Diamondbacks Sign Andrew Chafin

The Arizona Diamondbacks have agreed to terms with 43rd pick LHP Andrew Chafin for a $875,000 bonus. The MLB slot recommended bonus for the 43rd slot is $789,300.

Chafin missed all of 2010 with after having Tommy John surgery, but bounced back to have a breakout year for Kent State leading the team to the College World Series Regionals. He has the upside of a No. 2 starter with a low to mid-90's fastball and hard slider.

Draft Signings Links: August 15

- The Royals have agreed to terms with 29th Round pick RHP Jake Junis, according to Baseball America.

- The Cubs have signed the aptly-named 1B Rock Shoulders to $294K bonus, according to Jim Callis' twitter.

- The Blue Jays are at it again, agreeing to a deal with 13th round HS 3B Matt Dean according to Baseball America.

- It appears that the Cubs have signed highly regarded RHP Dillon Maples, their 14th round pick, according to Kendall Rogers' twitter.

- The Royals add their 2nd HS RHP by signing RHP Kyle Smith for $695K, according to Baseball America.

- The Mets have signed HS SS Bradley Marquez, a 16th rounder who oddly enough will also play WR for Texas Tech according to Baseball America.

- The Yankees have made their first splash of the day by signing talented 20th rounder Daniel Camarena for around $335K, according to Kendall Rogers' twitter.

- The Tigers have agreed to terms with their 15th round pick Tyler Gibson for $525K according to Kendall Rogers twitter. Also more information on Gibson signing at Baseball America.

- The Mets have signed HS SS Phillip Evans, a 15th rounder who could have gone much earlier based on talent, to $650K bonus according to Baseball America.

- The Cubs make another splash by signing 4th round pick Louisville RHP Tony Zych to a $400K bonus according to Jim Callis' twitter.

- HS SS Chris McFarland, who had committed to Rice, has signed with the Brewers as their 18th round pick according to Houston Chronicle writer Joseph Duarte's twitter.

- Cubs make another move by signing 2nd round slugger 1B Dan Vogelbach, according to Kendall Rogers' twitter.

- Yankees lock up big RHP Jordan Cote, their 3rd round pick, for $725K according to Baseball America.

- The Dodgers have agreed to terms with 4th round RHP Ryan O'Sullivan on a $100K bonus, according to Jim Callis' twitter.

- The Red Sox have signed a personal favorite of mine, 4th round pick RHP Noe Ramirez out of Cal State Fullerton for $625K, according to Baseball America.

- The Cardinals lock up their highest unsigned pick by inking 2nd round OF Charlie Tilson to $1.275 million according to Baseball America.

- The Reds have signed athletic 43rd rounder Ty Washington for $300K, according to Jim Callis' twitter.

- The Pirates haved handed out what is believed to be the highest 9th round bonus ever to RHP Clay Holmes in $1.2 million according to Baseball America.

Under Armour All-America Game Links

- Matt Garrioch takes a look at the Top 10 Prospects on display at Wrigley at MLB Bonus Baby.

- Conor Glassey provides a recap of the game over at Baseball America.

- Andy Ferguson did a fantastic job of posting a live inning-by-inning blog at Baseball Factory.

Perfect Game All-American Classic Links

- Matt Grabusky shares some of his notes on some of the Classic's stars over at MLB Draft Guide.

- Patrick Ebert posted updates of the game, including peak velocities for the pitchers, at Perfect Game.

- Some very interesting and informative notes on the game posted at the Baseball Prospect Report.

Cincinnati Reds Mid-Season Top 15 Prospects

This is my Top 15 prospects for the Cincinnati Reds here at the halfway point. This list WILL include 2011 draft picks that I think will sign. Stats are as of August 3, 2011.

1. Devin Mesoraco, C - 363 AB, .300/.370/.485, 10 HR, 59 RBI, 38 BB, 75 K, 1 SB 1 CS (AAA)

Mesoraco

Clearly his 2010 campaign was not a fluke and it is just a matter of time before Mesoraco gets the opportunity to prove himself in Cincinnati.

2. Billy Hamilton, SS - 415 AB, .255/.317/.340, 2 HR, 39 RBI, 38 BB, 102 K, 75 SB 16 CS (A)

I have him higher than most people because I believe his bat will come around and his speed his game-changing, whether it will be at SS or in the OF.

3. Yasmani Grandal, C - 310 AB, .287/.384/.490, 13 HR, 56 RBI, 48 BB, 86 K, 0 SB 0 CS (A+/AA)

The Reds now possibly 2 of the top 5 catchers in the minors, and Grandal could be a great trade piece somewhere down the road.

4. Zack Cozart, SS - 323 AB, .310/.357/.467, 7 HR, 32 RBI, 23 BB, 51 K, 9 SB 2 CS (AAA)

Cozart is following up a fantastic 2010 with another good year earning a call up to the Majors where he flourished in a short stint before he got injured.

5. Yonder Alonso, 1B/OF - 358 AB, .296/.374/.486, 12 HR, 56 RBI, 46 BB, 60 K, 6 SB 5 CS (AAA)

I haven't always been a big fan of Alonso but he continues to hit consistently and now all he needs is an opportunity to play everyday. I don't see that opportunity coming with the Reds.

6. Yorman Rodriguez, OF - 280 AB, .254/.318/.393, 7 HR, 40 RBI, 25 BB, 84 K, 20 SB 8 CS (A)

A very high risk/high reward guy, Rodriguez has outstanding raw power to go with above-average speed on the bases.

7. Daniel Corcino, RHP - 9-5, 3.41 ERA, 105.2 IP, 96 H, 26 BB, 117 K, (A)

The Johnny Cueto look-a-like both in the mirror and on the mound, Corcino is having a breakout season showing 3 above-average or better pitches.

8. Robert Stephenson, RHP - 7-2, 1.33 ERA, 64 IP, 29 H, 23 BB, 132 K (HS)

A 2011 1st-rounder, Stephenson has a plus fastball and a curve that has the potential to be plus. He also threw back-to-back no-hitters to start the spring for his high school team.

9. Todd Frazier, UT - 315 AB, .260/.340/.467, 15 HR, 46 RBI, 34 BB, 82 K, 17 SB 4 CS (AAA)

Frazier has shown a rejuvenated power stroke this year and should be a helpful piece off the bench for the Reds in their playoff push. Still trying to find a defensive home however.

10. Brad Boxberger, RHP - 2-4, 2.16 ERA, 50 IP, 26 H, 20 BB, 76 K (AA/AAA)

Boxberger has turned it around after a terrible 2010 and is the best relief pitcher in the system. Potential for a call up in September.

11. Neftali Soto, 1B - 284 AB, .282/.337/.609, 24 HR, 60 RBI, 19 BB, 72 K, 0 SB 1 CS (AA)

Now that he has settled on 1B as his defensive home, Soto is unleashing his vicious power on AA pitchers with a .609 slugging percentage. If only Joey Votto played a different position.

12. J.C. Sulbaran, RHP - 8-2, 4.06 ERA, 106.1 IP, 101 H, 42 BB, 119 K (A+)

Another guy who is having a turnaround year, Sulbaran shows flashes of frontline potential with an outstanding strikeout rate.

13. Dave Sappelt, OF - 289 AB, .318/.379/.464, 7 HR, 29 RBI, 28 BB, 39 K, 3 SB 4 CS (AAA)

The 5'9" Sappelt has been proving doubters wrong his whole career and is putting together another fine season at Louisville. One of many on this list who could help the ML team in September.

14. Ronald Torreyes, 2B - 162 AB, .389/.431/.494, 2 HR, 23 RBI, 10 BB, 10 K, 9 SB 5 CS (A)

Another small guy, Torreyes has drawn Jose Altuve comps as a tiny Venezuelan 2B who can flat out hit.  He will always have doubters but Altuve has shown that Torreyes has the potential to be an impact player in the future.

15. Gabriel Rosa, OF - 41 AB, .171/.271/.317, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 5 BB, 11 K, 2 SB, 1 CS (RK)

Rosa was a 2011 2nd-round pick out of Puerto Rico who shows star potential with his power/speed tools. He will take a lot of seasoning in the minors before he sees Cincinnati however.

SLEEPER

Brodie Greene, SS - 408 AB, .294/.354/.439, 11 HR, 68 RBI, 36 BB, 62 K, 29 SB, 6 CS (A+)

I have always been a fan of the scrappy Greene ever since his days at Texas A&M. He is having a mini-breakout season showing above-average tools across the board including a solid glove at short. A very similar player to fellow Reds farmhand Zack Cozart.

Jacob Anderson Signs With Blue Jays

Anderson

The Toronto Blue Jays have signed supplemental round pick outfielder Jacob Anderson to a $990,000 signing bonus. That is higher than the recommended bonus of $900,000 for the No. 35 pick in the draft.

Anderson has considerable power for a prep player and the Pepperdine commit won the home run derby at the Under Armour All-America Game at Wrigley Field last year. He is one of five picks the Blue Jays had before the 2nd round.

Victor Roache Draft Profile

Name: Victor Roache

Position: Outfielder/1st Baseman

Year: Sophomore

Roache

School: Georgia Southern

Bats/Throws: Right/Right

Height/Weight: 6'1"/ 225

D.O.B.: 09/17/1991

Scouting Report: While most hitters saw their power numbers disappear with the new bats in 2011, Roache showed no ill effects in leading the NCAA with 30 home runs. In fact in just 60 games, the Georgia Southern outfielder hit more home runs than over 200 other teams. Roache is a special hitter and he has carried over his success into the Cape Cod League this summer. Drafted in 2009 by the Tigers in the 25th round, Roache took his raw tools to college to refine his game and he has put himself into consideration for a Top 10 pick. He has improved his discipline at the plate and cut down on the strikeouts to go with the power surge. He has also improved his game defensively in the outfield and could be average in the field down the road. There is not much Roache can do to improve upon his 2011 campaign when he finished as a semifinalist for the Golden Spikes Award.

Future Grades:

Batting	60
Power	75
Speed	55
Fielding	50
Arm	50
Overall	65

Stats: 

Year	Team	AVG	AB	R	H	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	OBP	SLG	OPS
2010	GSU	.252	151	38	38	8	38	7	2	9	42	.408	.464	.872
2010	DEL	.277	47		13	0		0	0	2	11	.314	.319	.633
2011	GSU	.326	230	58	75	30	84	3	4	37	42	.438	.778	1.216

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