2014 MLB Draft Prep: The College Season Gets Going

For those of you new to Draft Prep, each week, I try to take a glance at what has happened in regards to the Cubs' first draft selection or two. This year, until things change (which they will), I will tend to focus on North Carolina State, East Carolina, and Vanderbilt. Each has a pitcher (Carlos Rodon, Jeff Hoffman, and Tyler Beede, respectively) who the Cubs will be interested in during the early parts of the June draft.

Beede is the only one likely to be available of the three, but NC State also has a true shortstop in Trea Turner who might well go somewhere around the Cubs' pick at No. 4.

Prep arm from Texas Tyler Kolek is in the mix as well. He pitched earlier this week, sitting in the mid 90s. Depending on whose gun you trust, he hit either 98 or 99. Kolek is a big kid (6-4, 250) who is big in the way kids from farms are sometimes characterized as being big. Lots of time working with hay bales, not so much free weight lifting. His delivery isn't refined, but he's a high school senior. It took Derek Johnson less than two months to adjust last year's second-round pick Rob Zastryzny's delivery, so I doubt any minor adjustments to Kolek would be that difficult. Similarly, if Kolek isn't willing to adjust, the Cubs likely don't want him anyway.

Here are some updates to how the prep class is looking for the June draft, care of Kiley McDaniel. McDaniel also notes a potential big signing from Milwaukee. I liked it better when the Brewers had the five-year-old niece of the Assistant GM decide who to go after.

This isn't Cubs-centric, but here is Keith Law talking with Sandy Alderson of the Mets regarding a range of scouting-y topics.

This weekend, NC State is at UC Santa Barbara for three. Coverage will cost you. Hoffman's East Carolina squad is at James Madison, weather pending. ECU seems to provide free streaming audio, and Friday's game is scheduled at 2 p.m. CT. Vandy is at Long Beach State. The Commodores have had audiocasts before, but they tended to be a bit shaky on the coverage quality. This is a new season.

Two games are on my Friday docket. Indiana is third-ranked and plays at Texas Tech (Trey Masek's school), and Tech has had free audio streamed in the past. Florida State is on ESPN3 hosting Niagara, which would be a needless blowout, except Niagara figures to be starting the top prospect in the MAAC in 6-2 junior RHP Jordan Schwartz. He should provide something to watch, in terms of where he stands now as a prospect.

I'll focus mainly on the three main pitchers and Turner in Draft Prep, but will toss out anything of interest along the way. In other words, a bit on Schwartz. Now, with camp starting tomorrow, and a roster move or two pending before camp opens, it's about time to refresh MLBTradeRumors every 35 seconds or so.