By Bryan Smith

TOP 10 FRESHMEN

Matt Harvey could've been a Top 10 pick last June, but his agent, Scott Boras (above), demanded a bonus for the Tar Heels. AP

This section highlights the best newcomers to college baseball as generated through statistics as well as conversations from coaches and scouts.

1. Kyle Blair, San Diego (2.51 ERA, 51 K, 32.1 IP) -- Blair was not a sure thing to attend San Diego until the Angels, who drafted him, refused to meet his seven-figure signing bonus. Not meeting the demands seems like a mistake, as Blair struck out 16 Hawaii-Hilo batters last week using one of the nation's most electric sliders. Even when ace Brian Matusz graduates to professional baseball next year, San Diego still might have the nation's best starter.

2. Matt Harvey, North Carolina (1.19 ERA, 26 K, 22.2 IP) -- If Scott Boras hadn't been Harvey's agent, he very well could have been a top 10 overall pick last June. Instead, his bonus demands led him to drop until the third round, and he was never very likely to sign. His loss was the Tar Heels' gain, as Mike Fox continued to inherit some of the nation's top pitching talent. Using a mid '90s fastball and beautiful slow curve, Harvey is becoming one of the nation's best Sunday starters.

3. Victor Sanchez, San Diego (.330/.421/.682) -- Not many hitters could have done what Sanchez did last summer: as a high school graduate, Sanchez moved to the Midwest to participate in the wood bat, college-only Northwoods League. And guess what? He was one of the nation's top prospects, showing a power bat and skills behind the plate. While San Diego isn't giving him much time at catcher, Sanchez has still proven to be the Torreros' most dangerous hitter.

4. Chris Hernandez, Miami (1.11 ERA, 32 K, 32.1 IP) -- As a freshman, Hernandez is already one of the nation's most polished pitchers. Despite a fastball without much velocity, Hernandez moves the ball around the plate, throws a good change and 3 plus pitches. Coach Jim Morris started Hernandez on Sundays, but when Enrique Garcia struggled, he moved the freshman up to Saturdays. No freshman has bigger responsibility over the rest of the season than Hernandez, and no one else is as prepared to handle it.

5. Kentrail Davis, Tennessee (.394/.529/.652) -- Perhaps the toolsiest player to opt for college baseball than pro ball, Davis has had no problem hitting SEC pitching. Davis has great patience at the plate, great defense in the outfield, and has the potential to slug with anyone. At the bottom end of the spectrum, Davis is a good leadoff hitter. At the top end of the spectrum, he profiles as an All-Star center fielder. Tennessee's resurgent start is as much owed to Davis' big start than anyone.

6. Cameron Rupp, Texas (.424/.519/.758) -- Despite his defensive prowess coming into question, Rupp has been the best hitter in a lineup that features potential first round juniors in outfielders Jordan Danks and Kyle Russell. Rupp was not the game's highest recruited catcher, but his bat has caught on faster than expected, and particularly faster than Miami catcher Yasmani Grandal, who was considered to be a similar player. Rupp's bat is a special weapon, but until catching comes more naturally, he's still a background selection.

7. Rick Hague, Rice (.361/.433/.578) -- Hague was offered serious money by the Yankees to forgo his college career, and by passing on that amount of money, Hague essentially valued himself as a first-round selection in 2011. A taller shortstop with good range but positive power assessments, Hague has been one of the Owls best hitters. Like Gordon Beckham as a freshman, Rice coaches believe that as Hague loses lineup insurance, he will develop further patience and power skills.

8. Tommy Toledo, Florida (1.93 ERA, 12 K, 28 IP) -- Toledo's strikeout numbers and his low 90s velocity don't assume the position of a potential 2010 first rounder, but his 4-0 record does. Toledo's decision to opt for Florida rather than professional baseball looks even smarter since pitching guru Kevin O'Sullivan became in charge of the program, turning the staff's pitchers onto his elite throwing program. The program's largest beneficiary is Toledo, who has gained command of all three of his pitches, and has yet appeared overwhelmed on the mound.

9. Derek Dietrich, Georgia Tech (.333/.426/.667) -- The Houston Astros didn't have many selections in the early rounds of the 2007 Draft as a result of free agent signings and such. But when the dust settled and the picks became clear, the Astros drafted Dietrich in the fourth round. After all, his grandpa had been a pro ball player, and he showed potential shortstop skills. And while he hid for a few months, scouts and coaches alike found him and bombarded him with small school offers. Dietrich, though, wants to be a shortstop at a premier program, and there's no reason to think in 2010 that he won't be Georgia Tech's version of Beckham.

10. Nick Tepesch, Missouri (1.04 ERA, 4 K, 8.2 IP) -- Since Jim Callis mentioned Tepesch as a potential first overall selection in the 2010 draft, the freshman right-hander has been ascribed as one of the most talented pitchers in his draft. In reality, Tepesch's potential is far greater than his current skills, and his pitching acumen is far duller than it appears. Despite EKU's series victory over Austin Peay, they are just the favorites in the Ohio Valley Conference. Tepesch has adjusted to D-1 pitching remarkably quickly, but until his stuff works at bigger levels, he doesn't belong as potential 1-1 banter.