Baseball America Draft Preview: Kade Keowen, #196

Baseball America has started their draft preview coverage on their website; they listed the Top 200 (subscriber only) on May 22.  Three Valley Leaguers are listed. 

Here's the third player: Kade Keowen (Staunton 05, 06), OF, LSU-Eunice.

Yay!  Someone new to report on! 

First, here's BA's report: "Scouting Report: Louisiana State struggled thorugh its worst season since 1982, and losing two players who have emerged as the best junior college outfielder prospects in the draft didn't help. Speedster Lee Haydel opted to attend Delgado (La.) Community College after LSU forced out former head coach Smoke Laval, and Keowen left for LSU-Eunice Junior College after barely playing in two years with the Tigers and expecting to ride the bench again in his third. He redshirted in 2005 and got just six at-bats in 2006, but showed a high ceiling after joining the defending Division II juco national champions in mid-term. There's not a better big athlete in the draft. Keowen is a 6-foot-6, 230 pound center fielder with plus speed and raw power and a slightly above-average arm. The big question is how he'll fare when he faces quality pitching on a consistant basis. His huge frame and long arms result in a long swing, though he does generate plenty of bat speed. A 21-year-old sophomore, Keowen is ready to sign and enter pro ball. He's also a good student receiving plenty of interest from top Division I programs should he choose to return to college."

At LSU-Eunice this season, Keowen is hitting 400/439/664.  He has 16 doubles, 6 triples, and 10 home runs over 220 at-bats.  His BB/K rate is 14/43.

In Staunton in 2005, he hit 255/356/284 over 141 at-bats. His BB/K rate was 17/49.  In 2006, he improved to 255/304/363, with 16/41 BB/K ratio. 

It looks like Keowen's decision to transfer was the right one- BA has him projected to be drafted in the first 7 rounds after his season at Eunice, while he may not have played at LSU.