MLB Draft 2011: Dylan Bundy and the 10 Best High School Prospects in MLB Draft
Taking high school players in the Major League Baseball Draft can be a major risk. They can hold out, never pan-out or choose college. They are a risk worth taking on most occasions though, especially the high-end talents.
There are quality high school players littered throughout the 2011 MLB Draft and here are the 10 best.
Projections are from ESPN's Keith Law.
No 10: Jose Fernandez
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Jose Fernandez - RHP Alonso High School (FL)
Fernandez is 6'3" 215 pounds, and has a fastball in the mid-to-low 90s.
His curveball nearly has a 12-to-6 break to it.
His body development is there but he will need to show more command and develop better secondary pitches to have a quality major league career.
Projections have Fernandez being selected 22nd to the St. Louis Cardinals.
No 9: Blake Swihart
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Blake Swihart - C Cleveland High School (OH)
Swihart is 6'1" 175 pounds.
He was a Rawlings 1st-team All-America in 2011. He is a switch hitter—a valuable commodity for a catcher.
Swihart's athleticism could allow him to play multiple positions but he will probably be a catcher for most of his career.
Projections have Swihart being selected early in the second round.
No 8: Robert Stephenson
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Robert Stephenson - RHP Alhambra High School (CA)
Stephenson is 6'3" 180 pounds.
His fastball has the potential to reach the upper-90s.
Projections have Stephenson being selected 16th by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
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No 7: Daniel Norris
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Daniel Norris - LHP Science Hill High School (TN)
He is 6'2" 180 pounds.
Norris could potentially have three plus pitches when he gets to the big leagues. His fastball has tailed off late in the season, but it generally sat at 91-94 mph.
The big concern with Norris was his lack of control. If he could turn that around he could be considered a future top pick if he decides to go to college.
Projections have Norris being selected 17th by the Houston Astros.
No 6: Joe Ross
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Joe Ross - Bishop O'Dowd High School (CA)
Ross is a 6'2" 180 pound right-hander with a smooth and consistent delivery.
His fastball sits in the mid-to-low 90s, but his slider is a pitch that has the potential to be lethal down the road.
He is the younger brother of Oakland Athletics pitcher Tyson Ross.
Projections have Ross going eighth to the Cleveland Indians.
No 5: Taylor Guerrieri
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Taylor Guerrieri - RHP Spring Valley High School (SC)
Guerrieri is 6'3" 180 pounds. He has a great curveball and a fastball that sits in the low-to-mid 90s.
His command and control will be an area where he will need to improve on in order to have a successful major league career.
Projections have him being selected 13th to the New York Mets.
No 4: Francisco Lindor
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Francisco Lindor - SS Montverde Academy (FL)
Lindor could be aided by the lack of depth at shortstop in the 2011 MLB Draft. He will most likely bat for average in the majors, but is only 17 years old so his power could eventually come.
He is 5'11" 170 pounds. He hit over .500 at Montverde Academy and has good speed.
He has signed a letter of intent to play at Florida State University.
Projections have Lindor being selected 11th by the Houston Astros.
No 3: Archie Bradley
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Archie Bradley - RHP Broken Arrow High School (OK)
Bradley is 6'3" 215 pounds. His curveball is one of the best pitches in his arsenal. His fastball sits around the low-to-mid 90s.
Bradley was also a quarterback and signed a letter of intent with the Oklahoma Sooners. Which sport will he choose for his career? Many scouts believe he is much better at baseball.
Many high school kids have a passion for more than one sport. This is why signing a kid right out of high school can be risky.
Projections have him being selected seventh by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
No 2: Bubba Starling
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Bubba Starling - OF Gardner Edgerton High School (KS)
At 6'4" 180 pounds, Starling is probably the best athlete in the 2011 MLB Draft.
There aren't too many "five-tool" players in baseball anymore but Starling is as close as it gets for a prospect.
However, he has committed to the University of Nebraska to be their quarterback. He is one of those athletes that is great at everything he does.
Projections have Starling being drafted sixth by the Washington Nationals
No 1: Dylan Bundy
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Dylan Bundy - RHP Owasso High School (OK)
Bundy is a rare high school talent. He was clocked at 100 mph in his senior season.
He is a 6'1" 200 pound 18-year-old that is the first ever to win the Gatorade state baseball award three times.
Bundy was 11-0 with 158 strikeouts in 71 innings. He allowed two earned runs, while walking five men in his senior season.
He threw a no-hitter and six one-hitters this season. His fastball was consistently around 92-97 mph.
Bundy also happens to be a great hitter. He collected 11 home runs and 54 RBI this season, a team high.
Bundy was announced the national Gatorade Player of the Year.
Projections have Bundy being selected fifth by the Kansas City Royals.
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