2016 State Draft Report: Colorado
| CROP RATING | |
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Solid, not spectacular |
| Rating compares this year’s group to what a state typically produces, not to other states | |
Air Force seen a jump in wins in each season since 2012. Head coach Mike Kazlausky has established the program with sound recruitment and player development, and as a result, Air Force has two players ranked among Colorado’s top prospects. Ace righthander Griffin Jax, a 12th round pick out of high school in 2013, is a top 100 prospect, and lefthander Jacob DeVries has shown promising lefthanded velocity, and ranks as the fifth prospect in the state.
The Centennial State is typically known for producing projectable high school talent. That holds true to some extent this year, with a solid crop of prep players bound for strong college programs. Many of these players could come off the board late, as pro teams take a chance on high school players who may be difficult to sign.
| NATIONAL TOP 500 PROSPECTS |
| BA 500 Scouting Reports |
1. Griffin Jax, rhp, Air Force (National Rank: 100)
2. Bo Weiss, rhp, Regis Jesuit HS, Aurora, Colo. (National Rank: 183)
3. Paul Tillotson, rhp, Lewis-Palmer HS, Monument, Colo. (National Rank: 396)
| OTHER PROSPECTS OF NOTE |
| 2016 Draft Map |
4. Maverick Handley, c, Mullen High, Denver
5. Jacob DeVries, lhp, Air Force
6. Cuba Bess, 1b/c, Fruita (Col.) Monument High
7. Jake Greenwalt, rhp, Fossil Ridge HS, Fort Collins, Colo.
8. Tommy Gillman, ss, Columbine HS, Littleton, Colo.
9. Nathan Sweeney, rhp, Cherry Creek HS, Greenwood Village, Colo.
10. Travis Marr, rhp, Regis Jesuit HS, Aurora, Colo.
11. Chase Dunker, lhp, Northeastern JC (Colo.)
12. Jake Eissler, rhp, Thunder Ridge HS, Highlands Ranch, Colo.
13. Daryl Myers, ss, Rock Canyon HS, Highlands Ranch, Colo.
14. Preston Snavely, rhp, Fort Collins (Colo.) HS
15. Wyatt Featherston, of, Green Mountain HS, Lakewood, Colo.
16. Bailey Collins, of, Dakota Ridge HS, Littleton, Colo.
| ADDITIONAL SCOUTING REPORTS |
Maverick Handley, c, Mullen High, Denver – The Colorado high school catcher may be one of the most talented prep players in the Four Corners area, but is also the least likely to sign due to his strong Stanford commitment. Handley has a strong, stocky frame with quick-twitch athleticism and great makeup and intelligence. He moves well behind the plate, receives the ball well and has good game-calling skills, flashing at least average arm strength with regular sub-2.0 pop times. At the plate, Handley has good bat speed and gets extension through the zone, resulting in loud contact. Handley has enough bat to handle a corner infield position in addition to his normal catcher role.
Cuba Bess, 1b/c, Fruita (Col.) Monument High – There’s little question that Bess can hit, as the son of a six-year former minor league player has batted over .500 in both of his last two prep seasons. The lefthanded-hitting first baseman has a good feel for hitting with a balanced swing and uses all fields well, keeping the barrel in the zone longer, but with a line drive stroke that doesn’t get many balls over the fence. He’s a fringy average defender at first base, and an attempt to try him out behind the plate didn’t take. Bess is a below-average runner and does not have an athletic frame. Scouts agree that Bess would be best served by honoring his commitment to Grand Canyon, where he can develop his natural hitting skills and improve his draft stock for 2019.
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