In the first two prospect profile reports we looked at some of the top college players in the country. This time the focus shifts to the high school game. While it will be hard for any class to live up to the impact talent produced from the high school ranks in 2005 with the likes of Justin Upton, Jay Bruce, Colby Rasmus, and many more, this year’s draft is pretty deep in prep bats with several very talented players at a variety of positions. In this report I will focus on the top 3 high school position players available, a group that includes a 5-tool shortstop, a mashing first baseman, and a do it all catcher.
Tim Beckham SS Griffin High School (GA) 6’2” 190 lbs. DOB: 1/27/90
Beckham is a premium athlete at a premium position and is widely considered the top 5-tool player in the draft. He combines silky smooth defensive actions with a strong arm, incredible speed, and improving power. His quick hands enable him to hit line drives to all fields, and he has the ability to become an elite base stealer with 6.33 speed in the 60 yard dash. There were some questions about his bat in the past, but those are going away now. Beckham was named the MVP of the Aflac All-American game last summer, and he is the best shortstop available since B.J. Upton in 2002. This is the type of player that makes scouts drool, and the only way he slips out of the top 5 is unreal bonus expectations. Beckham may not have the bat of Eric Hosmer, but his all around talent makes him the top prep position player available.
Eric Hosmer 1B American Heritage High School (FL) 6’4” 210 lbs. DOB: 10/24/89
Hosmer has the most power and is arguably the best pure hitter in the high school class. He possesses a classic lefty power stroke, but can also pepper line drives to any field. Hosmer combines his fantastic swing with very good plate discipline and the ability to recognize pitches early. He is also fairly athletic and plays a very good first base. Showing the type of all-around talent you see in the truly elite players, he has also been clocked at 92 mph across the diamond although he won’t get many opportunities to show off that arm in the future. Hosmer is the complete package, and if he played a more demanding position he would be in the argument with Pedro Alvarez as the top talent available in June. As is, he is the best high school first base prospect since Casey Kotchman in 2001, and that is the player he is most often compared to with the caveat that he has more power. The only question with Hosmer is how far his association with Scott Boras will cause him to fall.
Kyle Skipworth C Patriot High School (CA) 6’3” 195 lbs. DOB: 3/1/90
Skipworth is a tall, athletic catcher with power potential from the left side, and that alone makes him a potential first rounder. When you combine that with solid receiving skills and a 70 arm you get one of the best prospects in the draft. Skipworth has a smooth swing with a long finish and plenty of pull power, but he also has the ability to go the other way. In an early showcase in Compton, California Skipworth put on a show with an opposite field homer while gunning down three would be base stealers. He isn’t a finished product behind the plate, but most scouts believe there isn’t anything playing time and some minor adjustments can’t fix. Skipworth is already considered to have a better total package than last year’s top prep catcher and 15th overall pick Devin Mesoraco. His all-around game is very similar to Rangers’ catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and catchers with that type of ability don’t last long on draft day.
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So, could Skipworth be the next Daric Barton?
I don’t think so, because it sounds like Skipworth can stick behind the plate
not really similar to barton at all. skipworth is a tall, skinny guy, barton is a short, pudgy guy. skipworth is a little rough around the edges behind the plate, but he has a plus arm, barton was just rough behind the plate. skipworth has a ton of power and may hit for average, barton his for a ton of average and may hit for some power.
I would love to see the Cards get their hands on Skipworth. In my ever so humble opinion, he may be the best all around catching prospect since Martin or Mauer. Kid’s ceiling is just incredible.
So who’s the better Beckham: Tim or Gordon?
Skipworth sounds like Anderson a bit to me, lefty, raw catcher, but lots of offensive upside.
rb, there are definitely some people dropping the mauer name when talking about skipworth. i don’t think that is fair, but he is pretty darn good.
grant, tim is the better beckham, but they could both go in the top 10 if gordon keeps hitting all year.
I know a lot of times we get caught up in what a website or a piece of paper says about a player but until you really see him it’s hard to really get a true sense of who he is but let me tell you, Georgia was in Fayetteville last weekend to play Arkansas (where I’m from) and I’ve watched a ton of great players come through here and G. Beckham will be in the show. He’s imposing at the plate, makes consistent, hard contact, he kind of has a short, quick stroke but a ball off his bat stays hit. Seriously, I saw Alvarez last year when Vandy came through and although he got pitched around a few times I thought GB had the same kind of poise. It was crazy, everytime he came up I’d tell my wife, “Beckham’s up again” and sure enough, POW, a ball would get hit to the wall. My hope of hopes would be that the Cardinals got him at #13 and he’s either the next Nomar or they convert him to 2B and he’s a Chase Utley type 2B. He’s got enough range and arm to play in the middle IF. He’s pretty exciting.
thanks for the report lassie, he is definitely putting on a show this year.
we have a video of hosmer on the sidebar, if anyone is interested.
and there are several more on youtube. that guy can flat out mash.
Hey this if off topic a bit but since we’re talking about hitters I was wondering if anyone know’s how Kyle Russell is doing so far this season? I was told he’s not doing so well and probably cost himself lots of money but I didn’t see any numbers