An inside look at the nation's 20 best prospects

By Bryan Smith

No matter what side of the scouts vs. stats debate you fall on, it's impossible to think of Major League Baseball's amateur draft in June without recalling huge mistakes. Chad Mottola ahead of Derek Jeter? Matt Bush at No. 1? These gaffes are infamous in baseball circles, leaving many to wonder whether the draft is just a crapshoot.

	Missouri's Max Scherzer has improved his velocity and is now throwing in the mid-90's. Photo by AP
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If you look at the 2006 draft class, you'll notice a striking absence of hitters and blue-chippers. There is no Justin Upton or Delmon Young, no can't-miss prospect. But it's a deep class just the same, a group flush with NFL-like parity.

A high school player has been taken at No. 1 in six of the last seven drafts, but college players are being selected at a higher rate than ever before. Blame Moneyball if you must, but Major League teams have begun to recognize that college players are simply less volatile.

This year's draft should be one of the most college-heavy yet. Today, we look at the top 20 college prospects for the 2006 draft - or in this instance, the top 20 juniors in the country. These names might not mean much now, but in four months, they will be infiltrating farm systems across the land.

1. Andrew Miller - SP - North Carolina
(2005 stats: 8-4, 2.98 ERA, 104 Ks)

Most teams have Miller on top of their draft boards. In terms of potential, he falls somewhere between B.J. Ryan, Chuck Finley and Randy Johnson -- tall, occasionally wild southpaws with spectacular fastballs and devastating out pitches. It remains to be seen if Miller's control necessitates a move to the bullpen.

2. Max Scherzer - SP - Missouri
(2005 stats: 9-4, 1.86 ERA, 131 Ks)

As a sophomore, this Tiger saw his hits-per-nine-innings ratio drop under five, a huge improvement from his previous season. A sudden velocity jump to the mid-90s made Max one of the nation's best pitchers. Like [Andrew] Miller, though, he'll have to prove he's more than just a future reliever. Don't be shocked if the Royals take a long look at the Tampa-area native for the No. 1 overall pick.

3. Ian Kennedy - SP - USC
(2005 stats: 12-3, 2.54 ERA, 158 Ks)

In recent years, "safe" -- reliable and well-developed if slightly underwhelming -- pitchers have been drafted in the top 10: Ricky Romero, Jeremy Sowers, Tim Stauffer. This year's version is Kennedy, the latest Trojans' ace who had superior numbers to Mark Prior in his first two years at 'SC. While Kennedy is not in Prior's class in terms of stuff, Kennedy has a great combination of durability and control.

4. Drew Stubbs - OF - Texas
(2005 stats: .311, 11 HR, 46 RBI)

Stubbs has the potential to be a perennial All-Star at the next level thanks to his off-the-charts athleticism. His play in center field is fantastic, and if harnessed, his power will be top-notch. However, as a sophomore, Drew struck out in more than a quarter of his at-bats. His ability to show improved contact will dictate how high in the top 10 he goes.

5. Daniel Bard - SP - North Carolina
(2005 stats: 7-5, 4.11 ERA, 77Ks)

Bard has had a topsy-turvy career thus far. He came to Chapel Hill as a freshman with little fanfare only to eclipse Andrew Miller in terms of accolades. But Bard struggled with consistency during a sophomore season that, in hindsight, drew too much hype. He has fantastic stuff, and had a great showing in the Cape Cod League last summer. He again enters the year with high expectations. Meeting them could make him a top-five pick.