Tracking the 2012 Reds Draft...

[nkufan23]

22nd Round Selection Avain Rachal a RHP from TX HS...

Avain Rachal

Height: 6'0"

Weight: 195

AVAIN RACHAL - INF - CYPRESS, TEXAS - CY-FAIR HIGH SCHOOL

"Avain is a kid that plays hard every time we have seen him play and really swings the bat. Avain plays for longtime coach Woody Champagne at Cy-Fair High School and is the cousin of UH associate head basketball coach Alvin Brooks."

 

Avain can play multiple positions and his get after it approach will fit right into our program."

 

Don't let his size fool you, as Avain has more power than most. Without a question, Avain has more bat speed than most prospects in the 2012 class. He will join teammate, Jeremy Kivel, at University of Houston. He will have a great chance to play beyond college.

[nkufan23]

23rd Round Selection Daniel Sweet OF HS MS...Switch Hitter

Daniel Sweet

Height: 6'0"

Weight: 190

 

Daniel Sweet

Daniel Sweet is a rising senior at Northwest Rankin High School and one of the Jackson Metro area’s best players. Sweet is a switch-hitting outfielder with a strong arm and pop in his bat.

 

The Cougars, who were 25-7 on the season and made an impressive run in the playoffs that ended in the third round against Tupelo HS, hit Sweet all over the lineup, but a majority of his at-bats came at the top of the order.

 

Sweet’s .281 average does not seem to reflect the contributions he made to the nationally ranked Cougars. Sweet scored 31 runs, hit four homerun’s and even stole nine bases. Skilled at getting on base, Sweet drew 18 bases-on-balls and led his team with seven hit-by-pitches.

 

Sweet hit the first pitch of the first game of the season from All-Metro First Team pitcher Nick Johnson, of Ridgeland HS, over the fence.

 

“Daniel eats, sleeps and breathes baseball,” said RBI Warriors coach Brian Emory. ”I’ve enjoyed getting to know him over the past few years and I look for him to play well in the Regional.”

 

Scouting Report

 

Bat: His bat has some potential to hit for some average and a little bit of power. He is also a good runner.

 

Defense: Good defender in center due to his speed and athletic ability.

[nkufan23]

24th Round Selection Mike Saunders RHP Saginaw Valley State

Mike Saunders

Height:6'1"

Weight:215

Saginaw Valley State University baseball junior starting pitcher Mike Saunders (Mt. Morris, Mich./EA Johnson) was selected to the 2012 Daktronics All-Midwest Region Second Team, as selected by the region's sports information directors.

 

Saunders set a Saginaw Valley baseball record for lowest earned run average in a single season with a 1.23 ERA in 73.1 innings of work. He went 7-2 in 10 starts with eight complete games as opponents hit just .188 against him. Saunders ERA was the lowest in the conference and is currently 5th in all of Division II. He also tallied 72 strikeouts this season, third best in the conference.

 

2012: Pitched in 10 games for the Cardinals, starting in all of them...threw eight complete games, including one shutout victory against Grand Valley...posted a school-record 1.23 earned run average in 73.1 innings of work...led the team and was third in the GLIAC with 72 strikeouts...allowed 48 hits and only 10 earned runs as opponents batted just .188 against him...named to the 2012 GLIAC All-Tournament Team after a nine inning complete game victory over Ashland allowing five hits while striking out seven after allowing just one unearned run...selected to the 2012 GLIAC Baseball All-Conference First Team.

 

2011: Appeared in 10 games for the Cardinals, starting in nine…posted a record of 5-4 having the second most wins on the team and a 4.81 ERA on the season…pitched a total of 48.2 innings and had 41 strike outs which was good for second on the team…had four put outs and 11 assists for Saginaw Valley.

 

2010: Saw action on the mound in nine games for Saginaw Valley, starting two contests...finished the season with a 5.87 ERA, pitching 15.1 innings...recorded 18 strikeouts for the Cardinals...tied for third on the team with four games finished

 

Saunders was selected to the 2012 GLIAC Baseball All-Conference First Team as well as to the GLIAC Baseball All-Tournament Team after he threw a complete game, five-hit shutout allowing just one unearned run while striking out seven to eliminate Ashland.

[nkufan23]

25th Round Selection Sean Lucas LHP from University of Albany... Transferred from UVA...High School: Ranked in Perfect Game's Top 200 prospects..

Sean Lucas

Height:6'2"

Weight:200

Player Note from 4 years ago

Athletic lefty, 90 mph fastball at WWBA, 92 in Jupiter, loose arm, outstanding, could explode in spring

 

2009

• Strong left-handed option out of bullpen

• Allowed only one earned run (12 IP)

• Pitched in three ACC games (UNC, MD, NC State)

• This past summer, he went 2-2 with 2.33 ERA in 27 IP for Anchorage Bucs of Alaska Baseball League

2008

• Did not compete as freshman, redshirted

• Played summer ball with Saratoga Phillies of New York Collegiate Baseball League

• Was an NYCBL All-Star (2-2, 1.33 ERA, 27 IP, 34 K)

 

BEACON HIGH SCHOOL

• Second-Team All-New York selection (2007)

• All-section pitcher and all-county pitcher (2007)

• Earned gold medal at 2006 Connecticut State Games

• Won silver medal at 2006 New York State Empire Games

• 2005 District 17 Senior League MVP

• Coached by Bob Atwell

Edited June 6, 2012 by nkufan23