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Growing up, every aspiring baseball player shares a common dream: to one day play for their hometown team.  For many, it’s a dream that dissipates over time, as the daunting reality of what it takes to even play at the collegiate level takes center stage.

But for St. Louis native Lance Jeffries (right), the dream became a breathtaking reality on June 7, when the St. Louis Cardinals selected the McCluer outfielder in the 10^th round of the 2011 MLB Amateur Draft.  Two days later, Jeffries and the Cardinals made it official when he signed his first professional contract, and was subsequently assigned to the organization’s Gulf Coast League affiliate in Florida.

As a senior, 6-foot, 205-pound Jeffries garnered Prep Baseball Report Missouri First Team All-State honors after posting a .457 batting average and .587 OBP, with 10 home runs, 38 runs scored, 45 RBI, and a perfect 46-for-46 in stolen bases.

However, it was obvious that Jeffries’ sheer athleticism extended well beyond his robust stats.  In August of 2010, the speedster opened eyes nation wide by running an event-best 6.6-second 60-yard dash at USA Baseball’s Breakthrough Series.  Then at Prep Baseball Report’s Super 60 draft showcase in McCook, IL last February, Jeffries flashed his 90+ mph arm and plus bat-speed.  In a matter of months, he had emerged as one of the nation’s more intriguing five-tool prep prospects.

Now, after an impressive inaugural campaign in the GCL, Jeffries is back in St. Louis and spending time with his friends and family. And despite his success and acclimation to life as a professional baseball player, the awe of being drafted – by his hometown team nonetheless – has hardly faded.

Continue reading ‘A dream come true year for Lance Jeffries’ at PrepBaseballReport.com >>

#22 Drew Pomeranz

Colorado Rockies

DOB: 11/22/1988

Previous Rank: N/R

ETA: 2012

Pomeranz was the centerpiece of the deal that brought Ubaldo Jimenez to Cleveland, and we at The Sombrero thought the move was a win for the Rox in large part due to Pomeranz’ stuff and projectability.  Unfortunately, Colorado rushed him up to make four starts late in the year after 20 across three Minor League stops and none above Double-A.

He wasn’t awful in his Big League starts, but he did post an ERA above 5.00 with below average command and no real ability to miss bats.  However, he will only be 23 in 2012 and should return to the Colorado rotation with something to prove and a strong Minor League career to call on for a confidence boost.  The 6-foot-5 lefty fanned 119 Minor League batters in 2011 with only 38 walks and an sub-2.00 ERA in just over 100 innings.  Despite lacking any Triple-A experience, we don’t really think he has anything to prove in the Minors, and he certainly has enough in his plus fastball and double-plus curve to learn the intricacies of his changeup on the fly at the Major League level.

It could be Pomeranz’ third plus or better offering, but it never really has to be.  Pomeranz was the top collegiate arm in his draft class (2010) coming out of Mississippi, and his frame, stuff, and handedness all suggest that he will be front line in Colorado for years.

The Golden Sombrero presents MLB Look-alikes: Ryan Spilborghs and Jason Lee

One of these two is not a Scientologist

Banuelos debuts at No. 26 on our list

Just as we did prior to the start of the 2011 season, The Golden Sombrero is currently unveiling our Top 50 Post-2011 Prospects, and we are now halfway through out list.  Due to the promotion of many of baseball’s finest prospects over the course of last season, our new list features a slew of new names thanks to strong performances across various minor league levels.  Only time will tell whether this new crop of prospects will match the hype and success of last season’s, but one thing is certain – they are the future of baseball.

Here is a quick recap of the players we’ve highlighted thus far, and where they were ranked headed into the 2011 season:

50. Francisco Lindor, SS, Cleveland Indians – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

49. Christian Yelich, OF, Miami Marlins – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

48.  Joseph Wieland, RHP, San Diego Padres – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

47. Jarred Cosart, RHP, Houston Astros – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

46. Michael Choice, OF, Oakland Athletics – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

45. Matt Harvey, RHP, New York Mets – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

44. Sonny Gray, RHP, Oakland Athletics – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

43. Zack Cox, 3B, St. Louis Cardinals, — Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

42. Yasmani Grandal, C, Cincinnati Reds – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

41. Zack Wheeler, RHP, New York Mets – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

40. Hak-Ju Lee, SS, Tampa Bay Rays – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

39. Taijuan Walker, RHP, Seattle Mariners – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

38. Wil Myers, OF, Kansas City Royals – Pre-2011 Rank: 15

37. Will Middlebrooks, 3B, Boston Red Sox – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

36. Brett Jackson, OF, Chicago Cubs – Pre-2011 Ranks: 43

35. Carlos Martinez, RHP, St. Louis Cardinals – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

34. Gary Brown, OF, San Francisco Giants – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

33. Randall Delgado, RHP, Atlanta Braves – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

32. Starling Marte, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

31. Robbie Erlin, LHP, San Diego Padres – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

30. Arodys Vizcaino, RHP, Atlanta Braves – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

29. Jonathan Singleton, 1B/OF, Houston Astros – Pre-2011 Rank: 37

28. Jake Odorizzi, RHP, Kansas City Royals – Pre-2011 Rank: 35

27. Travis d’Arnaud, C, Toronto Blue Jays – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

26. Manny Banuelos, LHP, New York Yankees – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

25. Miguel Sano, 3B, Minnesota Twins – Pre-2011 Rank: N/R

#25 Miguel Sano

Minnesota Twins

DOB: 5/11/1993

Previous Rank: N/R

ETA: 2014

Sano was the top international free agent in 2009, and he absolutely torched the Appalachian League in 2011 posting a .292/.352/.637 slash line with 20 jacks.  He was the consensus top player in the league and one of the top players in the low Minors nationwide.  Sano can go out to all fields but demonstrates a great deal of rawness at the plate and in the field.

He gets down late and cannot hold back on breaking stuff out of the zone as a result, but that can be a quick fix for an athlete as strong and agile as Sano.  His arm has plenty of juice for any spot on the field, suggesting that he can stay at the hot corner.  Nevertheless, defense is way more than arm strength, and Sano is flat out rough in terms of footwork and glovework.

That said, with his bat and age on his side, Sano should be able to make a jump into the high Minors some time in 2012.  He has a long way to go, and is likely to lose a step as he matures, but if he can convince enough people that he belongs at third and develop some discipline in the box, he can be one of the game’s elite infielders.  Third base has been a revolving door in Minneapolis, but with Sano, the Twins firmly believe, as do many across the game, that those days may be behind the organization.