D3 draftees

If you go back over the last several years, you will see that of the 20 or so DIII draftees each year, 60-70% of them will be pitchers and the balance will be position players.
In and of itself, that tells you that scouts can measure velocity and use that to translate to Milb for draft purposes.
They just don't have that same level of certainty, other than speed and arm strength for position players.
When MLB used to post scouting information on the draft board, you would see phrases like "plays the game hard" or "plays the game the right way" used for some DIII position players.
You would see "knows the game and plays it right" also used.
Versatility and the ability to play multiple positions, and play them well, can be huge for the DIII potential draftee.
Some scouts who met with our son numerous times talked about what occurred in Summer leagues and what they could see on the field, and included "passion," "desire," "intensity" and "heart" in some of the comments.

Hitting .350 is a good batting average for college. But even in D1 it's not awesome. It's still about tools and projectability.

On the other side of the pitch, through TRHit I discovered a D3 pitcher I'll follow. It's Tim Kiely of Trinity (CT). The kid throws upper 80's with incredible command. He walked two in almost one hundred innings his senior year. He pitched so well the first few weeks of Rookie Short Season he was promoted to Low A. A lot of studs weren't promoted that quickly. How did the kid move up so fast. He got hitters out and walked none.

I don't know if Kiely ever played in the New England Collegiate Baseball League during the summer. D3's can prove themselves against D1 players in summer ball.

From what I have observed, D3 position players who are drafted often hit closer to .500 than .350. FWIW...

Also check our Kurt Yacko, drafted in the 8th round in 2008 out of Chapman. He is in the Rockies organization.
While he did not move up this past Summer, he sure dominated in the Pioneer league, as he did at Chapman, and as he did for Green Bay in the Northwoods in 2007.
Next Spring, check out Evan Bronson of Trinity, Tx.
He was in the Cape this past Summer after the Brewers picked him in the 36th round in June, but did not sign. If Evan, a lefty, can pick up 2-3mph in velocity, he has huge upside.

quote:

Originally posted by ClevelandDad:
From what I have observed, D3 position players who are drafted often hit closer to .500 than .350. FWIW...

CD, you are correct.
There is a little variation. If the player is competing in one of the top DIII leagues, like the NJAC?? (the one in New Jersey ) you will see some kids with below .400 averages get picked. But you will also see a number of other players picked from that same league so there is history for scouts. Marietta in your area also has similar experience.
But is isn't just the BA. It is the progression of the BA from freshman to junior/senior year. Is the player getting measurably better every year or has he topped out/hit a plateau?
Power numbers, not necessarily HR, but overall power numbers and progression every year are also very important measures for the DIII to be drafted.
I believe it is critical for the DIII player to show he is getting better and has much more to go when the draft occurs that is a very important consideration.

Infielddad,

Nice to see that Evan Bronson is doing so well. He is from Midlothian, VA! And his younger brother was on Midlo Son's travel team for many years, so we know the family well. Glad to hear the trip west was the right move for the lefty!

Which Cape team was he with last summer?

Evan had a wonderful summer with the Brewster Whitecaps.
While a certain coach I know is "worried" Trinity may go 0-40 next Spring, Evan, ILVBB's son, and now Krakatoa's son, amongst others, may well end up driving that team into Wisconsin next May for the DIII CWS.
Our son absolutely raves of Evan Bronson and his potential in professional baseball

Another 'DIII Guy' who has made himself known is '08 graduate Brian Oates (just happens to be another Trinity TX Univ pitcher ) . He finished the summer in the Appalachian League (Pulaski/Mariners) with very solid stats: 58.2 IP, 3.84 ERA, with 60 K's overall.

infielddad, sent you a PM

Add another, Kenny Moreland from Christopher Newport University, undrafted but signed as a free agent with the Orioles a couple hours after the draft. Moreland led the Rookie League Bluefield Orioles staff, walking only 6 in 70 innings, and was rewarded with a late season promotion to High A Frederick. He was the only Orioles rookie pitcher promoted from Bluefield in September.