By Steve Spiewak
MaxPreps.com
As the 2008 high school baseball season approaches, it’s an appropriate time to look back at the stars of the class of 2007, only six months removed from high school and already making an impression in the baseball world.
Prep stars from traditionally dominant baseball states, like Texas and California, dominated the first round of the 2007 MLB amateur draft, but other parts of the country are certainly represented.
Of the 30 first-round draft selections, 17 were high school players, bucking the trend of drafting college players, thought to be closer to contributing on the major league level.
The second overall draft pick was Chatsworth (Calif.) shortstop Mike Moustakas. After helping Chatsworth to a 30-4 record, Moustakas signed with the Kansas City Royals for $4 million, beating the Aug. 1 signing deadline by a matter of minutes. He hit 24 homers for Chatsworth, a school record, and helped the Chancellors win a Section title.
But Moustakas was only one-half of high school baseball’s most daunting leftside infield combo. Teammate and shortstop Matt Dominguez was drafted 12th by the Florida Marlins. Agreeing to a $1.8 million contract united Dominguez with another former Chatsworth shortstop, Marlins general manager Larry Beinfest. Beinfest was a two-time All-City shortstop for the Chancellors in the early 1980’s.
Another California star on the left side of the infield also became a high pick in the June draft. Josh Vitters, third baseman for Cypress High School, was picked by the Cubs with the third pick. Vitters has struggled so far in his brief professional stint. Perhaps his slow start can be contributed to fatigue; he played well into May, leading Cypress to a 23-6 record.
A pair of high school pitchers were selected ninth and 10th in the draft. Indiana phenom Jarrod Parker was taken by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Parker was last season’s Gatorade Player of the Year in the Hoosier State, after leading Norwell High School (Ind.) to a 3A state championship.
In the 10 slot, the San Francisco Giants nabbed Madison Bumgarner, a southpaw from South Caldwell High School (N.C.), one of North Carolina’s more storied programs. Not only did Bumgarner get it done on the mound for the 4A state champs, toting a miniscule 1.05 ERA, but the southpaw was a force with the bat, slugging 11 homers and hitting well over .400.
The Atlanta Braves once again had to look no further than their own backyard, as they drafted powerful outfielder Jason Heyward out of Henry County (Ga.). With a penchant for traditional scouting over newer types of player analysis, the Braves have often struck gold when drafting Georgia high school products. Catcher Brian McCann hails from Duluth High School, while outfielder Jeff Francouer attended Parkview, where he also starred in football.
Following a similar strategy, the Rangers picked Irving (Texas) fireballer Blake Beaven with the 17th pick. The Lone Star State has long been known for its power pitchers, from legends Nolan Ryan (Alvin) and Roger Clemens (Spring Woods), to more recent products Scott Kazmir (Cypress Falls) and Homer Bailey (La Grange).
The Rangers hope Beaven works out better than another Texas high school legend and high draft pick, David Clyde. Clyde was the 1970’s version of LeBron James, finishing his senior season at Houston’s Westchester High School with an 18-0 record. The Rangers selected him with the first pick in the 1973 draft. He was hyped as the franchise’s savior, but flamed out after being rushed to the big leagues too quickly.
With the 24th pick, the Rangers also grabbed Michael Main, a pitcher/outfielder from Florida’s DeLand High School. DeLand happens to be the birthplace of future Hall of Famer Chipper Jones. Texas has a gem in Main, a rare breed that boasts both a mid-90’s fastball and home run potential at the plate.
Another top draft pick this year sprung up in the middle of football territory. With the 20th pick in the draft, the Los Angeles Dodgers selected Chris Withrow, a pitcher from Midland Christian High School (Texas). Midland Christian is only miles from Midland Lee, alma mater of running back Cedric Benson, and famous rival of Odessa Permian. The 6-foot-3 righthander struck out 90 while allowing only eight walks his senior year.
The nation’s top high school pitcher, Seton Hall Prep’s (N.J.) Rick Porcello, was taken by the Tigers with the 27th pick. Porcello, who slipped in the draft because of signability issues, led the Pirates to a New Jersey state title and a top national ranking in some polls. His teammate, 6-8 Evan Danieli, was drafted in the 33rd round by the Minnesota Twins.
