Alabama's Wilson leads junior-heavy first-team All-Americans

By Aaron Fitt, Baseball America

Ross Wilson batted .353 with a .454 on-base percentage for the Crimson Tide in 2009. AP Related Links BASEBALL AMERICA: Four '09 CWS teams lead 2010 Top 25 FITT: Longhorns hope to ride aces to title

Baseball America annually polls major league scouting directors to vote on the team and make their selections based on performance, talent and professional potential. In the past, the preseason All-America team has been a predictor both of the first round of the draft and of team success. For example, 11 of the 15 college players drafted in the first round last June appeared on Baseball America's preseason All-America list -- eight of them on the first team. Among this year's All-Americans, Middle Tennessee State outfielder Bryce Brentz is the only player who appeared on every scouting director's ballot.

Alabama second baseman Ross Wilson is the only repeat member of the preseason first team. Rice's Anthony Rendon and Arkansas' Zack Cox are the only sophomores on the first team, which is otherwise dominated by juniors. there are no seniors on any of the first team.

CATCHER

Micah Gibbs, Louisiana State, Jr.
2009 Stats: .294 average/.403 on-base percentage /.454 slugging, 6 home runs, 42 RBIs, 2 stolen bases

Skinny: Gibbs' intangibles, such as his savvy handling of a pitching staff, are more impressive than his tools and earn him comparisons to Jason Varitek.

FIRST BASE

Hunter Morris, Auburn Jr.
2009 Stats: .282/.379/.503, 12 home runs, 33 RBIs, 2 stolen bases

Skinny: Morris offers huge left-handed power; he finished second in the Cape League with eight homers last summer.

SECOND BASE

Ross Wilson, Alabama Jr.
2009 Stats: .353/.454/.567, 9 HRs, 47 RBIs, 8 SBs

Skinny: The only repeat member of the preseason All-America first team, Wilson is a blue-collar player with power and arm strength.

THIRD BASE

Anthony Rendon, Rice So.
2009 Stats: .388/.461/.702, 20 HRs, 72 RBIs, 9 SBs

Rendon's strong, quick hands and wrists allow him to consistently barrel balls and earn him comparisons to former Georgia star and current White Sox infielder Gordon Beckham.

SHORTSTOP

Christian Colon, Cal State Fullerton Jr.
2009 Stats: .357/.442/.529, 8 home runs, 40 RBIs, 15 SBs

No college player squeezes more out of his ability than Colon. His keen instincts and intelligence help him play above his tools and earn him comparisons to Dustin Pedroia.

OUTFIELD

Bryce Brentz, Middle Tennessee State Jr.
2009 Stats: .465/.535/.930, 28 home runs, 73 RBIs, 6 SBs

Brentz has tremendous bat speed and well above-average power. He also is a solid-average runner with a plus arm that MTSU put to use by making him its Friday starter a year ago, though he'll close this spring.

Todd Cunningham, Jacksonville State Jr.
2009 Stats: .339/.424/.602, 10 HRs, 47 RBIs, 9 SBs

A switch-hitter with a sound swing from both sides of the plate, Cunningham has a mature approach and fine control of the strike zone. He adds gap power and good speed, giving him a chance to stick in center field.

Jarrett Parker, Virginia Jr. L-L 6-3 190
2009 Stats: .355/.450/.664, 16 HRs, 65 RBIs, 20 SBs

Parker has the power, speed and on-base ability to be a dynamic offensive player. He also has the range and arm to play center field.

DESIGNATED HITTER

Zack Cox, Arkansas So. L-R 6-0 215 .271
2009 Stats: .271/.356/.569, 12 HRs, 36 RBIs, 1 SB

Cox has enough strength to have above-average power without trying to yank everything out of the park. He has the bat speed and hand-eye coordination to hit for average, though he needs to show more patience at the plate.

UTILITY

Brett Eibner, Arkansas Jr. R-R 6-4 210
2009 Stats (as hitter): .224/.382/.485, 10 HRs, 29 RBIs, 3 SBs
2009 Stats (as pitcher): 5-4, 4.61 ERA, 70 IP, 66 K's, 33 BB

Eibner is the nation's only two-way player with a legitimate first-round ceiling as both a hitter and pitcher. He can pump 92-94 mph fastballs off the mound and has big-time raw power at the plate.

STARTING PITCHERS

Deck McGuire, Georgia Tech Jr.
2009 Stats: 11-2, 3.50 ERA, 100 innings, 118 strikeouts, 41 walks

McGuire's best pitch is his heavy 91-94 mph fastball, and he also has a downer curveball, a hard slider and an effective changeup. He has good command of his pitches and is built for durability.

Drew Pomeranz, Mississippi Jr.
2009 Stats: 8-4, 3.40 ERA, 95 IP, 124 Ks, 37 BB

Pomeranz, who tossed a 16-strikeout gem on two days' rest in the regionals last year, goes after hitters with his 91-95 mph fastball, and he's nearly untouchable when he has his plus curveball working.

Anthony Ranaudo, Louisiana State Jr.
2009 Stats: 12-3, 3.04 ERA, 124 IP, 159 Ks, 50 BB

Ranaudo is the top prospect for the 2010 draft among four-year college players. He has command of three plus pitches at times, working with a 91-94 mph fastball, a curveball and a changeup.

Chris Sale, Florida Gulf Coast Jr.
2009 Stats: 7-4, 2.72 ERA, 89 IP, 104 Ks, 27 BB

Sale, the top prospect and pitcher of the year in the Cape Cod League last summer, eats hitters up by throwing a lively 90-93 mph fastball from a low arm slot, and he also can make them look silly with a quality changeup.

RELIEF PITCHER

Kevin Jacob, Georgia Tech Jr. R-R 6-6 228
2009 Stats: 5-3, 4.69 ERA, 0 saves, 56 IP, 54 Ks, 29 BB

Jacob showed he can be an overpowering closer while ranking as the No. 1 prospect in the Alaska League last summer. He usually works in the mid-90s and touches 98, but hitters can't sit on his heater because his slider is equally devastating.

For more of Baseball America's 2010 college baseball season preview, including its second- and third-team All-America picks, click here.