Thursday Farm Report: Winn in SoCal but No. 1 Colorado Propsect
Cole Winn wanted a chance to prove he could compete among the elite.
He established himself as a junior at Silver Creek High School in Longmont as the best in Colorado. And he has proven his point this spring at Lutheran High School in Orange, Ca.
Winn is the only high school player with Colorado roots listed in Baseball America's 212 top prospects for next month's first-year player draft. And he is high on the list. Baseball America's most recent projection of the draft has win going with the No. 11 selection in the first round to the Baltimore Orioles. He also has committed to a scholarship offer from Mississippi State, one of the top college programs in the country.
Winn goes into Friday's high school playoff game against Gahr High School with a 7-2 record and 0.23 ERA. In 62 innings he has struck out 101 batters while walking nine. He has allowed seven runs, two of which were earned, on 24 hits.
The Baseball America Scouting Report
School: Orange (Calif.) Lutheran HS
Ht: 6-2 | Wt: 195 | B-T: R-R | Commit/Drafted: Mississippi State
Scouting Report: In a down year in Southern California from a draft perspective, Winn made the decision to transfer from Colorado to Orange (Calif.) Lutheran High and play in the Trinity League—one of the nation’s best high school baseball conferences. The move has paid off, as Winn has separated himself from other Southern California arms and been one of the most consistent prep righthanders in the country, while also giving himself the opportunity to play at densely scouted events like the National High School Invitational and the Boras Classic South. Winn was on scouting directors’ radars long before his time with Orange Lutheran, however, after impressing at numerous events on the summer showcase circuit with three pitches, including a fastball reaching the 93-94 mph range and one of the more consistent curveballs in the class. This spring, Winn has been up to 96 mph with his fastball, which he can spot effectively to both sides of the plate. His best breaking ball is a plus, 12-to-6 curveball in the mid-70s that has powerful downward action, which he can spot in the zone or use to expand and create swings and misses. Winn also added a low-80s slider, seemingly out of nowhere, and while it’s behind the curveball, it has the makings of another average pitch. Winn is competing with a deep high school class, but he’s one of the few prep arms who has gotten better each time out and has had very few looks that raised questions.
In Wednesday's Games
AAA Albuquerque (25-22) lost 7-6 to Salt Lake City, which turned four Isotope errors in the sixth into four runs. It was the most errors by the Isotopes in a game since they committed six against Sale Lake City on April 30, 2015. David Holmberg (2-4, 7.36) suffered the loss. Raimel Tapia and Ryan McMahon had two RBI apiece.
AA Hartford (25-20) won 5-2 at Portland. Mylz Jones hit his fifth home run and doubled twice. Peter Lambert (3-1) earned the victory, allowing two runs on eight hits and five strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. Matt Pierpont earned his Eastern League-leading 13th save.
High A Lancaster (22-24) lost 4-12 at Lake Elsinore. Ty Culbreth suffered the loss, allowing four runs, three earned, on six hits and two walks, striking out five in 6 1/3 innings. Alan Trejo (.336) was 3-for-4 with an RBI.
Low A Asheville (17-26) lost 4-3 to Greenville. The Tourists tied the game at 3-3 in the seventh when Ramon Marcelino hit a solo home run and Matt McLaughlin hit a two-run home run. In the top of the eighth, however, Greenville answered with a lead-off home run from Marino Campana off Derrik Watson (1-1).