Summer League Summaries

[SB Shock]

Cape

13. Conor Gillaspie, 3b, Falmouth (Jr., Wichita State)

Gillaspie was one of the biggest surprises in the Cape, winning the MVP award to go with the batting (.345) and slugging titles (.673). He might have been the most intense player in the league as well, always working on improving his game. He has limited range but good hands and an average arm at third base.

Scouts were divided on his future potential. A second AL scouting director said, "He was the best hitter on the Cape for me, in terms of average. He squared up more balls consistently than anyone. I think he'll really hit for average." But others were skeptical if his bat was really as good as the numbers suggest, particularly in terms of power.

20. Aaron Shafer, rhp, Falmouth (Jr., Wichita State)

Shafer was reinforcing his status as one of the top pitching prospects for the 2008 draft with a strong spring, then came down with a sore elbow that sidelined him for a month. After skipping the Cape because of back problems in 2006, he made it up this summer and was effective but at less than his best.

Shafer's command wasn't as sharp as usual and he worked mostly at 88-91 mph rather than at his accustomed 91-94 mph, though his fastball continued to get on hitters quickly because his delivery is so effortless. His changeup was his best pitch with Falmouth, and his curveball remains his No. 3 option.

California Collegiate
6. Anthony Capra, lhp, Santa Barbara (Jr., Wichita State)

Capra built off a successful spring when he jumped into the Wichita State rotation to replace injured righthander Aaron Shafer and wound up leading the team in ERA. He shook off a walk-off super-regional loss (in relief) to UC Irvine and had an excellent summer working off his 87-90 mph fastball that touched 91 and featured plus command. His breaking ball showed flashes over the summer, though it's below-average, and his changeup has potential to be a third average pitch.

Jayhawk
1. Rob Musgrave, lhp, El Dorado (Sr., Wichita State)

After going 10-2, 2.59 for Wichita State this spring, Musgrave led the Jayhawk League with a 0.68 ERA this summer while posting a 41-6 strikeout-walk ratio in 40 innings. Musgrave is not overpowering, which is why he was not drafted as a junior, but he’s very polished and has adequate velocity from the left side, working in the high 80s and touching 90 mph with a sneaky fastball that seems harder than it is because he keeps hitters so off balance by mixing his pitches. Musgrave will throw two quality secondary pitches—a changeup and a curveball—in any count and locate them wherever he wants to, in the zone or out of it. He’s very efficient, works fast, keeps the ball down in the zone and throws plenty of strikes. Musgrave’s ceiling is a back-of-the-rotation starter, but he figures to move quickly once he gets a chance in pro ball.

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SB Shock's posting was from Baseball America
Top prospects according to the Perfect Game Crosschecker:

Cape Cod League:

#10. Conor Gillaspie 3B Falmouth Commodores L-R 6-1 205 Jr. Wichita State

SCOUTING REPORT: Gillaspie had a solid sophomore season at Wichita State, hitting .325-6-53, but nothing to suggest he would have the breakout summer he had in the Cape, where he topped the league in batting (.345), slugging (.673) and extra-base hits (21) on his way to earning league MVP honors. He showed a serious ability to square up balls, gave away few at-bats and took what pitchers gave him, pulling inside pitches and going the other way with pitches on the outer half of the plate. He drove numerous balls to the gaps with developing power. He was steady defensively at third with good hands and arm strength, but scouts questioned his range, especially going to his left. Gillaspie has a tireless work ethic and unusually high expectations for himself. He was always taking extra hitting and looking for ways to improve his game, but he was unusually hard on himself when he faltered.

#36. Aaron Shafer RHP Falmouth Commodores R-R 6-5 215 Jr. Wichita State

SCOUTING REPORT: All signs pointed to the 6-foot-5, 215-pound Shafer as being the ace of Falmouth’s talented pitching staff this summer after he went 8-2, 2.23 with 23 walks and 90 strikeouts in 85 innings during the spring at Wichita State . But Shafer missed several starts for the Shockers with a tender elbow and he never found his groove with the Commodores. In 38 innings, he went 2-2, 4.26 and walked 19 while striking out just 30. Shafer’s fastball, a customary 92-94 mph, was only in the 86-88 range and occasionally would top 90. His pinpoint command also deserted him. He still showed a capacity to pitch even without his best fastball and inability to locate consistently, and relied mostly on an outstanding changeup, his best pitch, and three-pitch mix to get key outs. If Shafer is fully healthy and can regain his normal arm strength in the spring, Shafer could shoot back up draft boards. He was a 16th-round selection out of a Missouri high school in 2005.

California Collegiate League:

#3. Anthony Capra LHP Santa Barbara Foresters L-L 6-1 200 Jr. Wichita State

SCOUTING REPORT: Capra had a solid sophomore season for Wichita State , going 7-1, 1.76 with 77 strikeouts in 77 innings in primarily a long relief role, then felt right at home during the Wichita-based NBC World Series, earning all-tournament honors for the Foresters. On the summer, Capra went 4-1, 1.60 with 60 strikeouts in 39 innings. Capra’s fastball normally ranges from 88-91 mph and he learned to change speeds more effectively by refining his changeup. He also has an average curveball, but needs to do a better job of commanding it.

Jayhawk League:

#1. Rob Musgrave LHP El Dorado Broncos L-L 6-2 195 Sr. Wichita State

SCOUTING REPORT: Along with Travis Banwart and Aaron Shafer, Musgrave (10-2, 2.59 with 17 walks and 85 innings) was a stalwart on the Wichita State pitching staff last spring. But while Banwart was a fourth-round pick in this year’s draft and Shafer projects as a high-rounder in 2008, Musgrave was passed over in June. At 85-86 mph, his fastball was a little short most of the spring, but Musgrave increased his velocity during the summer to the high 80s, touching 90. It became an even more effective pitch when he combined it with his best pitch, a dynamic changeup which not only had excellent sinking action but he was able to locate with precision in any count. He also mixed in a 12-6 breaking ball, an inconsistent offering but a solid third pitch on days it was working. His stuff, combined with an advanced approach to pitching, enabled Musgrave to keep Jayhawk League hitters off balance all summer. He went 4-0 and led Jayhawk League pitchers with a 0.54 ERA. In 50 innings, he allowed just 10 walks and 32 hits (opponent batting average: .180), while striking out 47. He spun 10 scoreless innings for the Broncos at the NBC World Series, earning all-tournament honors, and ended the season with a team-record 37-inning streak without allowing an earned run.