June 9, 2009 at 11:06 PM
Best Available Players for Day Two
Day One of the 2009 MLB Amateur Player Draft is in the books, and after 111 selections and three rounds several highly-rated players will still be available when Day Two begins tomorrow. Headlining the crop of available talent is Yuba City High School catcher Max Stassi, a polished, five-tool catcher that has an above-average bat with power to all fields. Stassi is ranked #30 by Baseball America and #31 by PG Crosschecker. After hitting .538 with 11 home runs and 38 RBI during his senior season, Stassi had been rumored to be in the mix when the Red Sox selected in the first round, but Boston instead drafted Puerto Rican outfielder Reymond Fuentes.
Also available is lefthanded first baseman Jeff Malm out of Bishop Gorman High School in Las Vegas, Nevada. Malm, who hit .564 with 17 home runs, 69 RBI, and 16 steals in 133 at-bats during his senior season, is one of the top all-around hitters in the 2009 class with a sweet left-handed stroke and pull power who is also a good defender at first base. The 6'3" 215-pound lefty is ranked #59 by Baseball America and # 39 by PG Crosschecker and is committed to the University of Southern California. Other notable available players include University of South Carolina righthanded pitcher Sam Dyson (#38 BA, #42 PG), Louisiana prep school righthander Brody Colvin (#43 BA, #46 PG), Texas A&M lefthanded pitcher/outfielder Brooks Raley (#82 BA, #47 PG), Florida prep school righthander Keyvius Sampson (#47 BA, #49 PG), and South Carolina prep school righthander Madison Younginer (#45 BA, #50 PG).