The collegiate USA baseball team avenged their only loss in the World Baseball Challenge by defeating Germany 8-1 in the championship. Starting pitcher Drew Pomeranz took a no-hitter into the seventh inning and outfielders Michael Choice and Bryce Bentz, and catcher Yasmani Grandal each hit home runs. The team finished the summer with an impressive 19-5 record. Here is a list of 5 players who impressed the most and could have helped their draft stock for the 2010 MLB Draft:
OF Tyler Holt, Florida State- .371 AVG 14 RBI 19 SB 2 CS 24 BB 12 SO .940 OPS
The speedy leadoff man was tied for the team lead in batting average and what is most impressive is his 2:1 walk to strikeout ratio. Won’t hit for much power but should be an early to mid first round pick in the draft.
SS Christian Colon, Cal State Fullerton- .362 AVG 5 HR 37 RBI 24 SB 2 CS 11 BB 6 SO 1.076 OPS
Although he was injured for the championship game, Colon was by far the best position player for Team USA throughout the summer leading the team in HR, RBI, SB, and OPS all while displaying a great glove at shortstop. Also the captain of the team he is a lock to be chosen with one of the first ten picks in next years draft.
SS/3B Rick Hague, Rice- .371 AVG 3 HR 16 RBI 7 SB 2 CS 6 BB 19 SO .957 OPS
Although he was blocked at his natural position by captain Christian Colon, manager Rick Jones just couldn’t keep his bat out of the lineup, and decided to play him at third base. Hague responded by tying for the team lead in batting average and coming up big in the World Baseball Challenge. He possesses an excellent glove and should be a first round draft pick.
LHP Drew Pomeranz, Mississippi- 4 W 1 L 1.75 ERA 25.2 IP 48 SO 0.91 WHIP
Pomeranz topped off a dominant summer with an outstanding performance against the surprising Germans in the Championship game. The lefty showed off his filthy stuff striking out 48 batters in only 25.2 innings including a ridiculous 17 strikouts in 6 innings against Guatemala on July 1. Perhaps the top college pitcher in the 2010 Draft Pomeranz should hear his name called very early on draft day.
RHP Gerrit Cole, UCLA- 4 W 0 L 1.06 ERA 34.0 IP 46 SO 0.62 WHIP
Eligible for the 2011 MLB Draft, Cole is the only rising sophomore on this list, but he more than held his own as the team’s ace of the staff. The hard throwing righty struck out 46 batters while only allowing 11 hits in 34 innings. He concluded his summer by pitching a complete game two-hitter, shutting out Canada in the semifinals. Chosen by the New York Yankees in the first round of the 2008 Draft, Cole will almost certainly be a Top 5 selection in 2011.
