Chevez Clarke
Rumors

The Los Angeles Angels had a slew of picks in the first and supplemental rounds (five of the Top 40) but after Cam Bedrosian and Chevez Clarke's recent signings, only their first pick high school shortstop Kaleb Cowart remains unsigned. 

Angels first round draft pick Chevez Clarke

High school pitcher Cam Bedrosian the #29 pick of this year's draft signed a $1.116M signing bonus reports Jim Callis of Baseball America.  With the very next pick, the Angeles took high school outfielder Chevez Clarke who Callis reports signed for slightly less than Bedrosian - $1.089M.  In an interesting quirk, both players got $9,000 over the 2009 signing bonus recommendations for the 29th and 30th pick.

For a complete list signings, visit our Draft Pick Signing Bonus page.

After being selected in the first round or supplemental round of the 2010 Draft on June 8th, 2010, teams and players had until August 16th, 2010 at 11:59pm to agree to a signing bonus and begin their professional career or head to college.  The only exception to this rule are college seniors with whom there is no set time table for when they have to sign.

1) Washington: Bryce Harper - $9.9M signing bonus
2) Pittsburgh: Jameson Taillon - $6.5M signing bonus
3) Baltimore: Manny Machado - $5.25M signing bonus
4) Kansas City: Christian Colon - $2,75M signing bonus
5) Cleveland: Drew Pomeranz - $2.65M signing bonus
6) Arizona: Barret Loux - Did not sign, failed physical
7) New York Mets: Matt Harvey - $2.5M signing bonus
8) Houston: Delino DeSheilds Jr. - $2.15M signing bonus
9) San Diego: Karsten Whitson - No contract signed, will attend Florida
10) Oakland: Michael Choice - $2M signing bonus
11) Toronto: Deck McGuire - $2M signing bonus
12) Cincinnati: Yasmani Grandal - $3.2M signing bonus
13) Chicago White Sox: Chris Sale - $1,656M signing bonus
14) Milwaukee: Dylan Covey - Did not sign, will attend San Diego
15) Texas: Jake Skole - $1.557M signing bonus
16) Chicago Cubs: Hayden Simpson - $1.06M signing bonus
17) Tampa Bay: Josh Sale - $1.62M signing bonus
18) Los Angeles Angels: Kaleb Cowart - $2.3M signing bonus
19) Houston: Mike Foltynewicz - $1.3M signing bonus
20) Boston: Kolbrin Vitek - $1.359M signing bonus
21) Minnesota: Alex Wimmers - $1.332M signing bonus
22) Texas: Kellin Deglan - $1M signing bonus
23) Florida: Christian Yelich - $1.7M signing bonus
24) San Francisco: Gary Brown - $1.45M signing bonus
25) St. Louis: Zack Cox - $3.2M signing bonus
26) Colorado: Kyle Parker - $1.4M signing bonus
27) Philadelphia: Jesse Biddle - $1.16M signing bonus
28) Los Angeles Dodgers: Zach Lee - $5.25M signing bonus
29) Los Angeles Angels: Cam Bedrosian - $1.116M signing bonus
30) Los Angeles Angels: Chevez Clarke - $1.089M signing bonus
31) Tampa Bay: Justin O'Conner - $1.025M signing bonus
32) New York Yankees: Cito Culver - $954K signing bonus

Supplemental Round

33) Houston: Michael Kvasnicka - $936K signing bonus
34) Toronto: Aaron Sanchez - $775K signing bonus
35) Atlanta: Matt Lipka - $800K signing bonus
36) Boston: Bryce Brentz - $892K signing bonus
37) Los Angeles Angels: Taylor Lindsey - $873K signing bonus
38) Toronto: Noah Syndergaard - $600K signing bonus
39) Boston: Anthony Ranaudo - $2.55M signing bonus
40) Los Angeles Angels: Ryan Bolden - $829K signing bonus
41) Toronto: Asher Wojciechowski - $814K signing bonus
42) Tampa Bay: Drew Vettleson - $845K signing bonus
43) Seattle: Taijuan Walker - $800K signing bonus
44) Detroit: Nick Castellanos - $3.45M signing bonus
45) Texas: Luke Jackson - $1.557M signing bonus
46) St. Louis: Seth Blair - $751K signing bonus
47) Colorado: Peter Tago - 982,500 signing bonus
48) Detroit: Chance Ruffin - $1.15M signing bonus
49) Texas: Mike Olt - $717K signing bonus
50) St. Louis: Tyrell Jenkins - $1.3M signing bonus

A review of the first round of the 2010 draft.

1) Washington Nationals: Bryce Harper, College of Southern Nevada, C
2) Pittsburgh Pirates: Jameson Taillon, The Woodlands, RHP
3) Baltimore Orioles: Manny Machado, Brito HS, SS
4) Kansas City Royals: Christian Colon, Cal State Fullerton, SS

5) Cleveland Indians: Drew Pomeranz, Ole Miss, LHP
6) Arizona Diamondbacks: Barret Loux, Texas Tech, RHP
7) New York Mets: Matt Harvey, UNC, RHP
8) Houston Astros: Delino DeSheilds Jr., Woodward Park Academy, 2B
9) San Diego Padres: Karsten Whitson, Chipley HS, RHP
10) Oakland As: Michael Choice, UT-Arlington, OF
11) Toronto Blue Jays: Deck McGuire, Georgia Tech, RHP
12) Cincinnati Reds: Yasmani Grandal, Miami, C
13) Chicago White Sox: Chris Sale, Florida Gulf Coast, LHP
14) Milwaukee Brewers: Dylan Covey, Marantha HS, RHP
15) Texas Rangers: Jake Skole, Blessed Trinity HS, OF

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Earlier today we took a look at the players who's draft stock has improved recently.  Now let's look at who's play - and thus draft stock - has suffered.

Michael Huang of the Sporting News filed two reports with players who have fallen a bit.

Moving Down:

Chevez Clarke, Marietta HS, OF

Taking the opposite route of UNC's Matt Harvey and Minnesota's Michael Kvasnicka, Clarke started the year as a highly touted prospect, but has struggled at the plate. 
"Defensively, he's got everything you're looking for in a run-it-down centerfielder," the scout said. "But Chevy just looked overmatched at the plate. Great kid, but there was a lot of swing-and-miss there this year."

Before the season started, his name was being thrown around in the first round, but Clarke may not see his name until the second day at this point.  He'll certainly be drafted, but the question then becomes if Clarke decides to honor his commitment to Georgia Tech and re-enter the draft in 2013 with a hopefully higher draft stock, or if teams will pay for his potential and hope to do the correctional work themselves. 

Said the scout: "He's a hard working kid, smart, articulate. You just wonder if he'll avoid being one of those speed guys who can't hit enough to get on base to use that speed. But there's a lot to work with. He's just had a lot of inconsistency this year."

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In the alleged post-steroids era, teams are taking a broader view on how to evaluate a player's draft stock.  On one hand, traditional ways of evaluating a player in terms of tools remains a viable way to scout a player.  Can a player hit?  Can he run?  Is he a good defender?  How is his arm strength?

On the other hand, unless a team is drafting a five-tool player, there are some risks.  If team's draft a player who's known for his bat and it turns out he can not hit at the professional level, what is the team left with?

One recent alternative is to draft a player with impressive athletic ability, but possibly someone who is lacking the gaudy statistics of a player who has a "plus, plus" bat tool, etc. The theory is that a player who is very athletic is likely to be at least good at most of the tools and if one of them declines in professional ball, the player is able to adapt and easily develop their other tools.  

However, as one special assistant told Jason Churchill of espn.com, "If it a kid isn't a good hitter in high school, he's not likely to become one." 

The question of athletic ability vs. specific talent is most important with high school players who's ability is harder to judge on statistics because of the depressed competition.  So which players will be drafted for their hitting and which for their athletic ability?

Bats

Josh Sale, Blanchet HS, OF
Nick Castellanos, Archbishop McCarthy, 3B

Kris Bryant, Bonanza HS, infielder
Kaleb Cowart, Cook County HS, infielder
Christian Yelich, Westlake HS, 1B

Athletes

Austin Wilson, Harvard-Westlake HS, OF
Chevez Clarke, Marietta HS, OF
Ty Linton, Charlotte Christian, OF

One guy who fits on both sides of the fence is Manny Machado and that's why he's getting so much talk as the #2 overall pick.

To read the entire article, visit espn.com

Talk of the collegiate draft prospects being weak remains prevalent and scouts continue to be impressed with the improving performances of many high school prospects.  "For me, it's all about the high school kids," said one regional crosschecker. 

Jason Churchill of espn.com talked with a number of scouts evaluating prep players to get their take on who's improving.

Adam Plutko, Glendora High School, RHP:

"We had a feeling Plutko might continue to convince everyone he was for real, and he's been better than advertised, and he's made a lot of progress at the same time," said the same cross checker.  In his first 23 IP, he's surrendered just two earned runs and has an impressive 40-7 K/BB ratio.  "He's not your prototypical starting pitcher," the scout continued, "but he's got arm speed and strength and I like his arm action."

Chevez Clarke, Marietta High School, OF

"Chevez is just a really good athlete who is starting to show more baseball skills the more he plays," said the scout. "He's switch hitting and it's coming along real well. He can handle (the bat) and can go get it in the outfield. I think he has a better swing than (LeVon) Washington and has a definite position."

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The 2009 World Wood Bat Association World Championships wrapped up its five day tournament recently in Jupiter, Florida.  With 85 teams in attendance and 13 games going on simultaneously at any one given time, there was plenty of talent that will be picked at the 2010 draft on display. 

One event of the championships that draws a lot of attenion is the Bo Jackson Five-Tool Championship.  Players show off their wares in different "tool" competitions: hitting for power, hitting for average, arm strength, fielding and running speed.  Unfortunately, the hitting competitions were held with metal bats, something professional scouts are not interested in watching.

Chevez Clarke and Kaleb Cowart were two of the standouts from the tool competition.  Specifically, Cowart was clocked with a 100-mph reading throwing from right field, clearly dominanting the "arm strength" tool competition.  Clarke did not have anything stand out quite as significantly as Cowart, but throughout all five tools submitted arguably the top performance. 

Chevez Clarke at the AFLAC All-America Game at Wrigley Field

Unfortunately, top prospect Jameson Taillon did not play at the tournament as many had expected.  For more on the 2009 Wood Bat Association World Championships, check out Baseball America's original report.

Jonathan Mayo from mlb.com posted a report from the AFLAC All-Star game. Let's see what he had to say about some of the 2010 prospects in attendance.

Pitchers

Jameson Taillon, RHP: Hit 95 on both sides of the plate with his fastball along with a plus slider and a developing curveball. Likely Top 10 pick.
Stetson Allie: Needs to learn how to pitch vs. just throw, but hit 97
AJ Cole: Threw his fastball very well, but unimpressive with secondary pitches.
DeAndre Smelter: Very aggressive with hitters, throwing 95-94 with his fastball
Cam Bedrosian: Did not disappoint, but did not impress either.
Peter Tago: He got knocked around a bit, but Mayo says that "scouts liked his arm action." Hit 94 on his fastball with a good slider.

Hitters

Bryce Harper, C: Always the big name wherever he goes, the presumptive #1 pick of the 2010 draft underwhelmed at the game. He'll still likely be the #1 pick, but his swing demonstrated some flaws.
Tony Wolters, SS/2B: A solid defender who can hit for average. Not much power and slow.
Zach Alvord: SS/2B: A very good defender who Mayo compares to Jiovanni Mier.
Reggie Golden, OF: One of the best overall players available for 2010. Showed power, speed and defense.
Yordy Cabrera: A nice swing compliments his good power.
Brian Ragira: Very good plate discipline and had no trouble hitting fastballs.
Chevez Clarke: Disappointed with his speed, but had a nice swing.

Jonathan Mayo of mlb.com has a report from the 2009 East Coast Showcase and highlights who he was told stood out. Mayo claims that there will be several 2010 first round draft picks at the showcase and points to guys like Zach Wheeler, Bobby Borchering, Mike Trout and LeVon Washington

Hitters

• Stetson Allie, RHP/3B: Based off of his 97-92mph fastball and an 91-88mph slider, one would figure his future is as a pitcher. However, his command is below average and some scouts think he'll be a more productive hitter. Either way, he was an impressive athlete.
• Eric Arce, C/1B, Lakeland HS: Called the best hitter at the draft. Demonstrated good power along with an ability to use the entire field. His catching skills are questionable, so he may be a 1B professionally.
• Yordy Cabrera, SS, Lakeland HS: One of the rare prep shortstops who projects as a professional shortstop because of his excellent hands and strong arm. Also has a nice swing that results in solid contact.
• Chevez Clarke, OF/INF, Marietta HS: The epitome of a "tools" player as evidenced by his ability to play almost any position in the infield or outfield.
• Delino DeShields, OF/INF, Woodward HS: Like Bedrosian, he's got a former big league father in Delino DeSheilds Sr. Similar to Clarke, he's got the tools to play several different positions.
• Manny Machado, SS, Miami Brito HS: While he was probably not in the first round discussion before the showcase, he played really well and impressed scouts.

Pitchers

• Cam Bedrosian, RHP, East Coweta HA: Threw fastballs at 95-92 and a 79-77 breaking ball and has a great pedigree with his father as a former major league player.
• AJ Cole, RHP, Ovieda HS: Reminded scouts of Rick Porcello and threw up to 96 mph
• DeAndre Smelter, RHP, Tatnall HS: Draws comparisons to Edwin Jackson displaying a 95-92 mph fastball and a 77-75 breaking ball.
• Karsten Whitson, RHP, Chipley HS: Has thrown up to 96 mph, but only reached 92 at the showcase. Nevertheless, he still threw a solid breaking ball clocking in at 81-78.
• Bobby Wahl, RHP, West Springfield HS: Mayo downplays Wahl's ability by saying that he's riding on his command right now. He defends Wahl by by saying he still has plenty of "stuff." Frankly, I'd rather have the control.