clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

2014 MLB Draft: The Midwest

New, 1 comment

There is plenty of talent in the midwest. From impact bats at the top to depth in mid rotation arms, the Midwest is strong this year.

Most of the talent in the midwest is prep talent but Casey Gillaspie is a potential star and could be a quick impact bat. His power could be a game changer. Monte Harrison is an impact athlete and is one of the few players that are football prospects as well. He is a WR committed to Nebraska. There are some middle of the rotation type arms with potential for more that don't get the attention some others do, such as Jake Godfrey, Alex Lange, Bryce Montes De Oca and Brett Graves. There is solid depth in this group.

If you appreciate my work and want more of it now and in the future, support me by purchasing the 2014 MLB Draft Book. It will be available between May 19th and May 30th. The longer it takes, the more that will be in it. It's $4.99. PDF only. Last year it was 101 pages and will be larger this year with articles and information.

Name POS hi lvl Floor Ceiling Bats Throws Height Weight Birthdate
Monte Harrison RF HS 30 70 Right Right 6'2" 195 8/10/95
Big swing, good contact ability, speed, power. Great athlete. Old for the draft. Plays football and is one of the only top football prospects in the draft. Reminds me of Torii Hunter.
Casey Gillaspie 1B JR 40 65 Both Left 6'4" 230 1/25/93
Power hitting switch hitter. Better bat than his big league brother. Tied to 1B so bat must play. Looks like it will. Huge power, excellent approach and good contact ability. Could be a star.
Jake Godfrey P HS 35 60 Right Right 6'3" 215 1/12/96
Power arm potential. Big frame. Hits 94. Durable build. Over the top release creates heavy pitch. Two different breaking balls; both are nasty.
Jakson Reetz C HS 40 55 Right Right 6'1" 195 1/3/96
Loaded with the tools needed to succeed.  Quick, strong swing. Has now skills but nothing eye popping. Best prep catcher in draft. Will stick up the middle if not at catcher. Has the athleticism to play anywhere. Gamer.
Evan Skoug C HS 30 60 Left Right 5'11" 200 10/21/95
Kyle Schwarber of the prep class. Less guaranteed but more likely to stick at catcher. Can hit the ball a mile. Really aggressive hack may need some tweaking.
Bryce Montes De Oca P HS 25 60 Right Right 6'8" 265 4/23/96
Gigantic righty. Up to 97 with wiggle in the past. Had TJS just over a year ago. Been 88-96 this spring off TJS. Not a good athelte. Will struggle repeating/changing delivery. Shows a breaking ball and change but need work.
Shane Benes LF HS 35 55 Right Right 6'3" 200 2/16/96
All around talent with good bloodlines. Can hit for power, run, throw and hit above average. Shows three pitches on the mound as well. Torn ACL has him likely headed for college.
Alex Lange P HS 30 55 Right Right 6'3" 210 10/2/95
Powerful build. Built like a workhorse. Has a low 90's fastball, an excellent and a good split change. Could be a mid-rotation guy, maybe a #2.
Brett Graves P JR 40 50 Right Right 6'1" 190 1/30/93
Command and control pitcher. Can touch 95 but works in the low 90's at his best. Slider and change could both be average but are inconsistent. Strike throwet looks like a back of the rotation guy with mid-rotation upside.
Sam Coonrod P JR 35 50 Right Right 6'2" 180 9/22/92
Big arm. Up to 97 and sits 95-97. Drop and drive delivery causes his stuff to flatten out and make him hittable. Slider works but nothing special. Future reliever.
Tanner Houck P HS 30 50 R R 6'5" 210
Long legs and high waist. Low 3/4 delivery gives him sink and armside movement. Has a hard time with breaking ball but should throw a hard slider with his arm speed and slot.
James Norwood P JR 30 50 Right Right 6'2" 200 12/24/1993
Low 90's fastball can hit 95. Good breaking ball. Shows a change. Could be a solid back of the rotation starter.
Keith Grieshaber SS HS 30 50 Right Right 6'1" 185 6/29/95
Good swing. Quick bat.  Good all around player
Ross Kivett 2B SR 40 45 Right Right 6'1" 190 10/19/1991
Good athelte who has played CF and 2B. Smart player. Gets the most out of his tools. Good hitter. I like him. Good senior sign.
Dylan Kelly C SR 40 45 L R 6/1 195 6/5/1991
Excellent framing catcher. Smart. Calls his own pitches. Great defender.
Darius Day CF HS 30 45 Left Left 5'11" 180 8/24/94
Smooth swing with bat speed, runs well
Simeon Lucas C HS 30 45 Left Right 6'2" 205 2/7/96
Uppercut swing. Decent contact and plus power potential.
Max Murphy OF JR Right Right 5'11" 195
Eric Anderson P SR Right Right 6'5" 195 10/19/90
Jack Benninghoff LF HS Right Right 6'1" 190 7/14/95
Line drive swing. Solid hitter. Good hard swing. Very impressive back spin.
Connor McKay OF JR Right Right 6'4" 195 10/10/92
Connor Goedert 3B J2 R R 6/3 200 12/14/93
Keaton Steele P JR Right Right 6'3" 225 10/30/91
Austin Darby OF JR L R 6/3 205 10/7/1992
Jacob Peter 2B JR Left Right 6'1" 185 4/5/1993
Jake Latz P HS Right Left 6'2" 185 4/8/96
88 FB t89, CB 72, 1/7, rolls over the breaking ball but it can be good. Projection remaining. 79-81 CH, good fade.
Dan Savas P JR Right Right 6'5" 220 7/11/1992
Jeremy Rhoades P JR Right Right 6'4" 225 2/12/1993
Brad Bass P HS R R 6'6" 215 2/15/96
Nice change. Sl 80-82, fb 88-90 t91, nice arm side run.
Mark Reyes P JR Right Left 6'1" 185 10/8/92
Wes Benjamin P JR Right Left 6'2" 175 7/26/93
Cody Whiting RHP J1 R R 6/4 195
TYLER WILLMAN P JR Right Right 6'6" 190 10/8/92
Collin Yelich C J2 Left Right 6'3" 195 10/1/93
Colby Fitch C HS Left Right 5'11" 195 7/27/95
Showed good bat speed, ball comes off well
Kyle Kubat P JR Right Left 6'1" 160 12/4/92
Paul DeJong C/3B SO R R 6/1 190
Jacob Hendren LHP/1B J2 L L 6/2 180 6/23/1993
Elijah Dilday SS HS L R 6'1" 195
Joe Marciano LHP J1 R L 6/4 235
Kyle Ruchim P SR Right Right 5'10" 175 8/11/92
Matt Tellor 1B SR B R 6'5" 205
Robert Kahana P JR Right Right 6'1" 180 5/16/93
Michael Hollenbeck C SR Left Right 6'2" 205 6/4/92
Sam Hilliard 1B/LHP J1 L L 6/5 215
Dane Gronewald P JR Left Left 6'5" 220 2/9/92
Todd Eaton RHP SR R R 6/2 195 5/9/1992
David Kerian SS JR Both Right 6'2" 185 2/9/93
Demetre Taylor OF SO L L 6/4 240
Ryan Lenaburg RHP JR R R 6/4 195
Clayton Custer SS SR L R 6/1 165
Aaron Schnurbusch LHP/OF J2 R R 6/4 215
Lance Barkley OF J2 R R 6/3 185
Shane Conlon 1B JR L L 6/1 180 2/27/92
Brennan Henry P JR Left Left 6'4" 200 10/23/91
Taylor Elman RHP SO R R 6/3 180
Michael Suiter OF JR Right Right 6'1" 193 4/9/92
Matt Fultz C SO Left Right 6'1" 215 7/28/93
Zack Engelken P HS Right Right 6'4" 200 11/10/95
Phillip Diehl LHP J2 L L 6/2 180
Nick Bates RHP JR R R 6/1 190
Nathan Winfrey 3B J1 R R 6/2 205
Galli Cribbs SS JR L R 6/1 160
Dakota Smith OF JR Right Right 5'11" 180 9/25/92
Kyle Reed P HS R R 6'1" 195 2/11/92
Gabe Jelley RHP HS R R 6'3" 220
Isaac Sampen SS J2 Right Right 6'1" 185 6/14/93
Chase Simpson 3B JR B R 6/1 210 2/17/1992
Trey Turner OF HS R R 6'1" 182 6/15/1996
Hunter Hart RHP SS HS R R 6'3" 180
Chance Sinclair P JR R R 6'4" 180 10/20/92
MITCH MEYER OF JR L R 6/2 195 2/18/1992
Cale Elam P SR Right Right 6'2" 195 9/22/90
Alec Sole SS JR L R 6'1" 170 6/1/93
Ryan Daniels RHP SR R R 6/5 205
Christian Deleon RHP SR R R 6/4 200 5/21/1992
T.J. Martin C SR R R 6/1 205 9/29/1995
Mike Papierski C HS S R 6'3" 205
Micah Green OF SR Right Right 6'2" 215 11/2/90
Tanner Lubach C JR R R 6' 165 11/21/92
Chad Spanberger C HS L R 6'3" 215 11/1/95
Joe Greenfield P SR Right Right 6'4" 215 12/3/91
Jake Whaley RHP JR R R 6/5 240 5/17/1993
Matt Borens RHP JR R R 6/8 195 2/10/1993
Brandon Zywicki RHP JR R R 6/1 185
Ronald Mustain RHP SR R R 6/1
JOE CLAVER P JR Left Left 6'2" 185 10/9/91
Brant Valach 3B JR R R 6/2 205
Austin Jarvis C SR R R 5/9 190 4/14/1992
Tomas Michelson RHP JR L R 6/4 190
Derek Gibson OF SR L R 6/3 220 2/25/1991
Pat Kelly IF JR Right Right 5'10" 165 11/19/92
Tyler Burgess LHP JR L L 6/1 185 3/30/1993
Jameson Henning SS SO R R 6/3 185 6/8/1993
Frank Duncan P SR Right Right 6'4" 195 1/30/92
Anthony Miller 1B/RHP J1 L R 6/4 240
Austin Christensen P JR L L 6'5" 190 10/5/93
Drasen Johnson RHP JR R R 6/3 200 12/23/1991
Jordan Piche RHP SR R R 5/11 180 9/3/1991
Isaac Leuth RHP J1 R R 6/6 205
Clayton Taylor 3B SO L R 6/4 200
Travis Hayes RHP JR R R 6/3 190 4/6/1992
Tommy Strunc RHP SO R R 6/1 195
Eric Cheray 2B JR R R 6/3 185 12/11/1992
Dylan Christie 1B/RHP J2 L R 6/5 240
Aaron Bummer P JR L L 6/3 200 9/21/1993
Brandon Magallones P JR R R 6/3 185 1/19/93
Kris Molter 3B J2 R R 6/2 185 4/4/1994
Alex Klonowski RHP/OF SR R R 6/4 185 4/1/1992
Byron Hood P HS R R 6'2" 175 5/31/95
Joey Coonrod RHP J2 R R 6/2 200
Storm Rynard P HS R R 6'1" 170
Tyler Tucker OF J1 L L 6/1 185
Trenton Hill LHP/1B J2 L L 6/4 215
A.J.  Ladwig P JR R R 6/5 200 12/24/1992
Chase Rader SS J2 R R 6/1 200 1/17/1994
Ryan Rippee 1B SO R R 6/5 225 4/19/1994
Zach Hirsch LHP SR L L 6/4 210 3/18/1991
Dillon White C J1 R R 6/2 200
Kaiana Eldredge 2B SR Right Right 6' 190 8/3/91
Trent Liemkuehler OF J2 R R 6/1 180
Kyle Simonds RHP J2 R R 6/4 190
Michael Gerber OF SR Left Right 6'2" 175 5/8/92
Cody Schumacher RHP SR R R 6/1 205 12/1/1990
Robert Greco RHP Sr. R R 6/3 200 4/19/1991
Joe Ceja RHP J2 R R 6/5 240 9/15/1992
Josh Fuentes SS JR R R 6/2 200
Adam Schemenauer P JR Left Left 6'9" 215 3/28/93
Chris Godinez 2B SO R R 5/9 190
Danny Brennan OF SR L R 6/2 205 1/16/1992
Jacob Webb RHP SR R R 6/1
Anthony Herron Jr. RHP HS R R 6'2" 197
Keith Mahler P JR R R 6'6" 185 9/6/1992
Kirk Rocha OF SR R R 5/11 175
Dylan Craig LHP SO R L 6/1 205 5/1/1993
Tanner Gragg C HS R R 6'1" 195 10/11/95
Ryan Ralston RHP 3B HS R R 6'4" 210
Mitch Trees C HS R R 6'2" 195 7/18/1995
Rahman Williams SS HS S R 5'11" 170 12/14/95
Brady Feigl P HS Right Right 6'5" 210 11/27/1995
Brad Archer P HS R R 6'1" 170 8/9/1995
JAKE PLACZEK SS SO R R 5/10 175
Tyler Harris C SO Right Right 6'1" 200 6/26/93
Austin Fisher HS R R 6'1" 170 1/8/1993

Name College team College Commitment Hometown state
Monte Harrison Nebraska Lee's Summit, MO MO
Casey Gillaspie Wichita State Wichita State Omaha, NE KS
Jake Godfrey Notre Dame New Lenox, IL IL
Jakson Reetz Nebraska Hickman, NE NE
Evan Skoug TCU Libertyville, IL IL
Bryce Montes De Oca Missouri Lawrence, KS KS
Shane Benes Missouri Town and Country, MO MO
Alex Lange Louisiana State Lee's Summit, MO MO
Brett Graves Missouri Missouri St. Charles, MO MO
Sam Coonrod Southern Illinois Southern Illinois Carrolton, IL IL
Tanner Houck Missouri Collinsville, IL IL
James Norwood St. Louis St. Louis New York, NY MO
Keith Grieshaber Arkansas St. Louis, MO MO
Ross Kivett Kansas State Kansas State Cincinnati, OH KS
Dylan Kelly Missouri Roswell, GA MO
Darius Day Arizona Chicago, IL IL
Simeon Lucas Illinois State Ingleside, IL IL
Max Murphy Bradley Bradley Robbinsdale, MN IL
Eric Anderson Missouri Missouri Highlands Ranch, CO MO
Jack Benninghoff Arkansas Overland Park, KS MO
Connor McKay Kansas Kansas Parker, CO KS
Connor Goedert Neosho County Kansas State Ottawa, KS KS
Keaton Steele Missouri Missouri St. Joseph, MO MO
Austin Darby Nebraska Colorado Springs, CO NE
Jacob Peter Creighton Creighton Mason City, IA NE
Jake Latz Louisiana State Lemont, IL IL
Dan Savas Illinois State Illinois State Melrose Park, IL IL
Jeremy Rhoades Illinois State Illinois State Wheaton, IL IL
Brad Bass Notre Dame New Lenox, IL IL
Mark Reyes Southern Mississippi Crowder Hot Springs Village, AR MO
Wes Benjamin Kansas Kansas St. Charles, IL KS
Cody Whiting Sam Houston State Tomball, TX MO
TYLER WILLMAN Western Illinois Western Illinois Osh Kosh, WI IL
Collin Yelich Orange Coast Orange Coast Thousand Oaks, CA NE
Colby Fitch Louisville Rocheport, MO MO
Kyle Kubat Nebraska Nebraska Waterloo, NE NE
Paul DeJong Illinois State Antioch, IL IL
Jacob Hendren Illinois State Normal, IL IL
Elijah Dilday Nebraska St. Charles, MO MO
Joe Marciano Chicago, IL IL
Kyle Ruchim Northwestern Northwestern Lincolnshire, IL IL
Matt Tellor Southeast Missouri State Southeast Missouri State Sarasota, FL MO
Robert Kahana Kansas Kansas Ewa Beach, HI KS
Michael Hollenbeck Illinois State Illinois State Plainfield, IL IL
Sam Hilliard Wichita State Mansfield, TX MO
Dane Gronewald Missouri Baptist Missouri Baptist Winfield, MO MO
Todd Eaton Southern Illinois Greenville, IL IL
David Kerian Illinois Illinois Sioux City, IA IL
Demetre Taylor Eastern Illinois Tampa, FL IL
Ryan Lenaburg Southeast Missouri State Sentinel, OK MO
Clayton Custer Iowa State (BKB) KS
Aaron Schnurbusch Pittsburgh Eureka, MO KS
Lance Barkley Topeka, KS KS
Shane Conlon Kansas State Kansas State Naperville, IL KS
Brennan Henry Northeastern Bellevue Denver, CO NE
Taylor Elman Creighton Omaha, NE NE
Michael Suiter Kansas Kansas Honolulu, HI KS
Matt Fultz Missouri State Missouri State Lee's Summit, MO MO
Zack Engelken Nebraska Overland Park, KS KS
Phillip Diehl Louisiana Tech Cincinnati, OH IL
Nick Bates St. Louis Orland Park, IL MO
Nathan Winfrey Liberty, MO MO
Galli Cribbs Bellevue Sugar Land, TX NE
Dakota Smith Kansas Kansas Leavenworth, KS KS
Kyle Reed Missouri State Blue Springs, MO MO
Gabe Jelley John A. Logan College Mulkeytown, IL IL
Isaac Sampen Parkland Eastern Illinois Brownsburg, IN IL
Chase Simpson Wichita State Flower Mound, TX KS
Trey Turner Crowder College Seneca, MO MO
Hunter Hart Indiana St. Joseph, IL IL
Chance Sinclair Nebraska Nebraska Spring Hill, KS NE
MITCH MEYER Kansas State Kansas State Stillwell, KS KS
Cale Elam Wichita State Wichita State Oktaha, OK KS
Alec Sole St. Louis St. Louis Holbrook, NY MO
Ryan Daniels SIU Edwardsville St. Louis, MO IL
Christian Deleon Nebraska Bellville, TX NE
T.J. Martin Kansas Gardner, KS KS
Mike Papierski Louisiana State Lemont, IL IL
Micah Green Wichita State Wichita State Aurora, CO KS
Tanner Lubach Nebraska Nebraska Lincoln, NE NE
Chad Spanberger Arkansas Granite City, IL IL
Joe Greenfield Eastern Illinois Eastern Illinois Orland Park, IL IL
Jake Whaley Kansas State Marshalltown, IA KS
Matt Borens Eastern Illinois Eastern Illinois Monee, IL IL
Brandon Zywicki Missouri Baptist Rochester, MN MO
Ronald Mustain Tabor Camdenton, MO KS
JOE CLAVER Illinois State Illinois State Downers Grove, IL IL
Brant Valach Eastern Illinois Orland Park, IL IL
Austin Jarvis Bradley Elgin, IL IL
Tomas Michelson Illinois-Chicago Naperville, IL IL
Derek Gibson Southeast Missouri State Bonne Terre, MO MO
Pat Kelly Nebraska Nebraska Red Wing, MN NE
Tyler Burgess Missouri State Webb City, MO MO
Jameson Henning Western Illinois Janesville, WI IL
Frank Duncan Kansas Kansas San Francisco, CA KS
Anthony Miller Overland Park, KS KS
Austin Christensen Nebraska Nebraska Cedar Rapids, IA NE
Drasen Johnson Illinois Chillicothe, IL IL
Jordan Piche Kansas Greeley, CO KS
Isaac Leuth De Soto, KS KS
Clayton Taylor Nebraska-Omaha Omaha, NE NE
Travis Hayes Southeast Missouri State Festus, MO MO
Tommy Strunc Creighton Highlands Ranch, CO NE
Eric Cheray Missouri State Topeka, KS MO
Dylan Christie Overland Park, KS KS
Aaron Bummer Nebraska Nebraska Peoria, AZ NE
Brandon Magallones Northwestern Northwestern Manhattan, IL IL
Kris Molter Jacksonville, FL KS
Alex Klonowski Northern Illinois Kearney, MO IL
Byron Hood Nebraska Roca, NE NE
Joey Coonrod Carrollton, IL IL
Storm Rynard Arkansas Raymore, MO KS
Tyler Tucker Arvada, CO KS
Trenton Hill Arkansas Bentonville, AR MO
A.J.  Ladwig Wichita State Wichita State Omaha, NE KS
Chase Rader Wichita State Shawnee, KS KS
Ryan Rippee Jefferson College Jefferson College Kickapoo, MO MO
Zach Hirsch Nebraska St. Charles, IL NE
Dillon White Oklahoma State Sterling, OK KS
Kaiana Eldredge Kansas Honolulu, HI KS
Trent Liemkuehler St. Louis Washington, MO MO
Kyle Simonds Grand Island, NE KS
Michael Gerber Creighton Creighton Naperville, IL NE
Cody Schumacher Missouri State Topeka, KS MO
Robert Greco Nebraska Nebraska Papillion, NE NE
Joe Ceja Ottawa, IL IL
Josh Fuentes Missouri Baptist Trabuco Hills, CA MO
Adam Schemenauer Central Missouri Louisville Parkville, MO MO
Chris Godinez Bradley Lake Bluff, IL IL
Danny Brennan St. Louis St. Peters, MO MO
Jacob Webb Tabor Riverside, CA KS
Anthony Herron Jr. St. Louis, MO MO
Keith Mahler Heartland CC Heartland Highland, IN IL
Kirk Rocha Tabor Modesto, CA KS
Dylan Craig Illinois State Murphysboro, IL IL
Tanner Gragg Kansas Overland Park, KS KS
Ryan Ralston Kansas Overland Park, KS KS
Mitch Trees Louisville Springfield, IL IL
Rahman Williams Michigan Matteson, IL IL
Brady Feigl Mississippi Chesterfield, MO MO
Brad Archer Missouri State Lebanon, MO MO
JAKE PLACZEK Nebraska Nebraska La Vista, NE NE
Tyler Harris Missouri State Missouri State Springdale, AR MO
Austin Fisher Santa Clara Lafayette, CA KS