Betances, Kyle Drabek, and Kasey Kiker

by z4 landshark on Apr 21, 2006 10:44 PM EDT

I saw BA's top 20 prospects and didnt see Delin Betances. I am really intrigued by him and was wondering if anyone knew how he was doing this year.

Also, I read this about Kyle Drabek and Kasey Kiker. Kyle Drabek "the Woodlands (Texas) High righthander Kyle Drabek has as much pure physical ability and aptitude as anyone...he delivers a mid-90s fastball and two quality breaking balls with ease...Kasey Kiker of Russell County High (Seale, Ala.) has arguably the best raw arm strength among prep lefthanders. He regularly hits 95-96 mph for the defending national high school champions."

So they are really talented.
But what is alarming is what I read afterwards, "Yet Drabek and Kiker may not go as high as their talent alone would warrant. Scouts have expressed worries about their makeup, both on and off the diamond."(Drabek) will still go in the first round . . . but you better do your homework on him. Kasey Kiker, too," a second AL scouting director said. "On the mound, they're both top 10 picks. But with all the other stuff, it's hard to pick those guys."

Does anyone know what those scouts are referring to?? And how much should or does a prospect's makeup affect him?

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Drabek

I've heard he's really cocky and a jerk. That's about it. But it might manifest itself into not listening to coaches because he thinks he knows all and doesn't need a coach, his Dad won a Cy Young, so he knows what he's doing.

"Chuck Lamar, you're fired"- Stuart Sternburg.

by Tyler on Apr 21, 2006 11:49 PM EDT reply actions

Betances...

letting Betances slip might be a mistake. He's not going to slip past the Yankees at 21 though, that's a bet.

by templeUsox on Apr 22, 2006 12:55 AM EDT reply actions

Betances

He's not in the midseason updated High School Top 20.

by Ienpw on Apr 22, 2006 4:28 AM EDT reply actions

That's because of BA's...

West and South bias.

by templeUsox on Apr 22, 2006 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions

Or maybe it's just...

a down home white boy bias. That's the only reasonable way I can fathom BA's ranking of Pedro Alvarez (who they called similar to Carlos Baerga in stature). Now Alvarez is the best position player in the country, is the next Todd Helton, and is only a freshman. BA looks pretty stupid now, don't they? I thought it was pretty funny actually, that Alvarez was the 102nd ranked player overall player last year before the draft. Then, before the college season, he was only the 10th ranked freshman. 10th! Behind a bunch of misfits that included Justin Bristow, Zach Putnam, and Reese Havens. I wonder if any of those 9 players above him would be Top 3 picks if they were draft-eligible today? Because Pedro Alvarez would be. And I'm pretty sure every semi-competent baseball fan knew that prior to the season. Baseball America just being Baseball America I guess.

by templeUsox on Apr 22, 2006 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions