Rock Rucker is a 6-5 LHP out of Georgia who is getting a lot of attention out there. The experts have all written positively about him:
From Perfect Game:
Rock Rucker is a 2012 OF/LHP with a 6-5 225 lb. frame from Marietta, GA who attends Redan HS. Outstanding physical build, low waist, very good strength throughout. Two way prospect. 6.82 runner, easy OF actions, accurate on line throws, low release point, can get on top of ball better but will throw runners out. Open stance hitting, low hands, quick short swing, uses strength well, leverage at contact, squares the ball up and it jumps, could extend better for lift but short swing notable for his size, very good game swings vs. velocity. Shows arm strength on the mound, funky arm/hand action on delivery, drifts out, quick arm catches up well, compact low release point. Fastball to 90 mph, has hit 92 since the PG National, shows good bite on curveball, pitched to spots with both pitches and had good mound presence. Has really improved over the last year in his skills. Type of prospect scouts can dream on a bit. Good student.
From MLBDraftGuide:
Rock Rucker is a legitimate 2 way prospect for the 2012 draft, a lefthander with a power arm and a power bat. He is a good athlete who has improved his game consistently. Rucker has a smooth swing with plus bat speed. He has plus raw power and good speed for his size (6.82-60). In the outfield, Rucker has solid range and a strong arm. He gets good jumps on contact and takes good routes. On the mound, Rucker’s fastball gets to 91 and he projects to add more velocity. His curveball is a potential plus pitch.
I talked to Rock and asked him how he was preparing for his senior year:
“Preparing for my upcoming season I have taken some time off to give my body a rest and get in the gym. I have a plan on gaining 7-12 pounds and getting some speed training in. I have been taking it easy lately but I plan on picking back up again late September. I plan on going to play with the Houston Banditos in the South Qualifier and going with them to Jupiter. Jupiter is the start to my season, because that sets the tone of my senior year and the 2012 draft.”
There simply aren’t a lot of 6-5 lefties out there throwing 90+ heat in high school. I strongly suggest you keep an eye on him.
8-31-11: http://www.collegesummerbaseball.net/2011/08/top-15-position-players-in-cal-ripken.html?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter - Top 15 Position Players in the Cal Ripken League - 1. Adam Barry 1b/3b Bethesda--Cal State Northridge - Barry, a former football player from Wyoming was the leagues MVP this season. He hit an amazing .414 in 162 at-bats for the Bethesda. He had 67 hits and drove in 43, both of which were league records. He led the league with 38 runs scored, 14 doubles, and with an OPS of 1.037 this summer. He was also named to the Perfect Game All-American List and to the Cal Ripken All-League Team.
7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments - Jake Stewart, Stanford, 6’2 190, R/R, good athlete with very good speed and ave arm strength, 250 type hitter with occ HR power, was some buzz about him being considered early 1-3 round type guy, but for me, he’s a 13-20 guy at best.
8-31-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/ - Nelson Rodriguez is an enormous Catcher out of George Washington High School in New York. He is listed at 6'2" and 215 lbs. I thik he may even be bigger than that. Behind the dish, he is an enormous target. He is agile enough to block balls in the dirt well. He has a big arm but a slow release grading out about average. He has big power potential but his swing is a little inconsistent. He has great bat speed. He's not a slow runner but he's not fast either. He'll only slow down as he gets bigger though. He looks like a top 10 round talent to me and could go as high as the third if a team believes in his defensive ability. He looks like a potential starting catcher in the majors but may be a C/1B type that can hit .260/.330/.470
9-1-11: - http://projectprospect.com/article/2011/08/31/2012-mlb-draft-top-prospects - Lucas Giolito, RHP, Harvard Westlake HS, CA - Giolito has an uncommonly smooth motion for a pitcher with his youth, size, and arm strength. There aren’t many high school pitchers we look at and see teaching points in, but Lucas Giolito has virtually ideal timing in his delivery – a huge, huge deal. You think of pitchers with big arm circles pulling their elbows up high, bending and contorting their bodies in all sorts of silly directions. Everything a pitcher does with his mechanics, good or bad, is for naught if ball isn’t in the driveline as the shoulders start to rotate. There’s only one place a pitcher needs to bring the ball to, which is in a position to be accelerated towards home-plate. A bullet doesn’t do any good until it’s in the barrel. Giolito does this very, very well. He makes throwing hard look easy.
7-19-11: - http://www.mlbbonusbaby.com/2011/6/29/2250656/early-look-at-2012#comments - Rock Rucker, Redan HS, Marietta GA, 6’4 210, L/L, great body and has apparent arm strength, up to 89 on this day, tries to finess and then tries to over power hitters, command is ok, has some ability to improve with more exposure and full-time duties on the hill, more fb vel left in that tank. Keep an eye on in 2012. Saw also in 2010 at Breakthrough Series, has some pop in his bat.
