good upside.
Few pitchers in this draft can light up a radar gun like Soptic can, but his lack of consistency likely will keep him out of the first couple of rounds. The 6-foot-6, 220-pounder’s arm works easily, as he effortlessly delivers fastballs at 93-96 mph and peaks at 100. Velocity is the one constant with Soptic. His four-seam fastball is fairly straight and gets hit harder than it should. He’ll flash a plus slider at times, but it’s below-average more often than not. His changeup is a distant third pitch. Unless he can significantly improve his control and secondary pitches, Soptic probably will have to settle for being a reliever as a pro. Nevertheless, his arm strength and body are hard to ignore. Drafted in the 43rd round out of high school by the Royals but unselected when he maxed out at 94 mph as a freshman, Soptic will attend Missouri if he doesn’t turn pro.
This 6-6 right-hander scrapes 100 MPH with his fastball and has a promising slider. Although somewhat unrefined as a pitcher, his upside is huge and his arm strength is as good as anyone else’s in the draft. He could easily go in the supplemental round to a team looking for a high-octane arm to harness.
Big guy with a mid-90s fastball and good slider. He has a University of Missouri commitment and might end up there if he doesn’t go high enough this year. 4.50 ERA with 58/31 K/BB in 56 innings, 41 hits; command issues are the main problem.
The Royals drafted Soptic 2 years ago in the 43rd round out of Shawnee Mission East High School. The 20 year old RH is still very projectable and was throwing 93 on a very cold baseball day (38 degrees) the day I saw him pitch. His fastball lacked the movement you would want with a power pitcher and he complimented it with a 83-84 mph slider.He did not throw a change the day I saw him but I am told he has a serviceable one.
Mike Marjama, a 23rd-round pick by the Chicago White Sox, signed before the deadline and has been assigned to Bristol in the Appalachian League. Marjama considered returning for his senior season after he was drafted later than anticipated and played for Orleans in the Cape Cod League before he and Chicago came to an agreement.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 6’02″
Weight: 220
Born: 1987-12-02
Hometown: Granite Bay, CA
Class: Senior
50. MIKE MARJAMA, 3b, La Crosse Loggers (Long Beach State/JR) Well-proportioned athlete with line-drive bat, Gold Glove-type glove at hot corner; hit .286-2-37, lack of raw power limits upside
The White Sox signed second-round draft pick Erik Johnson, a right-handed pitcher from Cal, and both he and top choice Keenyn Walker will report to rookie league at Great Falls, Mont., next week.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Height: 6’03″
Weight: 240
Born: 1989-12-30
Hometown: Los Altos, CA
Class: Junior
Johnson has a big, 6-foot-2, 240-pound frame and sometimes has trouble maintaining his mechanics. His delivery can get a little rigid and he loses his arm slot at times, though he’s been better about getting it back than he was last year. Johnson is quick to the plate and sits in the 90-94 mph range with his fastball and tops out at 95. His best secondary offering is a hard slider that he can throw for strikes or use as a wipeout pitch and he also mixes in a slow, show-me curveball and a changeup that is inconsistent, but shows flashes of being a quality pitch. Johnson sometimes tries to be too fine with his fastball instead of trusting that he can overpower hitters with it. While he needs to sharpen his fastball command, Johnson has shown a good enough feel for pitching to get by and go deep into games without it.
Johnson is ranked 97th on the Baseball America prospect list and 74th on the Perfect Game list, which would put him on the bottom fringes of the supplemental round or in the second. However, he has the power arm (90-95 MPH fastball, good slider) to go somewhere in the middle of the supplemental round for a team that believes they can refine his mechanics and polish his changeup.
Johnson is ranked 97th on the Baseball America prospect list and 74th on the Perfect Game list, which would put him on the bottom fringes of the supplemental round or in the second. However, he has the power arm (90-95 MPH fastball, good slider) to go somewhere in the middle of the supplemental round for a team that believes they can refine his mechanics and polish his changeup.
Johnson isn’t a more talked about draft prospect because of his mechanical issues, which have seen him suffer through bouts of wildness (37 walks in 83.2 IP). He began his college career as a reliever, which tinkered with his mechanics a bit, and now that he’s back in a starting role, he’s struggled to go deep into games.He does, however, feature pretty good velocity, topping out at about 95-96 mph. He complements his fastball with a very good slider. He also throws a curveball and a changeup, the latter of which has made solid strides throughout the course of the season.
The White Sox finalized their deal with top draft pick Keenyn Walker on Tuesday, signing him to a $795,000 bonus. The 47th overall selection, Walker had Tweeted (via @Keenyn_Walker) six days earlier that he had agreed to terms. His bonus exceeds MLB’s $739,800 recommendation for his draft slot. …
Bats: Switch
Throws: Right
Height: 6’03″
Weight: 193
Born: 1990-08-12
Hometown: Salt Lake City, UT
Class: J2 (2nd year in Junior College)
Walker was drafted in the 16th round out of high school in Utah in 2009 and last year at Central Arizona, in the 38th round. Scouts have always been intrigued by the 6-foot-3 switch-hitter with standout tools and impressive athleticism. The raw tools don’t always translate on the baseball field, however, and he didn’t even start regularly last year. This year is a different story. Walker has performed well with wood and he should get more than the $250,000 he reportedly turned down out of high school. Walker has more power from the right side, but his lefthanded swing is more pure. He’s mostly a gap hitter with above-average speed, so he profiles as a good defensive center fielder. He has the speed to hit at the top of the order, but needs to cut down on his strikeouts. If he doesn’t sign, Walker will head to Utah.
1-47) White Sox: Keenyn Walker, OF, Central Arizona JC: Blazing speed and greatly improved hitting skills, along with a solid glove, push him to the top of the White Sox draft list.
Keenyn Walker, OF, Central Arizona Junior College: The blazing fast, 80-speed Walker showed greatly improved hitting skills this spring, and in some draft classes would be rated a first-rounder. The deep nature of this class, plus the fact that junior college players get less attention than high school or four-year college players, pushes Walker back to second or third round slots for most. However, someone in love with his athleticism could easily choose him in the supplemental.
Keenyn Walker, OF, Central Arizona CC: Bats Both, 6-3, 185. Drafted by the Cubs in the 16th round in 2009 but didn’t sign. Toolsy, athletic, very fast, some power potential, has strikeout issues and is still rather raw, but toolsy enough to go on first day. Committed to Utah if he doesn’t sign. Hitting .421/.513/.622 with 28 walks, 35 strikeouts in 164 at-bats, 49 steals in 52 attempts.
Good athletic body, Plus run, nice arm, tools are there, looked good at PG National, good at AC, bat needs to come on
and the June 2008 scouting report:
Keenyn Walker is a 2009 OF/P with a 6’1”, 185 lb. frame from Salt Lake City, UT who attends Judge Memorial. Keenyn is a lean well put together very athletic player with fluid actions in the outfield. His throws carry well in the outfield with arm strenth. He is a switch hitter at the plate with a line drive swing plane. He showed a bit better from the left side and has good extension in his swing. He stays inside the baseball and uses all fields. He projects very large with added strength and is a very good, 6.53 sixty. Walker is extremely athletic and he could skyrocket up the charts by next year.
With their first pick of the night, the White Sox take Keenyn Walker, an outfielder from Central Arizona JC. He is a 65 runner that can stay in center field and profiles as a leadoff hiter.
“Keenyn is a kid that we’ve scouted extensively,” White Sox director of amateur scouting Doug Laumann said. “He plays in a competitive junior college program in Arizona. He’s been very successful. He is a high ceiling athlete. Unlike some high ceiling athletes, this kid really has a feel for playing the game.”
Laumann projected Walker to be two and a half years away from making it to the major leagues if he progresses at an ideal pace. He compared the 6-foot-3, 190-pound Walker to Devon White and Carlos Beltran.
Kevin Goldstein II: I like him! Risky pick, but I like going with upside when you don’t have a first rounder. He definitely could flame out early, but it’s worth the risk.
Walker has decent patience at the plate as he led his team in walks this year with 36 (16.8 BB% (BB/AB)), which, combined with his speed, gives him potential as a top of the order hitter, but in order to reach that potential he will need to watch the strikeouts, which have been a problem for him. Walker struck out 45 times this year (21% K% (SO/AB)), which again led his team.
Semien is a steady defender with sure hands and some arm strength, though he may lack the first-step quickness to stay at shortstop. He’s an average runner. He hit well last year and in the Northwoods League last summer, but scouts have questions about his bat. He didn’t do anything to quell doubters this year, hitting .260/.357/.380.
6) Marcus Semien, SS, California: Teammate of Johnson drafted above, good glove, many scouts don’t like his bat and he didn’t hit well this spring. Seems an overdraft to me.
A White Sox source told MLB.com nothing was official as of yet with Walker’s signing. However, it could be at the stage of just needing a physical to bring Walker into the fold.
The Chicago White Sox have reached an agreement with their first pick in the June amateur draft, Central Arizona College switch-hitting outfielder Keenyn Walker.
The signging will become official by next Tuesday, after Walker passes a physical examination.
“It’s a huge relief for me,” Walker said Wednesday at his Salt Lake City home. “After Friday, I thought we were going all the way to the (Aug. 15) deadline again. But we finally got it done.”
Once signed, Walker will report to the Sox’s short-season Great Falls affiliate in Montana.
So stoked! Words can't explain how i feel right now!— Keenyn Walker (@Keenyn_Walker) June 29, 2011
Lane is a Georgia prep product who started his college career at Mississippi State. After pitching 12 innings in 2010 and posting a 5.25 ERA, he transferred to Northwest Florida State, where he got a chance to start and took full advantage, going 8-5, 2.18 in 99 innings. The 6-foot-5, 180-pound Lane has room to fill out and added some velocity this season, bumping 90-91 on occasion and pitching consistently in the upper 80s at season’s end from a high arm slot. He throws a solid curveball and changeup at his best but can be inconsistent with his secondary stuff when he loses his slot. He’s committed to Tulane.
Matt Lane is a 2009 LHP with a 6’4”, 175 lb. frame from Marietta, GA who attends Pope. Tall lean build, body projects very well on the mound, OH arm slot, long arm action, occasional life to fastball, big downer curveball, tight spin on curveball, around the plate, has feel for pitching, raw with big upside, lots of ability to work with.
Yet another long-armed hurler is Blake Drake, a 6-7 former Indiana State star who was selected in the 22nd round of this year’s draft.” Drake has some different arm action that will surprise some people, I think,” said Drahman. “He’s a little sneaky, but he gets it up there it seems like, too.”
Blake Drake is a Col RHP with a 6’7”, 185 lb. frame from Louisville, KY. Drake has a projectable frame and sat 88-91 this outing. He is a little raw but really projects as he continues to refine his craft. He showed a good slider to go with his upper 80′s to low 90′s fastball. He played at Wabash Valley this spring.
And here’s his MLB.com scouting video from the 2009 draft:
(0:31)
PS. From the Great Falls Tribune article we learn that released outfielder Salvador Sanchez has been converted to a reliever and will play for the Voyagers.
“Joe’s from USC — that’s good experience playing Pac-10 ball — he looks like he’s going to be a solid in the middle of the infield for us,” said Newman.
Joseph DePinto is a 2007 MIF/OF/P from St. Francis HS, residing in Sunland, CA, with a 5’10″ 150 lb. frame. DePinto was named to the top prospect team at the California Underclass Showcase. Has a medium but athletic build, with wiry musculature. Offensively possesses a quick bat and a swing path that is very short to the ball. DePinto is a contact/spray hitter who makes consistent contact. He makes the pitcher work to get him out but don’t read that as he is a pest… he can really hit. He also runs well and understands game, making him an effective base stealer. Defensively, DePinto has quick feet and a good early burst to the ball. He is a very solid defender and a very solid player. Consider him a good follow for most D1 programs on the West Coast.
The four picks from Cal State Bakersfield have all signed. They are right-handed pitcher Mike McCarthy, outfielder Ryan McIntyre, catcher Jeremy Rodriguez and catcher-infielder Martin Medina.
Medina, a 20th-round pick by the Chicago White Sox, is one of three catchers assigned to Great Falls, Mont., in the Pioneer League.
“Right now, like everyone else, I’m trying to find a host family (to live with),” Medina said. “Right now we’re all in a hotel.”
Great Falls’ season opens Monday.
“I might play a little third, also,” Medina said. “If I’m hitting well, they’ll keep my bat in the lineup.”
When I think of Martin Medina, I think of power. The guy’s got a stout upper body and a big, quick power cut. At 5’10″ and a lean 200lb, he’s got some muscle mass to spank the ball around a bit with. And the proof is in the pudding. Five homers in 34 games as a Goldpanner this year. Just to put things into something more digestible with those familiar with pro ball, that’s 24 blasts over a 162-game period. That’s not too shabby. With a .505 slugging percentage to go with it…yeah, he can knock the ball around a bit. The guy looks like he could put on a little more brawn, even, so I think he has a little more power potential corked away that might just now be blossoming.
Kennesaw State’s top draft pick will be senior righty Bryan Blough, who was on BA’s 2009 list as a junior college product. He had a rough adjustment to Division I in 2010, posting a 10.29 ERA, but rebounded to go 4-4, 3.61 this season. He keeps the ball down and can push his fastball into the 88-92 mph range from an over-the-top delivery. Blough also holds his velocity well and gets depth on his slider.
Scouts didn’t know much about righthander Chris Bassitt prior to this spring, because he redshirted in 2008 and made just one appearance while focusing on academics in 2010. He’s no longer anonymous after posting a 1.42 ERA and averaging 11.4 strikeouts per nine innings as a fourth-year junior. The 6-foot-5, 195-pounder lives off his 90-93 mph sinker, which he delivers from a low-three-quarters arm angle. His second pitch is a slider, which grades as an average pitch at times.
Bryce Mosier thought he had his mind set on attending San Diego State University.
Bats: L
The latest signee is third-round pick 
Mike Marjama, a 23rd-round pick
The White Sox signed second-round draft pick 
The White Sox finalized their deal with 
Bats: R
Bats: L
(831): Jake Cose, RHP, 6-5, 200, San Joaquin Delta College (CA)
Yet another long-armed hurler is 
