ESPN 3 Who to Watch: Weekend of March 30 to April 1, 2012

by Jeremy Strain

References to prospect rankings are generally taken from the Top 100 Draft Prospect preseason rankings at Baseball America.

FRIDAY
3/30 6:00 PM EDT Virginia Tech vs. #4 Florida State
Florida St. features 2012 draft hopefuls Justin Gonzalez, who is having a slow start to the year, James Ramsay and Jayce Boyd. Virginia Tech features fringe top 100 prospect Andrew Rash.

3/30 6:30 PM EDT #8 Miami (FL) vs. Clemson
Number 8 Miami is led by early-round draft prospect C Peter O’Brien, as well as RP E.J. Escinosa, and SS Stephen Perez. Clemson features top 2012 prospects P Kevin Brady and 3B Richie Shaffer, as well as a few interesting follows such as Jason Stolz and P Kevin Pohle.

3/30 6:30 PM EDT Virginia vs. #22 North Carolina State
Virginia features RP Branden Kline and SS Stephen Bruno who are prospects for the draft this year, and while NC State doesn’t have any BA Top 100 players it does have a pair of young players worth watching in P Carlos Rodon and C Brett Austin.

3/30 8:00 PM EDT #3 Arkansas vs. #14 LSU
Third ranked Arkansas features top 2012 draft prospects Nolan Sandburn and P DJ Baxendale, and 2013 top draft prospects Dom Ficocciello and Ryne Stanek. The Tigers boast one of the top prospects in the 2012 draft -- P Kevin Gausman -- as well as SS Austin Nola.

SATURDAY
3/31 1:00 PM EDT Duke vs. #21 Georgia Tech
Duke features a top pitching prospect in Marcus Stroman, whereas Georgia Tech features P Buck Farmer, as well as OF prospects Brandon Thomas and Kyle Wren.

3/31 1:00 PM EDT Alabama vs. Tennessee
Alabama has OF Taylor Dugas and P Ian Gardeck who are in the latter part of the 2012 top 100 prospects while Tennessee has no prospects in Baseball America’s top 100 list this season.

3/31 4:00 PM EDT #7 Kentucky vs. #18 Georgia
Kentucky features 2012 prospect, OF Brian Adams, while Georgia has two pitchers in the latter half of BA's list in Michael Palazzone and Alex Wood.

3/31 4:00 PM EDT #10 South Carolina vs. Vanderbilt
South Carolina boasts a lineup featuring draft hopefuls, 1B Christian Walker, OF Adam Matthews, P Matt Price, and OF Evan Marzilli. Vandy features P Sam Selman, who is having a rough year, and OF Michael Yastrzemski, the grandson of the great Carl Yastrzemski. Tyler Beede is a young player to watch for future years.

3/31 4:00 PM EDT #8 Miami (FL) vs. Clemson
Number 8 Miami is led by top draft prospect C Peter O’Brien, as well as RP E.J. Escinosa, and SS Stephen Perez. Clemson features top 2012 prospects P Kevin Brady and 3B Richie Shaffer, as well as a few interesting follows such as Jason Stolz and P Kevin Pohle.

3/31 6:00 PM EDT Virginia Tech vs. #4 Florida State
Florida St. features 2012 draft hopefuls Justin Gonzalez, who is having a slow start to the year, James Ramsay and Jayce Boyd, while Virginia Tech features fringe top 100 prospect Andrew Rash.

3/31 6:30 PM EDT Virginia vs. #22 North Carolina State
Virginia features RP Branden Kline and SS Stephen Bruno who are prospects for the draft this year, and while NC State doesn’t have any BA Top 100 players it does have a pair of young players worth watching in P Carlos Rodon and C Brett Austin.

SUNDAY
4/01 12:00 PM EDT Miami (FL) vs. Clemson
Number 8 Miami is led by top draft prospect C Peter O’Brien, as well as RP E.J. Escinosa, and SS Stephen Perez. Clemson features top 2012 prospects P Kevin Brady and 3B Richie Shaffer, as well as a few interesting follows such as Jason Stolz and P Kevin Pohle.

4/01 1:00 PM EDT Virginia vs. #22 North Carolina State
Virginia features RP Branden Kline and SS Stephen Bruno who are prospects for the draft this year, and while NC State doesn’t have any BA Top 100 players it does have a pair of young players worth watching in P Carlos Rodon and C Brett Austin.

4/01 1:00 PM EDT Virginia Tech vs. #4 Florida State
Florida St. features 2012 draft hopefuls Justin Gonzalez, who is having a slow start to the year, James Ramsay and Jayce Boyd, while Virginia Tech features fringe top 100 prospect Andrew Rash.

4/012:00 PM EDT California vs. #25 Texas
Cal has a couple players in the top 100 in P Justin Jones and SS Tony Renda, and Texas counters with top prospect pitcher Hoby Milner. The Longhorns' projectable starter Sam Stafford is out for the season with a shoulder injury.