Baseball America
November 3-16, 2008; pp.15-20

CRSCBL alumni playing professional baseball

Pitchers Oliver Drake (Youse's Orioles 2008) and Quinton Miller (Youse's Orioles 2008) were among several Cal Ripken, Sr. Collegiate Baseball League alumni featured in Baseball America's 2008 Draft Report Cards. Miller was named the #2 "Best Late-Round Pick" in the "Above Slot Bonuses" category, and Drake earned the #2 spot in the "Most Intriguing Background" list, "Non-Baseball Relative Division."

Here's a team-by-team list of Ripken, Sr. League alumni mentioned in the Draft Report Cards:

Baltimore Orioles

Best Pure Hitter: LJ Hoes (Youse's Orioles 2007). ''Hoes batted .308 and walked more (30) than he struck out (22) in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, while making the transition from the outfield to second base. He still needs to smooth out his footwork, but the Orioles think he can remain at second.''

Most Intriguing Background: Oliver Drake (Youse's Orioles 2008). ''Drake was drafted out of the Naval Academy and was able to withdraw and sign for $100,000 because he had yet to make his military commitment. He owns an 89-93 mph fastball and an interesting slider.''

The One Who Got Away: Kevin Brady (Youse's Orioles 2008). ''Projectible RHP Brady flashed a 95 mph fastball by the end of the summer [in the Cal Ripken, Sr. League], but a $450,000 offer couldn't dissuade him from attending Clemson.''

Boston Red Sox

Fastest Runner: Derrik Gibson (Youse's Orioles 2007-08), runner-up. ''Once [fifth-round pick Ryan] Westmoreland fills out, INF Gibson, a plus-plus runner, probably will be faster.''

Cincinnati Reds

Best Pro Debut: Alex Buchholz (Youse's Orioles 2007). "Buchholz dominated the Rookie-level Pioneer League, batting .396/.471/.604 while missing a month with a broken left hand.''

Colorado Rockies

Best Pure Hitter: Tyler Massey (Youse's Orioles 2008), runner-up. ''Massey got a $525,000 bonus out of a Tennessee high school thanks to his excellent makeup and natural hitting ability.''

Best Late-Round Pick: Massey. "The Rockies went above slot for Massey and [37th round pick Delta] Cleary and are happy with the early results.''

Detroit Tigers

Most Intriguing Background: Eric Roof (Bethesda Big Train 2007), runner-up. ''[U]nsigned Roof's father Phil and uncle Gene both played in the majors.''

Milwaukee Brewers

Best Fastball: Evan Frederickson (Bethesda Big Train 2006-07). ''Frederickson sat at 91-93 mph this spring, then reached 97-98 in a predraft workout. He had a dead arm after signing, though.''

Minnesota Twins

Best Fastball: Carlos Gutierrez (Bethesda Big Train 2005). ''With [first-rounder Aaron] Hicks not in the mix, Gutierrez gets the nod for his low-90s two-seamer with Derek Lowe sink.''

Closest to the Majors: Gutierrez. ''Gutierrez will build innings and work on his command as a minor league starter but should move quickly as a reliever.''

Pittsburgh Pirates

Best Fastball: Quinton Miller (Youse's Orioles 2008). ''Miller sits in the 88-92 mph range but has reached 95, prompting the Pirates to buy him away from a North Carolina commitment with a $900,000 bonus.''

St. Louis Cardinals

The One Who Got Away: Mitch Harris (Youse's Orioles 2006). ''Unsigned Harris is the best prospect Navy has produced in years but can't start his pro career for five years due to his military commitment.''

Tampa Bay Rays

Best Pure Hitter: Mike Sheridan (Silver Spring-Takoma T-Bolts 2005), runner-up. ''[The Rays] are also enthused about the lefty bats of Jake Jeffries, Sheridan, and Anthony Scelfo.''

Washington Nationals

Best Defensive Player: Marcus Jones (Bethesda Big Train 2005), runner-up. ''Jones rates above-average in center field with a solid-average arm.''

Best Athlete: Jones, runner-up. ''A Washington, D.C., native, Jones has a lean, athletic frame and needs to add strength to fulfill his projections.''