By Bryan Douglass, Special to SI.com
College tournament baseball is in full swing, and many players will have the opportunity to bring glory to their school and catch a pro scout's eye at the same time. With the MLB Draft just around the corner (June 7-8), it's time for a list of the top amateur prospects. Most of these names you could see in the first round of the draft. Some of these guys will have immediate impacts and could progress through the minors more quickly than you would think, so take notes. Here's half of the list, with the rest to follow next week.
Jered Weaver, RHP, Long Beach State
Brother of current major leaguer Jeff (RHP, Dodgers), Weaver is considered the most stable pick in this draft. His potential is not rated as high as some of the other arms on this list, but he's seen by most scouts as an almost-ready MLB arm that could potentially see the time in the Show before the current season is concluded.
Stephen Drew, SS, Florida State
Brother of Atlanta Brave J.D. Drew, Stephen is rated by a vast majority of scouts as the top college position player in the draft. Baseball America rates him as the best pure hitter in college baseball. He's also considered one of the top five-tool talents at the college level. He's a solid, all-around player that could become a major league talent in very little time.
Homer Bailey, RHP, Texas prep
Bailey will rank as the top high school prospect on every organization's draft day boards. Baseball America ranks him as the top pitching talent at the prep level, with the highest rank for fastball, breaking ball, command, and says he's the "closest to the majors" among all high school pitchers. He's got a full menu to pitches and his potential is sky high.
Scott Elbert, LHP, Missouri prep
Elbert is another top prep star that many teams will covet. He's got a great repertoire of pitches and is ranked just behind Bailey for his command. Many scouts feel he could join the MLB ranks in a short amount of time, and almost all of them rank him as the No. 2 prep arm in the draft.
Jeremy Sowers, LHP, Vanderbilt
Sowers is considered one of the top college pitchers in baseball. His command rates him among the top three in college ball, and most teams will rank him just behind Weaver for this draft. Sowers is another pitcher with potential to move quickly through the minor league ranks.
Thomas Diamond, RHP (RP), New Orleans
Diamond is a great pitching prospect that has served successfully as a closer at the college level. Closers often progress to the Show promptly after proving their abilities at the minor league level, and Diamond could be the next reliever to accomplish the feat. He's not the top-rated relief prospect this year, but he's a close second.
Nick Adenhart, RHP, Maryland prep
Adenhart does not currently rank among the top-five prep pitching prospects in baseball and has become a question mark for many teams after removing himself from a recent start, prompting injury concerns. Adenhart is a great prep prospect, but his future is in doubt.
B.J. Syzmanski, OF, Princeton
Syzmanski has gained some attention for his success as a WR for the football team. He is considered the best all-around athlete in college baseball and ranks as the best five-tool talent and power hitter at the college level. He will be a top target for a multitude of teams.
Greg Golson, OF, Texas prep
Like Syzmanski, Golson currently ranks as the best all-around athlete and 5-tool player, but at the prep level. Not known for his dominant power, he's a great contact hitter with blazing speed. His arm strength also ranks him among the top-three prep talents for the category in the country.
Chris Lambert, RHP, Boston College
Lambert does not sit on every draft board in the nation, at least not as a first-round candidate. However, Lambert is a strong prospect that could move into the late first round if a team is seeking a college arm and their plans don't work out as hoped.
Wade Townsend, RHP (RP), Rice
Townsend is part of the trio of Rice hurlers currently targeted by many teams desiring a proven college pitcher. Pitching is always an emphasis for teams in the draft, and Townsend is a solid candidate for clubs in need of talent that could progress quickly.
Phillip Hughes, RHP, California prep
Hughes has one of the best fastballs in prep baseball, and his command currently ranks him among the top three at the prep level. He's a solid talent with a strong arm and could be a top commodity for a team willing to develop his overall skills.
Bill Bray, RP, William and Mary Bray will receive heavy consideration from teams seeking a top reliever. He's had great success at the college level and could become a top relief prospect at the professional level in no time.
Josh Fields, 3B, Oklahoma State
Fields is another player that has gained recognition on both football and baseball fields, ranking him as the second-best overall athlete in college baseball. He possesses great power-hitting capabilities and respectable fielding skills.
Gio Gonzalez, LHP, Florida prep
Gonzalez has one of the best breaking balls in prep baseball. He may not be a sure-fire first-round selection, but many teams will give him heavy consideration since his skills are already worthy of note and his professional learning curve should be small.
David Purcey, LHP, Oklahoma
Purcey doesn't rank as a top college talent in any of the pitching categories, but his overall game is solid and he should receive more than a few looks in the first round. He will be highly sought by teams emphasizing the need for a college arm.
Mark Trumbo, RHP, California prep
Despite not owning the top fastball or breaking pitch among the prep prospects in the draft this year, many scouts say Trumbo is very close to ready for MLB action. He has great consistency and mechanics, and his overall pitching skills are well above average.
Justin Hoyman, RHP, Florida
Hoyman could be selected late in the first round by one of the teams with multiple first-round picks. He's a proven college arm with upside, and though he may take longer to reach the big time than some, he's seen as a solid talent with good potential.
Jay Rainville, RHP, Rhode Island prep
Rainville's fastball currently ranks fifth among all prep talent in the draft. He could be selected late in the first round by a team willing to mold his off-speed pitching.
Chuck Lofgren, OF, California prep
Lofgren is considered one of the best power hitters at the prep level this season. He may not crack the first round, but his selection will follow shortly due to his great potential as a hitter.
Taylor Tankersley, LHP, Alabama
Tankersley's only real shot at making the first round comes at pick No. 23, owned by the Yankees. The Yanks are historically conservative with their selections, and if they continue with this strategy Tankersley could be their man. If not, he will more than likely be selected in the early second round by a team with patience in pitching development.
Dustin Pedroia, SS, Arizona State
Pedroia is one of the best defensive players in all of college baseball. Although his hitting needs some work, he could be targeted by a team seeking defensive skills tailored for the MLB level.
Jason Quarles, RHP, Southern
Although Quarles has one of the best fastballs in college baseball, his all-around talent level is not on par with most first-round candidates. He'd be a reach by most standards, but still could receive attention late in the first round.
Danny Putnam, OF, Stanford
Putnam current ranks as Baseball America's second best pure hitter in college baseball. It's those hitting skills that could push Putnam into the late first round. His defense needs some work, but his bat is solid.
J.P. Howell, LHP, Texas Howell's talents do not currently rank him as a definite first-round selection, but with many teams pushing for proven college talent, Howell could find a professional home in the late first round. He has solid mechanics and could turn into a great prospect.
Reinaldo Alicano, OF, Puerto Rico prep
The A's own two late first-round selections, and they are rumored to be very interested in Alicano. Alicano does not currently rank as a top-three talent in any of the offensive categories for high school players, but his overall game is solid and he's definitely a premium prep talent.
Kurt Suzuki, C, Cal State Fullerton
Most scouts feel Suzuki has the best eye in amateur baseball. His judgment at the plate is impeccable, and his defensive skills also rate among the best in college baseball.
Bryan Douglass is a fantasy columnist and sports fanatic appearing weekly to provide you with useful news, rumors and insight to assist with your fantasy baseball needs. He can also be found exploring the padded walls at FantasyAsylum.com. Questions or comments?: douglass@fantasyasylum.com
