Donnie Dewees

Dewees was a three-sport star at Crystal River (Fla.) High and earned all-district honors in football and soccer. He was somewhat unheralded in baseball but has done nothing but hit since arriving at North Florida. After an all-conference freshman year, a wrist injury sidelined him for most of the next season and he took a medical redshirt. He returned in time to play in the Cape Cod League, where he was named to the all-star team. He has taken his performance to another level this spring and entered the final weekend of the regular season on a 29-game hitting streak and batting .438/.498/.763 with 15 home runs and 20 stolen bases. He led the country with 96 hits, ranked second in slugging and third in hitting. While North Florida's home ballpark is known for being hitter-friendly, Dewees has established solid credentials as a hitter. He has a compact swing, good bat-to-ball skills and a feel for the barrel. He doesn't project as a power hitter in the professional ranks, but he can drive the ball to all fields and is a plus runner. He tracks down balls well in the outfield, but he has well-below average arm strength. That may mean he will move to left field at the next level, which would put more pressure on his bat. Because Dewees played in just 12 games last year, he has two years of eligibility remaining. He'll turn 22 in September, however, and will likely get drafted high enough to buy out his last two years of eligibility.