As the collegiate baseball season continues to pick up steam, we at the Sombrero think it’s time to examine some recent events that will inevitably shake up the 2011 draft landscape.  Prior to the start of the 2011 NCAA season, Anthony Rendon of Rice was widely regarded as the top talent in the 2011 Draft.  With a double-plus hit tool grading and power to spare, Rendon profiles as a middle-of-the order hitter on any team in Major League Baseball.  Because of his eye, which grades at least a 60, and ability to barrel up the baseball, Rendon will have a very short stint in the Minors before debuting with whatever club drafts him in June.  His glove grades at plus, and there has never been any reason for concern regarding his ability to stay at third, his position at Rice.

What does cause reason for concern, however, is Rendon’s ankle, which he severely injured last summer with Team USA.  This most recent injury is not the first injury to Rendon’s ankle, and he has spent some time at DH this season as a precautionary measure.  Rendon must demonstrate that he can play third on a daily basis this season to justify the top overall ranking headed into the draft.  Everything about his stats at Rice this season suggest that he is the same old Anthony at the dish, but this is not the year to select a player with injury concerns with the first overall selection.  The talent is simply too deep for that.

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The Golden Sombrero presents MLB Look-alikes: Brian Wilson and Zangief (Street Fighter)

I recently had the opportunity to catch up with Nick Wooley, a long-time friend of the Sombrero and former teammate who now pitches in the Kansas City Royals’ organization.  I got to know Nick in the summer of 2008 when we were teammates on the Alton Indians of the St. Louis Metro Collegiate League; a team that also featured the Sombrero’s own Ryan Harris and Robbie Unsell.  That summer, Wooley’s dominance on the mound lead the Indians’ to a Metro Collegiate League Championship, 3^rd place finish at the NABF World Series in Toledo, OH., and an overall record of 30-6.

Wooley, 22, was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the 12^th round (362^nd overall selection) of the 2009 MLB Amateur Draft following a stellar junior season at William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri – watch his official MLB Draft video.  The 6-foot-2 right-hander earned America Midwest Conference co-pitcher of the year and newcomer of the year honors, after going 8-1 with a 3.31 ERA and hurling four complete games in 12 starts. In 70 2/3 innings, Wooley allowed 60 hits, walked 27, and struck out 89 for the Owls.

Nick spent all of 2009, his first full minor league season, pitching for Idaho Falls, the Royals’ rookie affiliate in the Pioneer League.  Appearing in 13 games for the Chukars – nine of which he started – Wooley was 3-2 with a 4.78 ERA, and racked up 40 strikeouts while walking only 10 hitters in 49 IP.

Prior to the 2010 season he was promoted to Low-A Burlington – now the Kane County Cougars – of the Midwest League where he struggled to find rhythm, and battled through some issues with his command.

Although he didn’t have the success at Burlington that he’d hoped, Wooley is anything but discouraged headed into his third professional season. The offseason brought the news that he will become a father in June – news that has allowed him to consider his life and career in a new light.  The right-hander enters the 2011 season with distinct goals as both a pitcher and a father, and is optimistic that he’ll turn a major corner in his young career.

#2 Mike Trout – Los Angeles Angels

OF

DOB: 8-7-1991

ETA: 2012

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• Although the Seattle Mariners are still years away from any sort of contention, it appears as though they are seriously considering breaking camp with the 22-year-old right-hander, Michael Pineda.  Standing at an imposing 6-foot-7, 260-pounds, Pineda is widely considered to be one of baseball’s best right-handed pitching prospects (#17 on the Sombrero’s Top 50), and with a fastball that touches the upper-90s, one can understand why.  So far this Spring, Pineda has posted a 2.57 ERA, struck out five, and walked three over seven innings of work.  According to Matthew Carruth of Fangraphs, however, including Pineda in the Opening Day rotation is not necessarily a wise decision…

• Here at the Sombrero, there’s no such thing as too much Bryce Harper.  After an impressive Spring Training in which he hit .389 (7-for-18) with three doubles and five RBI, the Nationals assigned the 18-year-old to Class A Hagerstown on Saturday afternoon.  Wanting to make the most of every Spring Training opportunity, Harper mentioned that he was feeling “hitterish” the other day.  What exactly does “hitterish” mean? Well, it’s a good thing that our friends at Diamond Hoggers are here to break it down for everybody.

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