Phillies 2007 Draft
not sure what is going on with phuturephillies.com (seems to be down), but here is what baseballamerica.com has to say about the phils picks:
19. Joe Savery, lhpclub could be trying to hit the lottery again and see him as another cole hamels (top flight talent dropping in the draft due to injury concerns)? difference here is that hamels was a consensus "can't miss" prospect if healthy. reviews on this guy seem mixed. apparently, the player the phils really wanted was kevin ahrens, who went at 16.
School: Rice Class: Jr.
B-T: L-L Ht.: 6-3 Wt.: 215 Birthdate: 11/4/85
Scouting Report: Area scouts have projected Savery as a 2007 first-rounder since he came out of Lamar High in Houston three years ago. He was the top two-way player in the state, but it would have taken a $1 million bonus to dissuade him from following Jeff Niemann's path from Lamar to Rice. As with Niemann in 2004, Savery hasn't been 100 percent in his draft year following offseason surgery. He didn't pitch for the Owls last June, then had minor surgery to shave down a bone growth in the back of his shoulder that was causing some fraying in his labrum. Savery has taken a regular turn in the Rice rotation this spring, but he has been less than dominant, as his 44-30 K-BB ratio through 68 innings would attest. Savery's velocity was improving in early May, as he was showing a 90-94 mph fastball for a couple of innings and still touched 90 after 100 pitches. In his initial starts this season, he worked more often at 85-89 mph. His changeup is a plus pitch, and his hard, slurvy curveball can get strikeouts when it's on, though he hasn't used it as much as in the past. Savery has continued to pull double duty for the Owls, playing first base and leading the club with a .353 average and 43 RBIs through 52 games. Once he regains full health, he could take off after he focuses his energy and efforts on pitching. The recent litany of Rice pitching prospects who have needed surgery after turning pro concerns scouts, but Savery could be a steal if he slides into the second half of the first round.
37. Travis d'Arnaud, cthe good news? seems like the phils have their first real catching prospect in years. the bad news? the last real prospect was mike lieberthal. this guy's scouting report looks very similar to how lieby was described as a prospect. hopefully this guy doesn't come with lieby's "whatever" attitude.
School: Lakewood (Calif.) HS Class: Sr.
B-T: R-R Ht.: 6-0 Wt.: 180 Birthdate: 2/10/89
Scouting Report: In several ways, d'Arnaud resembles his older brother Chase, a two-year starter at third base for Pepperdine, and Travis has also committed to play for the Waves. Chances are he won't get to school, though, because he's a more athletic version of his brother with premium catch-and-throw skills behind the plate and a more advanced bat. While he's still a streak hitter, d'Arnaud has showed an improved ability to stay inside the ball and drive it to all fields. It's a quick, line-drive swing for the most part, but he has shown some loft power, with seven home runs, and he ranked among state leaders in RBIs. Defensively, he grades as above-average as both a receiver and thrower, with a plus arm, soft hands and quick feet. While he's athletic enough to play an infield spot, he's too good behind the plate--consistently getting his throws to second base in 1.9 seconds--to move.
83. Travis Mattair, ss/3b
School: Southridge (Wash.) HS Class: Sr.
B-T: R-R Ht.: 6-5 Wt.: 215 Birthdate: 12/21/88
Scouting Report: While Washington prep righthanders Greg Peavey and Julien Sampson (breaking ball went backward) vexed scouts this spring, Mattair came off the basketball court and onto the baseball diamond and emerged as the state's top high school prospect. He's athletic to a fault, in that he's never focused on baseball, and he was good enough as a basketball point guard to attract Division II scholarship interest. His power potential makes him a much better prospect in baseball. He has leverage and obvious strength in his swing and has shown power to all fields. His lack of experience was exposed at showcase events by pitchers with consistently better stuff than any he had seen in southeast Washington, but scouts are confident his athleticism will allow him to adjust once he focuses on baseball. He's a shortstop now who profiles as a third baseman as a pro. He's committed to Oregon State.
107. Brandon Workman, rhp
School: Bowie (Texas) HS Class: Sr.
B-T: R-R Ht.: 6-4 Wt.: 195 Birthdate: 8/13/88
Scouting Report: On the right day, Workman can look like a first-rounder. He'll show a low-90s fastball that tops out at 95 mph to go with a plus 12-to-6 curveball, and that stuff comes from a projectable 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame. He's still growing too, having added two inches and 20 pounds since last summer. But the problem is poor arm action that scares scouts and robs Workman of any consistency. His mechanics will need an overhaul, and though he has enticing raw arm strength, it's going to be difficult to draft him high enough to lure him away from Texas. He's a top student and scouts don't think he'll sign for less than third-round money.
113. Matt Spencer, of/lhp
School: Arizona State. Class: Jr.
B-T: L-L. Ht.: 6-4. Wt.: 225. Birthdate: 1/27/86.
Scouting Report: In terms of tools, Spencer is the same player who was part of a banner 2004 draft class in his home state of Tennessee. He went to North Carolina for his first two college seasons and helped the Tar Heels reach the College World Series last season, often playing center field despite his 6-foot-4, 225-pound frame and finishing second on the team with 15 stolen bases. Spencer returned to UNC for his junior year after a poor performance in the Cape Cod League (.197, one extra-base hit) and lost his job, so he transferred between semesters to Arizona State. He burst back on the prospect scene with a pair of homers at an early-season tournament in Houston with most of the industry's scouting directors in attendance, but his season was plagued by as much inconsistency as his Tar Heels career. Spencer has above-average raw power and profiles as a right fielder if he can make consistent contact. After pitching just five innings for North Carolina, Spencer had worked into a set-up role with Arizona State. Though he lacked command (16 walks in 10 innings), he has hit 94 mph, and some scouts who doubt his hitting savvy like him better on the mound. Either way, he's still far from a finished product, just as was the case out of high school.
posted by The Mean Guy at 6:24 AM
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