2014 MLB draft: 10 high school players on the rise — second edition

Another week of prep baseball is in the books, and more and more teams are starting to get underway as the weather finally warms up. Here are 10 more players who have impressed over the past week, improving their 2014 MLB draft stock:

Tyler Kolek, RHP, Shepherd HS (TX)

With a no-hitter on March 14, in which he struck out 11 batters to no walks over five innings, Kolek now has 35 K/1 BB over 16 hitless innings. He also reportedly hit 102 mph on the radar gun — which would be the main takeaway from this as he obviously isn’t facing great competition. With Carlos Rodon and Jeff Hoffman not exactly dominating the way most thought, the 6’-5”, 240 pound right-hander is now in discussions for the top overall pick in the 2014 MLB draft. Committed to TCU.

Braxton Davidson, OF/1B, Roberson HS (NC)

At 6’-3” and 220 pounds, the left-handed hitting Davidson is already a beast. His power and advanced approach from the left side will land him in the first round of the 2014 MLB draft. His strong arm (92 mph from outfield) would play well in a corner outfield spot, although some believe he could end up at first base where he could be a plus defender. Over five games this season, he has gone 11-for-16 (.688) with four doubles and a home run, and he has yet to strike out. He has shown off his arm by striking out 20 over 10 shutout innings on the mound, allowing just one hit. Committed to North Carolina.

Mac Marshall, LHP, Parkview HS (GA)

On March 14, Marshall struck out 10 to no walks over five no-hit innings. On the season, he now has 25 K/3 BB over 15 innings, allowing just five hits. One of the better southpaws in the 2014 MLB draft, Marshall’s fastball sits in the low/mid 90s, and he has worked hard on his delivery and command over the past year. His curveball also has plus potential. At 6’-2” and 185 pounds, he is a great athlete who has been clocked at 6.7 in the 60. Committed to LSU.

Ti’Quan Forbes, SS, Columbia HS (MS)

One of the better shortstops available in the 2014 MLB draft, scouts wanted to see more from his bat this year. Defensively, his strong arm, plus speed (6.4/60) and instincts should allow him to stick at a premium position. Offensively, he shows raw power and a patient approach at the plate but wasn’t consistent and some mentioned some mechanical issues with his swing. Over 10 games this year, he is hitting .400/.488/.600 with a double, two home runs and five stolen bases. He has already showed more pop in his bat than he did last year and, at 6’-4” and 180 pounds, there is a lot of upside. Committed to Ole Miss.

Alex Destino, OF/LHP, North Buncombe HS (NC)

At 6’-3” and 220 pounds, the left-hander is one of the top two-way talents available in the 2014 MLB draft. On the mound, he has good arm speed and can touch 92 mph with his fastball. He adds a mid-70s slider and low-80s change-up, and he has a lot of projection due to his size and arm speed. At the plate, he has a ton of power and could have more upside as an offensive player. Over five games this season, he is 10-for-20 with three doubles and four home runs already. On the mound, he has 26 K/7 BB over 16 innings. Committed to South Carolina.

Adam Haseley, LHP, The First Academy HS (FL)

A teammate of Foster Griffin, who is gaining first-round attention, Haseley has a lot of upside himself as a left-handed starter and an outfielder. With a fastball that touches 92 mph, as well as a promising breaking ball, he has struck out 28 to just three walks over 13.1 innings this season. At the plate, he has gone 15-for-30 with three doubles, a triple, two home runs and three stolen bases. He runs a 6.51/60 and is a very good athlete — a great sign for projection on the mound. Haseley starred for U18 Team USA Baseball, leading the team with a .484/.515/.800 line. Committed to Virginia.

Greg Deichmann, SS/3B, Brother Martin HS (LA)

Left-handed hitting power shortstops are a nice commodity, and the 6’-2”, 190 pound Deichmann has a chance to stick at short due to his strong arm, speed and instincts in the field. He has excellent bat speed and can put on displays in the cage during batting practice. Even if he ends up at third, the power and arm will play well. Over 12 games, he is hitting .429/.565/1.086 with three doubles, a triple, six home runs and 10 stolen bases, showing off his speed (6.62/60) and athleticism. Committed to LSU.

Sean Reid-Foley, RHP, Sandalwood HS (FL)

Another start, another gem for Reid-Foley. The 6’-4” right-hander struck out 13 over six innings on March 14, allowing two runs on just one hit in a tough loss. He now has 50 K/5 BB over 22 innings, allowing just two runs on three hits. He features a four-pitch mix headlined by a fastball that touches 94 mph and a hammer, upper-70s curve that is one of the best in his class. His slider shows plus potential and his change-up is developing nicely. A ton of upside due to his size, easy delivery and four pitches. Committed to Florida State.

Jeremy Vasquez, OF/1B, Martin County HS (FL)

At 6’-0” and 200 pounds, Vasquez has one of the sweetest swings in his class. With power to all fields, and a patient approach due to his bat speed, there is a lot of potential on the offensive side. He is also a gifted defender at first base with soft hands and great footwork. Over 12 games this season, he is hitting .513/612/.795 with six doubles, a triple and a home run. He has also drawn 10 walks to just two strikeouts, showing his advanced approach at the plate. He is also one of the younger players in his class, giving him more room for projection. Committed to Florida.

Michael Chavis, 3B, Sprayberry HS (GA)

Chavis just continues to mash. The 5’-11”, 190 pound right-hander went 3-for-3 with two more home runs on March 14, upping his total to six over his first 11 games. He is also hitting .656/.738/1.344 with a 2.082 OPS, four doubles and nine stolen bases. He is playing shortstop now, but with his tremendous power, should make a move over to third base where his arm, glove and footwork will play well. Committed to Clemson.

Feel free to follow me on Twitter @DanMKirby for 2014 MLB draft updates, high school and college news, as well as Chicago Cubs ramblings.

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