Sept. 4, 2008

AUBURN, Ala. - Four current Auburn baseball players were recognized for their play in summer leagues across the country as Baseball America released its list of Summer League Top Prospects on Thursday afternoon. Tony Caldwell (Florida Collegiate League), Hunter Morris (Team USA), Kevin Patterson (Cape Cod) and Scott Shuman (FCL) and were all deemed top prospects.

Caldwell was the MVP of his Winter Park Diamond Dawgs and was a league All-Star. Hitting .283 in 99 plate appearances, he had 11 extra-base hits (8 doubles, 2 triples and 1 home run) and drove in 16, finishing with a .434 slugging percentage while also displaying some speed in swiping seven bases in eight attempts.

Baseball America said this about the catcher: "Caldwell started 17 games for Auburn as a freshman, batting .270/.400/.413 in 63 at-bats. He got more regular playing time this summer for Winter Park, hitting a team-best .283 and slugging .434, fifth-best in the league. He generates good bat speed and makes consistent, hard contact, though he needs to improve his plate discipline. Sturdily built at 5-foot-10, 185 pounds, Caldwell is a good receiver with a strong arm and a quick release. He's an instinctive player who always plays hard."

Morris was more of a role player for a Team USA National squad that went undefeated and won the FISU World Championships, but his summer was filled with big hits, including the game-winner in the championship-clinching game. In just 37 at-bats he hit .270 with four extra base hits (double, 3 home runs), driving in nine with a .541 slugging percentage. He was tapped the 14th-best prospect on the team.

Patterson hit .296 for the Cotuit Kettleers of the Cape Cod League, helping the team to a runner-up finish in what is widely considered the most prestigious summer league. An All-Star for Cotuit he collected 14 extra-base hits (8 doubles, 2 triples, 4 home runs) and drove in 27 RBI, finishing with a .454 slugging percentage. He also won the Daniel J. Silva Sportsmanship Award.

Rated the 17th-best prospect in the league, Baseball America had this to say about the sophomore: "Patterson is still raw but Roberts compared his offensive ceiling to that of Justin Smoak, the former Cotuit star who went 11th overall in the 2008 draft. Patterson displayed plenty of power potential with wood bats but needs to tighten his strike zone. He's an athletic 6-foot-4, 220-pounder who has enough arm strength to make catching an intriguing possibility."

Shuman was the highest-rated player on Auburn's roster in his respective league, checking in as the second-best prospect in the Florida Collegiate League. Appearing in just five games, all starts, he was an impressive 2-0 with a 3.21 ERA in 28.0 innings, throwing a complete game. He also racked up 25 strikeouts against nine walks.

According to Baseball America: "The 6-foot-4, 215-pound Shuman had a disappointing sophomore year for Auburn, going 2-2, 6.07 in 30 innings, mostly in relief. He shifted to a starting role in the FCSL and bounced back well, going 2-0, 3.21 with a 25-9 strikeout-walk ratio in 28 innings. Shuman's bread and butter is a quality sinker that tops out at 92. He complements it with a good slider with some tilt."

A former Auburn player was also recognized for his work as Mike Bianucci, an eighth-round pick who signed with the Texas Rangers after this past summer's MLB Draft, was tabbed the 19th-best prospect in the Cape for his partial season in the league. "After getting overmatched at times last summer, Bianucci made more consistent hard contact in his second stint with Cotuit before signing for $175,000 as the Rangers' eighth-round pick. He still lunges at times, leaving him vulnerable to inside fastballs from righthanders, but he offers plenty of strength. A good athlete for a 6-foot-1, 215-pounder, he has average speed and solid arm strength, and it's possible that he could handle third base."

Baseball America ranked the top 30 prospects for the talent-rich Cape Cod League and the top 10 prospects in 18 other summer college leagues. In addition, the top 20 Team USA prospects were ranked. Auburn's ranking of four current players placed it in a five-way tie for third with the most players on the list, trailing Texas and LSU, which both had five players on the 19 lists.

Auburn begins fall team practice on September 16th under the direction of new head coach John Pawlowski.