2011 MLB Draft Prospects Preview -- Joe Ross

by Adam J. Morris on Jun 5, 2011 8:00 PM CDT

Continuing our review of prospects in the 2011 Major League Baseball Draft who look like possibilities for the Texas Rangers to select at #33 or #37, we now look at righthanded high school pitcher Joe Ross.

Joe Ross is out of Oakland, California, and his brother Tyson Ross pitches for the Oakland A's. Ross has a good low-90s fastball that can touch 96, what BA describes as a "hard" 11-5 curveball, and a changeup. Ross has committed to UCLA.

Ross went to Texas at #33 in the Minor League Ball community mock draft. Baseball America has Ross ranked as their #36 prospect. Keith Law has Ross ranked at #23, calling him more athletic, more projectable, and with cleaner arm action than his brother. Scout.com has Ross ranked #39, and Frankie Piliere, in his mock, has the Rays taking Ross at #24.

Law has Ross going at #8 overall to Cleveland in his most recent mock draft, while Jim Callis has Ross not going in the first 33 picks in his most recent mock (although he mentions the Rays and Red Sox, both teams with multiple first rounders, as teams interested in Ross). Kevin Goldstein's mock draft has San Francisco grabbing Ross at #29, saying the Giants are "all over Ross," and of course, Ross is in the Giants' back yard.

Joe Ross fits the profile of prep pitchers the Rangers like, athletic, projectable, and with good velocity. Reading the scouting reports, Ross sounds a lot like 2007 first rounder Michael Main -- like Ross, Main was listed at 6'2", 180, threw in the low 90s, and was heralded for his athleticism and clean arm action.

You can see from video of Ross from last summer here.

BA indicates that Ross isn't expected to be an easy sign, but there also aren't indications that he's asking for the type of $3 million bonus that some prep players that would otherwise profile as going in the teens are asking for. That could make him a safe first round pick for someone like Tampa, who has a lot of picks they are going to have to sign. That said, Ross has a pretty decent chance of still being on the board when Texas picks at #33, and if he is, he seems like a likely Ranger target.

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I hope that none of you are behind the @letstalkrangers twitter tag.

Because whoever that is puts the Rangers to shame by having them in his tag.

Ever been in a boardroom, or a gang fight? Ever save a life? Ever won a court case against the odds? Ever held a dying buddy in your arms?.- jackanape on "perspective," 11/8/2010.

"do you a jet ski rental place would work here" - Mike E, 5/10/2011, in response to me saying I would rather face the Thunder than the Grizzlies in the WCF.

by Aqua on Jun 5, 2011 8:07 PM CDT reply actions

you just crushed someone's dreams.

"Sometimes you just want to sit back and watch somebody throw 100." - Jeff Passan on Neftali Feliz

"Baseball's all that's real" - JB

by Ryin A on Jun 5, 2011 10:27 PM CDT up reply actions

Probably Texas_Dawg/Rangers100, maybe steelhome

It goes deeper. People take out their frustrations with Josey on their real-life acquaintances, which propagates forward, and before you know it you’ve got more marriages in an easily-smashable state.-Closure GT on 12/14/2010 9:48 AM

Josh Hamilton: "I just show up, look at the lineup and play where I’m told. If they want me to catch, I’ll catch."

by RangersSD on Jun 5, 2011 11:44 PM CDT up reply actions

I know it's been said before,

but it’s so hard to predict who will be available tomorrow at 33 and 37. Relying on Boston and TB to not do CoolDraftings does not seem to bode well, but at least it’s a deep draft.

"I’d love to walk in and hug everybody every day, but that’s not critical to us winning." - Jon Daniels

by GhettoBear04 on Jun 5, 2011 8:27 PM CDT reply actions