There are college baseball websites I check out and there are pro baseball websites I browse. And unless it’s MLB draft time, never the twain shall meet.
So when it was twittered (by @IlliniBaseball in case you’re wondering) that Brandon Wikoff was mentioned on one of my favorite web sites that mostly focuses on major league issues, I went to check it out.
The Hardball Times was taking a look at fielding stats for college shortstops. Sure enough, Brandon landed on their top ten list for the 2009 draft class:
Grant Green was the only college shortstop selected in the top 100 picks of this year’s draft. There’s little question he was one of the top available prospects with the bat, but it will be interesting to see how his glove measures up in the pros. Here are some of the top 2009 picks who were above the 800 BIP threshold in each of the last two college seasons:
Player School +/- Shields Robbie Florida Southern 26 Orloff Ben Uc Irvine 16 Jackson Ryan Miami (Fl) 9 Dozier Brian Southern Mississippi -1 Karcich Jon Santa Clara -2 Prince Josh Tulane -2 Wikoff Brandon Illinois -3 Smith Kyle Cal Poly -4 Green Grant Southern California -4 Greer Brent Western Carolina -11 Wade Chris Kentucky -13
Illini grad Wikoff is currently playing for Class A TriCity ValleyCats, a Houston Astros affiliate in the NY-Penn League.