By Mike Rosenbaum

The Prep Baseball Report’s 10^th annual Super 60 Pro Showcase will be held Sunday, February 5 at the Max-McCook Athletic & Exposition Center in McCook, Illinois.  An invitation-only event for the premier Class of 2012 and 2013 prospects, the Super 60 has become the most scouted preseason event for potential draft picks.  Since its inception in 2003, the event has produced over 110 MLB draft picks, and last year, was attended by 67 professional scouts and covered by Baseball America.  This year the Super 60 will feature players from seven states.

In 2011, Missouri had two Super 60 participants drafted: SS/OF Johnny Eierman (3^rd round, Tampa Bay Rays) and OF Lance Jeffries (10^th round, St. Louis Cardinals).  While this year’s crop of attendees aren’t necessarily sure-fire draft picks, that can easily change after Sunday. 

Missouri will send five Class of 2012 players to this year’s Super 60: 1B/OF Spencer Johnson (Parkview), 3B/SS Braxton Martinez (Francis Howell North), RHP Blake McFadden (Savannah), MIF Yoonjae Nam (Francis Howell North), and OF Breckin Williams (Webb City).  After participating as a junior in 2011, Johnson will make his second Super 60 appearance.

Several Class of 2013 prospects have also received an invitation to the prestigious event: 3B Matt Brown (Vianney), 3B Drew Harper (Sikeston), and C Tanner Murphy (Malden). Like Johnson, this will be Brown’s second Super 60.

Here is an in-depth look at Missouri’s Super 60 participants:

Matt Brown, St. John Vianney, 3B; Committed to Arkansas

After hitting .350 with six doubles, six home runs and 25 RBI as a freshman for the 2010 Class 4A champion CBC Cadets, the No. 6 ranked Class of 2013 player had the majority of his sophomore campaign marred by injury.  However, Brown returned fully healthy for the tail end of the 2011 season and still finished with a .319 average, six doubles, seven home runs and 21 RBI.  At 6-foot-2, 210-pounds, Brown is a physical specimen who generates considerable power to all fields thanks to a compact swing and direct bat path.  On the infield, he shows both true instincts and excellent lateral movement, as well as solid arm strength (84 mph) that will only get better.

Drew Harper, Sikeston, 3B; Uncommitted

A sure-handed fielder, Harper possesses a lot of natural ability and has tremendous upside.  At 6-foot-2, 200-pounds, the No. 7 ranked Class of 2013 player looks the part both in the field and at the plate.  He approaches and fields the ball with confidence and showcases a strong (79-80 mph) and accurate arm.  At the plate, the right-handed hitting Harper has a firm set up, quiet load and quick hands that allow him to drive the ball to all fields with backspin.

Spencer Johnson, Parkview, 1B/OF; Committed to Missouri State

For the second straight season, Johnson (right) will head into the spring season as Prep Baseball Report Missouri’s No. 1 ranked Class of 2012 player.  In 2011, the 6-foot-4, 200-pound right-handed hitter earned Prep Baseball Report Missouri First Team All-State honors after batting .438 with a .546 on-base percentage, eight doubles, 13 home runs, 43 RBI, and 12 stolen bases.  At last year’s event Johnson’s bat turned a lot of heads and he’ll look to do the same on Sunday as he builds his stock for MLB Amateur Draft in June.

Braxton Martinez, Francis Howell North, 3B; Committed to St. Louis University

Few players had as impressive of a season in 2011 as Martinez, the No. 9 ranked Class of 2012 player.  Playing mainly shortstop for Howell North, the 6-foot-3, 220-pounder batted .522 with 10 home runs and 48 RBI on his way to earning Prep Baseball Report Missouri Second Team All-State honors.  This past summer, Martinez was selected to play for the Cincinnati Reds scout team.  At the plate, the combination of his size and quick wrists yield legitimate power and he possesses a knack for making consistent, hard contact.  Although he will likely once again play shortstop this spring, his size and athleticism projects better at third base at the next level.

Blake McFadden, Savannah, RHP; Committed to Kansas State

McFadden, the No. 4 ranked Class of 2012 player, put his name on everyone’s radar in 2011 when he guided Savannah to a Class 3A runner-up finish.  On the season, the right-hander posted an 8-1 record and 0.72 ERA, and fanned 66 in 48 1/3 innings.  With a fastball that sits 87-91 mph, the 6-foot-2, 195-pound McFadden possesses the state’s best fastball and has emerged as a potential draft prospect.

Tanner Murphy, Malden, C; Uncommitted

After a monstrous 2011 season (.631, 20 2B, 16 HR, 42 RBI) that earned him Prep Baseball Report First Team All-State honors, Murphy has emerged as Missouri’s No. 1 ranked Class of 2013 player.  Behind the plate, the athletic 6-foot-1, 210-pounder has showcased 1.82-1.87 pop times at two PBR events, as well as a 78-80 mph arm.  On the mound, Murphy’s arsenal—85-87 mph fastball, late-breaking 68-71 mph curve, and 68-72 mph changeup—propelled him to a 9-2 record and 2.22 ERA in 2011, and he fanned 107 in 72 innings.  At the plate, Murphy displays robust power to all fields, as the ball jumps off his bat with exceptional backspin.

Yoonjae Nam, Francis Howell North, MIF; Committed to University of Evansville

Nam, the No. 20 ranked Class of 2012 player, is an intriguing middle infield prospect with lots of tools.  This fall, the 6-foot-1, 190-pounder ran an event-best 6.63 60 while showing off a very strong arm (82-85 mph) on the infield.  At the plate, Nam uses quick wrists to take healthy cuts, whipping the bat through the zone and generating pull power with carry.

Breckin Williams, Webb City, OF; Uncomitted

Williams distinguished himself this past summer by earning Top Prospect honors at Prep Baseball Report Missouri’s Top Prospect Invite showcase in Columbia.  In addition to playing the outfield, Williams is also a sound infielder and right-handed pitcher.  The 6-foot-1, 195-pound switch-hitter possesses a compact swing and power from both sides of the plate. This past fall, Williams also led the Webb City football team to a Class 4A state title as quarterback.