Other Vanderbilt commits– Boston loves to draft players committed to Vanderbilt. Just keep in mind that a lot of the time, these players will not end up signing. Often the club just wants to get an early look at, and get to know, potential draftees for three years down the road. In addition to Braxton Garrett, Ian Anderson and Jackson Gillis, eligible prep draftees who could be selected after the 10th round include OF JJ Bleday, OF Kobie Taylor, C Tyler Duvall, RHP Joe Fulcher, RHP Reid Schaller, LHP Zachary King, SS Harrison Ray, 3B Alex Brewer, and LHP Michael Sandborn.
Jackson Gillis, LHP, Willmington (Mass.) High School - Already measuring in at 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, Gillis looks the part. Jackson was a two-way player in high school, also playing first base, and is the top-ranked high school draft prospect from Massachusetts according toPerfect Game USA. He will be a very difficult late signing as he is committed to Vanderbilt.
Braxton Garrett, LHP, Florence (Ala.) High School - Garrett is committed to Vanderbilt, typically a sign that he will be tougher to sign than a typical high school player. Like Hudson, he has taken a big step forward this year while adding velocity. Along with the improved fastball, he has one of the best curveballs in the high school class and a developing changeup that has started to show promise. He pitched for U-18 Team USA last fall, and historically the Red Sox have liked Team USA players and Vanderbilt commits. The potential for three average-or-better pitches combined with good command for a high schooler and strong performances at some of the bigger showcases have made him one of the top high school arms.
Ian Anderson, RHP, Shenendohwa (N.Y.) High – Anderson could be the complete package, with a projectable frame, fastball that gets up to 95 mph, plus curveball, and very good command. He has not needed to use a changeup to overmatch the New York prep competition, and pitching in New York, combined with a minor injury and illness, has meant that scouts have gotten limited looks at him. Like Garrett, Anderson is committed to Vanderbilt, and he is rumored to have high bonus demands. That, combined with scouts limited looks, may cause him to fall a bit more than he otherwise would.
In 2009, we projectedReymond Fuentes(1st round),David Renfroe(3rd round), andSeth Schwindenhammer(5th round) as potential high picks, and notedMike Yastrzemski(36th round) as a local product who could get drafted by the Sox in the later rounds. In 2008, while we admittedly listed several names in our preview, we nailed nine inCasey Kelly(1st),Peter Hissey (4th),Ryan Westmoreland(5th),Ryan Lavarnway(6th),Tim Federowicz(7th),Alex Meyer (20th),Anthony DeSclafani(22nd),Seth Garrison(23rd), andMatt Marquis(29th), all of whom were selected by Boston
Jackson Gillis, LHP, Willmington (Mass.) High School - Already measuring in at 6-foot-3 and 225 pounds, Gillis looks the part. Jackson was a two-way player in high school, also playing first base, and is the top-ranked high school draft prospect from Massachusetts according toPerfect Game USA. He will be a very difficult late signing as he is committed to Vanderbilt.
Braxton Garrett, LHP, Florence (Ala.) High School - Garrett is committed to Vanderbilt, typically a sign that he will be tougher to sign than a typical high school player. Like Hudson, he has taken a big step forward this year while adding velocity. Along with the improved fastball, he has one of the best curveballs in the high school class and a developing changeup that has started to show promise. He pitched for U-18 Team USA last fall, and historically the Red Sox have liked Team USA players and Vanderbilt commits. The potential for three average-or-better pitches combined with good command for a high schooler and strong performances at some of the bigger showcases have made him one of the top high school arms.
Ian Anderson, RHP, Shenendohwa (N.Y.) High – Anderson could be the complete package, with a projectable frame, fastball that gets up to 95 mph, plus curveball, and very good command. He has not needed to use a changeup to overmatch the New York prep competition, and pitching in New York, combined with a minor injury and illness, has meant that scouts have gotten limited looks at him. Like Garrett, Anderson is committed to Vanderbilt, and he is rumored to have high bonus demands. That, combined with scouts limited looks, may cause him to fall a bit more than he otherwise would.
In 2009, we projectedReymond Fuentes(1st round),David Renfroe(3rd round), andSeth Schwindenhammer(5th round) as potential high picks, and notedMike Yastrzemski(36th round) as a local product who could get drafted by the Sox in the later rounds. In 2008, while we admittedly listed several names in our preview, we nailed nine inCasey Kelly(1st),Peter Hissey (4th),Ryan Westmoreland(5th),Ryan Lavarnway(6th),Tim Federowicz(7th),Alex Meyer (20th),Anthony DeSclafani(22nd),Seth Garrison(23rd), andMatt Marquis(29th), all of whom were selected by Boston
