Draft 13 – Kohl Stewart, Nick Longhi, Dominic Smith, Karsen Lindell
Clayton Shearman http://seedlingstostars.com/2013/01/16/2013-draft-prospect-kohl-stewart-rhp-tx/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter wrote about RH Kohl Stewart:
With that said, Stewart is still a great pitcher. He effortlessly sits in the low to mid 90s, topping out at 97 with his overpowering heater. His fastball is already a plus pitch, with no effort. Stewart also possesses a very hard thrown slider with tight spin and hard tilt. It sits at 86-88 and is considered a plus pitch by many who have seen him. At the moment Stewart is working on refining his change-up to an acceptable level. He has a little bit of feel for the pitch but doesn’t consistently hit his target.
This draft pick will be an interesting one to watch. Stewart is going into his senior year as the odds on favorite to be the first high school pitcher chosen in the draft. The problem is everybody in this kid’s family went to school at TAMU. Family tradition is a pretty hard thing to buck in Texas and a team is going to think twice before calling out this name come next June.
I talked to Venice H.S. (FL) 1B-OF-LHP Nick Longhi, who’s working hard on his preparation for his senior season at Venice. Loghni’s cred is impressive. Perfect Game grades him out at a 10, with a 7.32 60yd, 4.91 H-1st. I asked Nick: “We’re getting down to crunch time before the season starts. What are your final preparations before what might be the most important year in your baseball life?”
Nick was candid:
“My final preparations are just the usual practicing and the weight room but most importantly remembering that this is a game and to go out and enjoy playing it while being competitive and wanting to win another state championship.”
Nathan Rode @BAHighSchool
2013 RHP Zach Winn of Show Low, AZ 87-89, couple 91s. Committed to Howard JC. Reportedly 90-93 on good days. CB has potential.
Kendall Rogers @KendallRogersPG
Not a surprise @ PGMLK as #2 ranked 2013 Dominic Smith (CA) with hits in his 1st 2 at bats. Smith with a walk off run rule double to complete his 4-4 day
Perfect Game USA@PerfectGameUSA-
Very impressive day for 2015 Karsen Lindell (OR) Struck out 10 and up to 89 mph on the mound and 3-4 with a triple at the plate
2014 Denz’l Chapman (CA) with a double to the gap. Always fun to watch him run. Oh and Dominic Smith is now 5-5
Dominic Smith now on the mound running his fastball up to 92 mph!
Todd Gold @TGold_PG
Got my 1st look at 2013 C Jacob Nottingham (Redlands, CA), he is an interesting C prospect, physical build, big bat speed
I really hope Kohl Stewart doesn’t make the bad decision of going to A&M.I know he’s quite the QB prospect.But he’s by every single account the better SP prospect now with much more room to grow on that side then football.Not to mention with Johnny Football at A&M for the next 2 seasons at least.It’s hard for me to imagine that they won’t find another great QB prospect who then takes the job Kohl wanted to win when he first got there 3 years before.Not to mention with the much better health chances and no salary cap which means more money pretty much no matter what it’s hard to deny baseball.
I don’t know Stewart’s feelings on the subject, but I imagine he is going to be drafted high enough to keep him away from Texas A&M. If we were talking about a 3rd or 4th rounder, it might be different, but he is going to be looking at alot of money. I also read somewhere, don’t remember where, that Johnny Football’s success has Kohl leaning more toward baseball.
You’d have to be very naive to think otherwise.We’re talking about a redshirt freshmans first year of starting wins a Heisman.And thats the guy your suppose to step in and compete with for your job? I’m not trying to put Kohl down as a QB prospect in the least bit being #7 in the Country is a Great Accomplishment.But he’s even more touted as a baseball guy #1 HS SP anywhere from 6-10 best player in the entire class.He’s near 100 in most football rankings.
The family thing is a whole diffrent matter entirely.That could be a serious motivator to go but on the otherhand his real reason at this point is either Education or Improving his baseball status by playing for A&M since he wont be starting for them on the football field for at least a little bit.But seeing how that’s pointless because he’s pretty much as high as a player could hope for he’d be making a very poor decision in my opinion.
always follow the money
It’s not so much follow the money as it is make the better life decision.It’s all about calculated risk and I think the MLB offers the safer life choice for him.The injury stuff is apparent unless he doesnt mind not being able to remember how to get home like your 80 something when your really like 45.That’s such a horrible thing to live through.Also MLB has no salary cap so right there alone almost gurantees you more money.Then you add in the factor of Johnny Football winning a Heisman considered by many if not all to be the best QB in the country and that’s the guy you need to beat for a Job and everything.It just makes too much sense if he’s already the better baseball prospect and he still has alot of development left.