The Area Code Games, now operated by a subsidiary of ESPN, is the best amateur scouting event of the summer, drawing players from across the country but skewed toward the prospect-rich areas of California, Arizona and Texas. This year's crop of prospects, like the talent pools at AFLAC and on Cape Cod, was down from previous years, falling off quickly after the first half-dozen or so prospects. And, unfortunately, the best prospect of all isn't even eligible for next year's draft.1. Bryce Harper, C, Las Vegas (Nev.) H.S.
You may have heard a little bit about Harper, who was, hands down, the best player at the Area Code Games. Here are some things about Harper you probably didn't know.Bryce Harper can take a wrought-iron bar, bend it in half with his bare hands, and use it to hit a ball 600 feet on a line. Bryce Harper can throw a quarter across a crowded dance floor and have it land in the coin slot of a jukebox without touching the sides. Bryce Harper can lift an SUV and twirl it on his finger before drop-kicking it through a pair of goalposts 75 yards away. Bryce Harper can make your car run on water and consolidate all your debt into one easy monthly payment. The Twins have asked Bryce Harper to come implode the Metrodome with one swing of his bat. The Spaniards have asked Bryce Harper to come to Pamplona and chase the bulls.Bryce Harper will turn 16 years old in October, shortly after he begins his sophomore year of high school.Harper is the best underclass prospect to come along since Justin Upton, who was in turn the best since Delmon Young. Harper isn't the freak athletic talent that Upton is, but he has an unbelievably professional approach at the plate, getting bat to ball and making hard contact that resonated throughout Blair Field at Long Beach State. He showed he could pull 92-93 mph fastballs -- taking one to the wall in right field on a day when no balls left the yard -- and showed he knew when to take a ball the other way, lining a double over the left fielder's head. He has a 65-70 arm behind the plate even with a slightly long throwing motion and solid receiving skills. He's an above-average runner, legging out a triple in 12.04 seconds. He didn't pitch while I was at Blair Field, but an area scout who has seen him pitch told me he's seen Harper up to 94 mph. He'd be the No. 1 pick in next year's draft if he were eligible, and he's the odds-on favorite to be the No. 1 pick in the 2011 draft.2. Matt Davidson, 3B, Yucaipa (Calif.) H.S.
Profiled in the AFLAC write-up. Davidson had the best hitting approach and swing of any 2009-eligible hitter here, with pull power and a good arm at third base.3. Jonathan Walsh, C, Coppell (Texas) H.S.
Profiled in the AFLAC write-up. He's a switch-hitting offensive catcher without an outstanding tool but solid skills across the board.4. Shelby Miller, RHP, Brownwood (Texas) H.S.
Miller outshone every other pitcher in SoCal this week, sitting at 89-93 in two outings with a solid curveball, flashing a changeup with good arm speed. His delivery was clean, and he stays over the rubber well before driving forward with a moderate stride. He still offers plenty of projection, but the package he showed this week was the best of all of the arms.5. Jake Marisnick, OF, Riverside (Calif.) Poly H.S.