Eight Knights Ranked in Perfect Game Crosschecker's Top 25 List of WCL Prospects.

Outfielder Mitch Haniger of Cal Poly and Closer Mitch Patito of UC Riverside Rated in Top Ten

The Corvallis Knights placed eight players on Perfect Game Crosschecker's top 25 West Coast League prospects list including the #4 and #5 rated prospects, outfielder Mitch Haniger of Cal Poly and pitcher Mitch Patito (pictured) of UC Riverside.

In total, seven Knights' pitchers were ranked by the online national scouting service.

All-WCL pitcher Kyle Kraus of University of Portland was rated #13, Evan Brock of UC Irvine #16, Nick Hoover of UC Irvine #19, two-way player Dylan Jones of Oregon State #20, Dustin Emmons of UC Riverside #21 and two-way player Matt Boyd of Oregon State #22.

Perfect Game Crosschecker
Top 25 WCL Prospects
by Allan Simpson

1. STEFAN SABOL, c/3b, Cowlitz Black Bears (Oregon/FR in 2011) Highly athletic talent with excellent bat speed; capable of playing any position, but 6.5 speed may be wasted behind plate, on corner

2. JEFF AMES, rhp, Wenatchee AppleSox (Lower Columbia, Wash., CC/SO) Best power arm in WCL; FB routinely in 95-97 range as closer for league champs, needs to locate better; power SL solid No. 2 pitch

3. CHASE ANSELMENT, c, Kitsap BlueJackets (Washington/SO) Best bat/power in league; hit .316-7-34, tops in WCL in HRs; bat speed, can drive balls to all fields; raw behind plate, but arm plays

4. MITCH HANIGER, of, Corvallis Knights (Cal Poly/SO) Overcame sluggish start to hit .299-3-18, competes at plate; power will come as gets stronger; big RF arm, makes plays, OK runner

5. MITCH PATITO, rhp, Corvallis Knights (UC Riverside/SO) Best arm on deep Knights staff; long, loose action, flashed 93-94 FB with + movement, + break; 8 SV in relief, then moved to starter

6. ROYCE BOLINGER, of, Kelowna Falcons (Gonzaga/JR) Still needs to make consistent contact, produce better power numbers, but athleticism evident, solid speed/defender, huge OF arm

7. MARCO GONZALES, lhp/of, Wenatchee AppleSox (Gonzaga/FR) Won four state title games in decorated HS career in Colorado; ++ polished for age, led WCL in SO; augments 86-88 FB with ++ CH

8. CODY REGIS, ss/3b, Bellingham Bells (UCLA/SO) Was regular on left side as FR for CWS finalist; lacks chiseled look, profiles more 2B/3B; LH bat, squared up his share, gap power

9. SCOTT GRIGGS, rhp, Bellingham Bells (UCLA/SO) Pitched sparingly as UCLA FR, went 0-2, 6.00 in 21 IP for Bells; flashed effortless mid-90s heat, needs command, will come with IP

10. CODY WEISS, rhp, Wenatchee AppleSox (UCLA/FR) 10th-rounder more than held his own in WCL as HS talent; used mostly in set-up role, needs command FB at 91-93/T-96, + 12/6 CU

11. AARON JONES, c/of, Kelowna Falcons (Oregon/FR) Red Sox draft pick held his own in WCL as HS player, hit .342-1-15; solid approach at plate, runs 6.8 60, comfortable behind plate, in OF

12. JAMES NYGREN, rhp, Bend Elks (Oregon State/SR) Bend ace, went 4-0, 2.25; mixed reviews, FB will touch 92-94, but more 88-90, flashes + SL, but often doomed by lack of command

13. KYLE KRAUS, rhp, Corvallis Knights (Portland/JR) 10-3, 3.30 in spring for UP, dominating WCL (5-1, 1.75) when slowed by oblique strain; ++ command of sinking FB, + SL; lacks size

14. BRIAN POINTER, of, Bend Elks (SIGNED/Phillies) Oregon State recruit, signed with Phils late in season; + athletic, + speed/power/arm, but long swing exploited, poor plate discipline

15. ERIC PETERSON, 1b, Wenatchee AppleSox (Washington/SO) Explosive bat; can turn around any FB, goes other way + with breaking ball, though prone to SO; doesn't run at all, limited to 1B

16. EVAN BROCK, rhp, Corvallis Knights (UC Irvine/SO) Surprise invite to Team USA college trials; went 2-0, 1.13 in 3 starts for Knights, modest stuff includes 88-92 FB, + CH, avg 12/6 CU

17. ELLIOT STEWART, c, Walla Walla Sweets (Cal Poly/JR) Solid defensive C with quick/accurate arm; made biggest strides at plate (.321-3-24), has short, low-maintenance swing, gap power

18. KERRY JENKINS, of, Bend Elks (San Jose State/SR) Impressive athletic specimen, + runner, can put a charge in balls, especially vs. LHP; streaky hitter, struggles with off-speed away

19. NICK HOOVER, rhp, Corvallis Knights (UC Irvine/JR) Pounds bottom of zone with sinking/running 88-90 FB, pitch can also reach 93; CH is No. 2 offering, went 2-1, 2.63 (27 IP/34 SO)

20. DYLAN JONES, of/lhp, Corvallis Knights (Oregon State/SR) Played valuable 2-way role for Knights; has smooth, powerful LH swing, hit .336-2-21; also has + arm, went 2-1, 4.21 (26 IP/25 SO)

21. DUSTIN EMMONS, rhp, Corvallis Knights (UC Riverside/SR) Marlins' 35th-rounder was bounce-back from Cape Cod; success stems from command of 87-92 FB; SL better than '09, CH a WIP

22. MATT BOYD, lhp/1b, Corvallis Knights (Oregon State/SO) Legit 2-way talent, but much better this summer on mound; FB 89-91, funky delivery gets arm-side run, seen more as LH specialist

23. KRIS CARLSON, rhp, Moses Lake Pirates (Abilene Christian, Texas/JR) Ex-OF threw 2 IP in spring at Wenatchee Valley CC, drafted as RHP by KC; impressive raw arm strength, flashed 96 FB, 87 SL

24. DAYNE QUIST, lhp, Kelowna Falcons (UC Davis/JR) Only 5-9, FB peaks at 88-89, but carved up league with solid 3-pitch mix, fearless approach; excellent command, defines crafty LHP

25. CHRIS DENNIS, rhp, Cowlitz Black Bears (Portland/SR) Saved 15 games for UP in spring, mostly a starter on summer; fanned first 10 hitters; FB 86-88, generates ugly swings with ++ SL