1) Keith Landers (MA) – Louisville
a. 6’8 lefty touches 92
2) Scott Weisman (MA) – Clemson
a. 6/0 160 touched 94 on area code games
3) Jason Esposito (CT) – Vanderbilt
a. Going to Vandy enough said
4) AJ Bazdanes (NH) – Maine
a. Touches 91MPH on the gun
TEAM USA 18U National Invite Tryout
Perfect Game Nationally Ranked 473rd
#1 Pro Prospect in state by Perfect Game (even though NH baseball is not as strong as other NE states)
2007 Team One Under Armour/ Baseball Factory-Pre-Season All-American
2008 Team One Under Armour/ Baseball Factory-Pre-Season All-American
5) Blaine O’ Brien – Georgia
a. Hits up to 92
6) George Springer (CT) – UCONN
7) Brett Anderson (CT) – Franklin Pierce
8) Keith Bilodeau- Maine
9) Matt Barnes (CT) – UCONN
10) ?

Looks like someone has a special interest in Bazdanes. I've seen him pitch about 6 times and was never higher then 88. I'm not sure how you can have Bazdanes as #4 and leave out Dwyer, Meo, and Jolin who are going to BC, Coastal, and Florida. Westmoreland absolutely flies and is headed to Vandy, Springer was 94 from the outfield in Wareham, and Anderson is my sleeper but was 90 across the infield.

Add NJ, NY, and PA and you've got an entirely different list, some serious players there as well.

Looks like we're dealing with HS players only, so here's 10:
1. Keith Landers
2. Jason Esposito
3. Chris Dwyer
4. Anthony Meo
5. Ryan Westmoreland
6. Scott Weisman
7. Will Jolin
8. George Springer
9. Blaine O'Brien
10. Brett Anderson

What about Anthony Hewitt from Salisbury?

The only one mentioned that I've seen is Scott Weisman, I actually played against him. He is the real deal and real hard to hit. He touches 94 from a low 3/4 arm slot with good movement and control. He also has a good slider and splitter.

Talked with a mlb scout who was at some of the same things Bazdanes was at, told him about some of the claims being made on these boards about him (throwing in the 90's, etc). He laughed. Said he is consistent between 84-87 and never once hit 90 on any gun he knew of. That being said, that is still pretty impressive for a nh ballplayer. I hope he does well at Maine.

Is Bazdanes injured? I don't think that he has pitched since the opening game of the season.

AJ bazdanes tossed a gem yesterday as South beat Pinkerton 2-1. AJ moves to 1-0 after picking up a no decision to a blown save

AJ Bazdanes updated stats through the first 2 games are as follows:

1-0/ 12IP/ 21K/ 5H/ 1ER/ .75 ERA

His strikeout numbers are down due to missing 12 days with a back related issue. As of the start yesterday he's still at about 65% healthy but it sure will be enjoyable to see him when he's 100%.

His velo yesterday was 85-86 and nothing eye-popping. He is still getting his stuff back and only a matter of time before he will be back to the 90-91 range.

Stay tuned

Charlie

Charlie, I know you have a degree in Sport Management. Will you manage your brother if he is in fact drafted?

quote:

Originally posted by KmomNH:
Charlie, I know you have a degree in Sport Management. Will you manage your brother if he is in fact drafted?

I have a degree in Business Administration

We are both hunbled by the attention and the process. The way he is throwing right now it would be premature to talk of the draft. If he gets back to 90-91 then AJ will have a difficult decision to make. I onyl help my bother and any decisions that are made are by him under advisement of me as to what the best for him is. I plan on advising him and beyond that is all premature.

I can't wait to see him at 100% though that's for sure!!

My apologies. When my son was playing for Nashua's 15U All star team, I remember being told AJ's brother had a Sport Mgmt degree from Colby-Sawyer and was working for the Bruins. Regardless, we all know you have your brother's best interest at heart. Good luck to you both.

Thanks for the update Charlie!

KmomNH

no need for apologies

Mainejeff: trimper sure has 2 solid pitchers coming and it will be fun to watch a genuine coach mold my brother and see what bilodeau can do in the america east. it sure will be exciting.

ch, i've never seen your brother pitch, but my son faced Bilodeau at PG in Wareham last summer and he was one of the two or three best pitchers I saw there. Those two with Scanlan should give UMaine a solid staff for a few years.

HC,

He has some work to do. He has slipped fast falling to 604 in PG ratings and I believe he was as high as 380. He will recover once he's full back. I'm a little dissapointed that they have dropped him this low however that's baseball. I am positive he will regroup and get back to where he was.

AJ is pitching 4/30/08 vs (away)Londonderry 4:00 and he should be back to 87-88. I think the following start he will be where he was befoe the mild back issue at 89-92.

Good luck to him. I hope he comes all the way back and then some! Glad he's in NH and not in MA.

HC,

Just an FYI that AJ wasn't below 90 in 1 inning of work vs Alvirne. He threw 11 pitches and had 3 K's in the very brief outing. He is looking very strong going into his start Wednesday vs Londonderry. I already have confirmation from at least 5-6 teams that plan on attending. It's going to be exciting to see him let it loose!!

He is every bit the draft prospect now scouts have projected him to be as he is back to full strength.

ch
where is he projected to go in the draft? and by who?

...and if you can accurately list that, can I please have six numbers for Powerball?

wayback
lol, that was my next question.

I can't project draft position but I can alert you folks to facts:

AJ pitched in his 3rd game of the season yesterday (4/30/08) vs Londonderry High School and fanned 10 improving to 2-0 on the season. There were a few teams MLB represented and had him at 88. Although it was a cold day he pitched another gem. His next start will be Monday May 5th at Dover High School in Dover, NH at 4:00. His team improves to 6-3 on the season while his team has only produced 3 total runs in each of his 3 starts.

Current Totals:
2-0/20IP/34K/7H/1ER/0.45 ERA


An extensive article was posted at: http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AI...1/62972110/-1/sports