2017 State Draft Report: Texas

CROP RATING
	Solid, not spectacular
Rating compares this year’s group to what a state typically produces, not to other states

As usual there are a large number of hard-throwing high school arms, a number of productive and toolsy college players and a slew of high school hitters in this year’s draft class for Texas. In other words, it’s a pretty routine year for one of the best draft hotbeds in baseball.

NATIONAL TOP 500 PROSPECTS

BA 500 Scouting Reports

1. Shane Baz, RHP, Concordia Lutheran HS, Tomball, Texas (11)
2. Seth Romero, LHP, Houston (27)
3. Tristen Lutz, OF, Martin HS, Arlington, Texas (35)
4. Corbin Martin, RHP, Texas A&M (55)
5. Alex Scherff, RHP, Colleyville (Texas) Heritage HS (59)
6. Bryce Bonnin, RHP, Barbers Hill HS, Mont Belvieu, Texas (73)
7. Connor Wong, C, Houston (77)
8. Evan Skoug, C, Texas Christian (78)
9. Morgan Cooper, RHP, Texas (80)
10. Mason House, OF, Whitehouse (Texas) HS (84)
11. Cole Turney, OF, Travis HS, Richmond, Texas (128)
12. Adam Oviedo, SS, Alvarado (Texas) HS (133)
13. Asa Lacy, LHP, Tivy HS, Kerrville, Texas (176)
14. Glenn Otto, RHP, Rice (181)
15. Bryce Johnson, OF, Sam Houston State (197)
16. Kamron Fields, OF, Lakeview Centennial HS, Garland, Texas (222)
17. Jack Conlon, RHP, Sugar Land (Texas) HS (239)
18. Tylor Fischer, RHP, Langham Creek HS, Houston (246)
19. Kyle Johnston, RHP, Texas (250)
20. Joe Gobillot, LHP, St. John’s School, Houston (275)
21. Nick Kennedy, LHP, Texas (276)
22. Jake Lyons, RHP, Weatherford (Texas) JC (283)
23. Dane Myers, RHP/3B, Rice (284)
24. Zach DeLoach, OF, Hebron High, Carrollton, Texas (293)
25. Orlando Garcia, SS, Texas Tech (298)
26. Josh Breaux, C, McLennan (Texas) JC (301)
27. Tyler Ivey, RHP, Grayson (Texas) JC (302)
28. Seth Elledge, RHP, Dallas Baptist (303)
29. Brian Howard, RHP, Texas Christian (345)
30. Brigham Hill, RHP, Texas A&M (346)
31. Cason Sherrod, RHP, Texas A&M (347)
32. Isaiah Henry, RHP, North Shore HS, Houston (352)
33. Austin Wade, OF, Texas Christian (355)
34. Brandon Venter, 3B, McLennan (Texas) JC (357)
35. Canaan Smith, C, Rockwall-Heath HS, Rockwall, Texas (366)
36. Marshall Kasowski, RHP, West Texas A&M (371)
37. Stephen Keller, RHP, Hargrave HS, Huffman, Texas (434)
38. Parker Mushinski, LHP, Texas Tech (453)
39. Russell Smith, LHP, Midlothian (Texas) HS (455)
40. D’Mond LaFond, RHP, Refugio (Texas) HS (468)
41. Nick Choruby, OF, Texas A&M (477)
42. Dalton Higgins, RHP, Dallas Baptist (479)
43. Travis Jones, OF/1B, Texas (491)
44. Mitchell Traver, RHP, Texas Christian (492)
45. Corey Julks, OF, Houston (500)

OTHER PROSPECTS OF NOTE

2017 Draft Map

46. Jared Janczak, RHP, Texas Christian
47. Austin Listi, 1B/OF, Dallas Baptist
48. Matt Duce, C, Dallas Baptist
49. Blake Pflughaupt, LHP, Galveston (Texas) JC
50. Kaylor Chafin, LHP, Texas A&M
51. Lamar Sparks, OF/RHP, Seven Lakes HS, Katy HS
52. Tristan Gray, 2B/3B, Rice
53. Turner Larkins, RHP, Texas A&M
54. Donny Diaz, RHP, San Jacinto (Texas) JC
55. Saul Garza, C, Edinburg (Texas) North
56. Theodore Hoffman, OF, Texas State
57. Jordan Westburg, SS, New Braunfels (Texas) HS
58. Heston Kjerstad, OF, Randall HS, Amarillo, Texas
59. Kacy Clemens, 1B, Texas
60. Camden Duzenack, SS, Dallas Baptist
61. Brett Boswell, 3B/2B, Texas
62. Jakob Hernandez, LHP, UT-Arlington
63. Ryan Johnson, OF, San Jacinto (Texas) JC
64. Montana Parsons, RHP, Baylor
65. John Kodros, LHP, Coppell (Texas) HS
66. Trei Cruz, SS, Episcopal HS, Bellaire, Texas
67. Richard Gilbert, LHP, Johnson HS, San Antonio
68. Nolan Brown, OF, Texas Christian
69. Jacob Patterson, LHP, Texas Tech
70. Zane Gurwitz, OF, Texas
71. Elliott Barzilli, 3B, Texas Christian
72. Devlin Granberg, OF, Dallas Baptist
73. Brandon Young, RHP, Howard (Texas) JC
74. Cam Haller, C, Marshall (Texas) HS
75. Herbert Iser, C, San Jacinto (Texas) JC
76. Zach Heaton, RHP, Second Baptist HS, Houston, Texas
77. Jonathan Windham, SS, Klein Collins HS, Spring, Texas
78. Cole Quintanilla, RHP, Cedar Park (Texas) HS
79. Jacob Wyeth, C, Lake Travis HS, Austin
80. Aaron Walters, C, Center Point (Texas) HS
81. Isaac Guerrero, RHP, Howard (Texas) JC
82. Riley Richert, RHP, Howard (Texas) JC
83. Cole Bedford, C, Texas A&M
84. Hunter Hargrove, 1B, Texas Tech
85. Heath Donica, RHP, Sam Houston State
86. Ryan Merrill, SS, Texas Christian
87. Bernabe Camargo, SS, Galveston (Texas) JC
88. Trey Ochoa, SS, Howard (Texas) CC
89. Parker Towns, RHP, Howard (Texas) JC
90. Luke Shirley, SS, Texas State
91. Jean Carlos Correa, 2B, Alvin JC
92. Michael Smith, OF, San Jacinto (Texas) JC

Corey Julks, OF, Houston
After a slow start, Julks had a great finishing, raising his final slash line to .335/.426/.572 with nine home runs and 15 stolen bases. He put together much more consistent at-bats in the second half of the season, although some scouts are still worried by his bat path. A center fielder this year, he has some defensive versatility and he’s also played second base.

Jared Janczak, RHP, Texas Christian
A draft-eligible sophomore, Janczak missed time this year with a shoulder injury. Upon his return, Janczak went back to carving up lineups with an 87-91 mph fastball and a nasty 77-81 mph slider. He was 9-0, 1.89 with 81 strikeouts and 18 walks in 76 innings after the NCAA regionals.

Austin Listi, 1B/OF, Dallas Baptist
Listi ensured he’ll be a priority senior sign after a monster season that included 22 home runs and a .339/.458/.726 slash line. Listi has shown off his power for years at Dallas Baptist and he is an above-average defender at first base who can also slide to a corner outfield spot, where his above-average arm plays well.

Matt Duce, C, Dallas Baptist
Duce may be a better choice as a senior sign next year, but he is a solid catch-and-throw catcher with questions about his offensive potential.

Blake Pflughaupt, LHP, Galveston (Texas) JC
Pflughaupt, a Texas signee, has touched 95 mph and sits in the low-90s with his fastball. He went 7-6, 3.80 for Galveston with 71 strikeouts in 66.1 innings but also 41 walks.

Kaylor Chafin, LHP, Texas A&M
As an undersized lefty, Chafin arrived at Texas A&M as a freshman and quickly discovered that he wasn’t ready for the Southeastern Conference. He redshirted that year and transferred to Blinn (Texas) JC the next year to get needed innings. Even after that dose of experience, Chafin was used minimally as a redshirt sophomore upon his return to Texas A&M. But this year he took a big step forward as a crafty lefty with an 84-90 mph fastball and an above-average curveball. Chafin also throws a changeup, but his success is largely based around his ability to locate both inside and out with advanced command. He’s a lefty reliever moving forward and, as such, he will have to decide if he’s ready for pro ball as a later-round pick this year or if he wants to wait to be a senior sign.

Lamar Sparks, OF/RHP, Seven Lakes HS, Katy HS
An athletic outfielder with plus speed, Sparks needs to add strength and simplify his swing as he matures.

Tristan Gray, 2B/3B, Rice
Gray has played almost everywhere for the Owls. He’s played third base, first base and left field but his best defensive position is probably second base. Gray has shown some developing power, and his arm strength (he’s been up to 92 mph off the mound) is an asset wherever he plays.

Turner Larkins, RHP, Texas A&M
Larkins missed fall ball and some of this spring recovering from surgery to remove bone spurs in his elbow.  He slid between the rotation and the bullpen upon his return. Larkins sat 88-93 mph this spring with a power curveball his best secondary offering. He has also toyed with a slider and throws a changeup, but both need refinement.

Donny Diaz, RHP, San Jacinto (Texas) JC
Diaz is considered a strong Texas commit, but scouts have kept their eyes on him as the San Jacinto closer showed a 92-95 mph fastball and a 12-to-6 curveball as well as a harder low-80s slider.

Theodore Hoffman, OF, Texas State
Hoffman was the standout for Texas State this year, hitting a team best .349/.406/.614 with 16 home runs and 14 steals. Hoffman doesn’t have a true plus tool and he strikes out too much, but he is a well-rounded player with average power, above-average speed and solid athleticism. His below-average arm will likely limit him to left field as a pro.

Jordan Westburg, SS, New Braunfels (Texas) HS
Westburg, a Mississippi State signee, has some power potential although there are questions whether he will remain at shortstop in college or pro ball.

Heston Kjerstad, OF, Randall HS, Amarillo, Texas
The younger brother of Marlins outfielder Dexter Kjerstad is a speedy center fielder who is committed to Arkansas.

Kacy Clemens, 1B, Texas
One of Roger Clemens’ two sons in Texas’ lineup, Kacy Clemens emerged as a senior as the Longhorns’ most productive hitter. He led the team in batting, home runs and RBIs, as well as on-base percentage and slugging percentage. He is a solid athlete who plays with savvy and has improved as a hitter as he’s matured physically.

Camden Duzenack, SS, Dallas Baptist
A 23rd-round pick of the Phillies in 2016, Duzendack hit 15 home runs this year, showing pop that the shortstop had not shown in games before. He is a reliable defender at shortstop.

Brett Boswell, 3B/2B, Texas
Boswell played a little bit of everywhere in the infield for Texas, but his struggles in conference play (.145/.264/.276) may lead scouts to let the redshirt junior head back to Texas for one more season.

Jakob Hernandez, LHP, UT-Arlington
A big 6-foot-4 lefty who led all junior college pitchers in the state in strikeouts in 2016, Hernandez generates good angle and struck out 89 batters in 79.2 innings.

Ryan Johnson, OF, San Jacinto (Texas) JC
A Kentucky signee, Johnson was one of the most prominent prep prospects in the country early in his high school career, but so far he’s struggle to translate excellent batting practice sessions into game production. Johnson is athletic with significant raw power. He hit .299/.357/.525 this year, but that was on a San Jacinto team that hit .301/.404/.467 overall.

Montana Parsons, RHP, Baylor
A kick back from Texas State who pitched well at San Jacinto (Texas) JC in 2016, Parsons went 5-4, 3.06 this year as a reliable starter for Baylor. He has a solid frame and an 88-92 mph fastball.

Trei Cruz, SS, Episcopal HS, Bellaire, Texas
Cruz is the son of big leaguer Jose Cruz Jr. and the grandson of Astros’ great Jose Cruz Sr. He is a switch-hitting infielder who is seen as a solid Rice signee, as his dad starred their as well.

Zane Gurwitz, OF, Texas
Gurwitz is undersized at 5-foot-8 but is an athletic outfielder/second baseman with plus speed, although it doesn’t play as much on the diamond as it should. He is a potential senior sign who hit .305/.366/.397.

Elliott Barzilli, 3B, Texas Christian
A shortstop at Georgia Tech who transferred to Texas Christian in 2015, Barzilli was one of the better bats in the Horned Frogs lineup as a junior in 2016, hitting .339/.418/.518. Barzilli was drafted by the Astros in the 29th round that year, but opted to return to school. He was expected to be a solid senior sign this year as a versatile infielder with a track record of hitting. Unfortunately, he fell apart at the plate in his senior season, as his slash line cratered to .242/.298/.365. Barzilli often looked lost at the plate in 2017. A scout who believes that he can get back to his 2016 form may still entice a team to pick him as Barzilli does have some defensive value and he has shown fringe-average power. He has an above-average arm at second or third, although he’s a fringy runner and not particularly rangy.

Devlin Granberg, OF, Dallas Baptist
A bat-first left fielder, Granberg began his career at Creighton, transferred to a junior college and ended up at Dallas Baptist this year, where he hit .359/.453/.564. Scouts like his bat, but his lack of plus power may lead to teams to wait until next year when he is a senior.

 Brandon Young, RHP, Howard (Texas) JC
A big 6-foot-6 righthander, Young was effective for Howard this year, striking out 10.4 batters per nine innings thanks to a solid breaking ball.

Cam Haller, C, Marshall (Texas) HS
Haller was a standout running back in high school when he wasn’t shutting down running games from behind the plate. He is more athletic than your average catcher with strength and bat speed.

Herbert Iser, C, San Jacinto (Texas) JC
Iser has the potential to be a power-hitting catcher in pro ball, but he probably needs a little more experience before he goes in the draft.

Isaac Guerrero, RHP, Howard (Texas) JC
Guerrero is a hard-throwing (92-94) righthander with a promising slider.

Riley Richert, RHP, Howard (Texas) JC
Richert throws a power sinker that will sit at 91-92 mph but has touched higher, but he’s also walked more than a batter per inning.

Bernabe Camargo, SS, Galveston (Texas) JC
A solid defender at shortstop, Camargo walked as many times as he struck out this season (23) and hit .393 with four home runs and 18 doubles. He has signed with Texas.

Parker Towns, RHP, Howard (Texas) JC
Towns is a Dallas Baptist signee who sits at 88-92 mph and has a promising slider.

Luke Shirley, SS, Texas State
Shirley is a light-hitting college shortstop, but one with solid on-base skills.

Jean Carlos Correa, 2B, Alvin (Texas) JC
The younger brother of Astros shortstop Carlos Correa burst onto the Texas junior college scene by hitting five doubles and a home run in his first seven games. He cooled down afterwards, but showed some feel for hitting in a .344/.393/.483 season.

Michael Smith, OF, San Jacinto (Texas) JC
Smith a speedy lefthanded-hitting center fielder with plus-plus speed and above-average defense in center. He has signed with Missouri.