College Baseball 2013 for the Prospect-Watcher: Opening Weekend
By Jim Pieper
Mark Appel of Stanford is one of the top college players aiming for the 2013 MLB draft (just like he was last year, when he went at No. 8 but failed to sign with Pittsburgh), but on opening day for the college game, he was decisively out-dueled by lesser-known Rice ace Austin Kubitza.
Ryne Stanek got an opening day win over Western Illinois. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Thorson-USA TODAY Sports
Appel: 5.0 IP, 7 H, 5 R, 2 ER, 3 BB, 3 K
Kubitza: 6.0 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 12 K
Kubitza is projected as a second-rounder or thereabouts, but racking up a dozen Ks against Stanford can’t hurt any.
The Cardinal took the second game, but the Owls came back to win the rubber game on Sunday.
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Sean Manaea of Indiana State, one of the pitchers competing with Appel at the top of the draft list, also came up on the losing end, though he did fan six in 4.0 IP against opening foe IUPU-Fort Wayne.
Manaea gave up just one earned run, but got no offensive help.
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The third pitcher at the top of the college draft chart, Arkansas’ Ryne Stanek, went four strong innings as the Razorbacks topped Western Illinois:
Stanek: 4.0 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 4 K
The Leathernecks from Western scored a big upset in the Sunday game, however, by knocking off the highly ranked Hogs (No. 1 in at least one poll).
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The University of San Diego, expecting great things this year behind highly-rated 3b Kris Bryant, started the year exactly the way it least wanted. Cross-town rival San Diego State, coached by the legendary Tony Gwynn, swept the Toreros in a three-game opening set. Bryant was 2-for-9, although he did add four walks.
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Florida was upset by Duke in its opener before coming back to take the next two, but it got worse news when it learned that pitcher Karsten Whitson, one of its top arms, is out with an ongoing shoulder problem. Whitson chose the Gators over a pro contract in 2010, after being picked in the first round (No. 9 overall) by the Padres.
Whitson had been expected to be a first-round pick again, but his status is now uncertain.