More info on our 2 first rounders...
Jason Place of Wren HS, Piedmont, S.C. SC
Place is one of the best high school players to come out of South Carolina in several years. Scouts see him as a five-tool, blue-collar player with a great body who approaches the game in an aggressive and physical manner. Place has above-average speed that he uses well in the outfield and on the basepaths. His raw power rates as a 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale and is capable of producing both iron shots and high, majestic blasts over the fence. He also has plenty of arm strength to play right field, as evidenced by a 90-92 mph fastball he has shown on the mound. More than one scout compared Place to Braves outfielder Jeff Francoeur, particularly with his aggressiveness at the plate and his power potential. A dead pull hitter, Place could pile up high strikeout totals early in his career. He also has battled a series of nagging injuries, particularly with pulled hamstrings, though a recent emphasis on flexibility training has led to improvements.
Daniel Bard rhp North Carolina NC
Bard has not thrown with the same consistency of teammate Andrew Miller, but the righthander should give the Tar Heels two first-round picks. Bard limited opponents to a .220 average in his first 72 innings this spring while winning six of his first nine decisions. According to UNC head coach Mike Fox, Bard had his best start as a collegian on April 23 by tossing a four-hit shutout versus N.C. State. That performance followed a strong effort in the Cape Cod League, when he led the circuit in strikeouts and ranked as the second-best prospect, behind only Miller. Bard was deemed one of the premier high school pitchers in the 2003 draft before falling to the Yankees in the 20th round due to signability concerns. He proceeded to earn ACC freshman of the year honors in 2004 prior to an uneven season as a sophomore. Bard's fastball resides in the low 90s and touches 94 after hitting 98 earlier in his college career. His curveball is just as effective, featuring a sharp bite and a late break. Scouts also love his workhorse mentality and durable body. He can struggle with the command of his fastball, and has worked on becoming more pitch-efficient.