3.108 Philadelphia Phillies - Cameron Rupp, C, Texas

The Phillies spent the 108th overall pick on Cameron Rupp.

Follow the jump for his pre-draft report.

Cameron Rupp   Position: C   School: Texas   State: TX   Year: Jr.   Height: 6’2’’   Weight: 235

Bats: R   Throws: R   Birth Date: 9/28/88   Seiler Rating: 1C2   Last Drafted: 2007 (PIT-43)

Cameron Rupp is a power-based collegiate catcher from the University of Texas. Rupp originally came to Texas from Prestonwood Christian Academy in Plano, Texas, a suburb of Dallas, and he was a year ahead of fellow Draft Notebook prospect Jordan Swagerty. He was a very good high school prospect, being an AFLAC All-American and even winning the home run derby at that showcase event. However, scouts called into question his ability to hit and his strong college commitment, so he fell to the Pirates in the forty-third round of the draft, not signing a pro contract. He ended up on campus, where he started from day one. He was productive from the get-go, though he didn’t develop any game power until his sophomore year. He has stayed fairly stagnant since then, though, and scouts generally have the same concerns they did three years ago. However, with his tools, they still project him to be a starting catcher one day at the Major League level. At the plate, he’s a below-average hitter that has a few too many holes, and he’s going to strike out a good bit as he sells out for power. He does have plus raw power, though, and that doesn’t grow on trees when it comes to catchers. He’s not very athletic and is a below-average runner, but he’s a hard worker, so most scouts think he’ll keep up with his conditioning. Behind the plate, he’s an above-average receiver with good hands and a plus arm, and if scouts had any doubts about his ability to handle a pitching staff, those were quelled this spring as he caught as many as a dozen future draft picks all year. With his tools, he’s expected to go somewhere in the second to fourth round range, where he should be signable for slot money.