That Maika Niu is a deep sleeper might lead to him fulfilling his dream of playing professional baseball.
Baseball America has identified Niu, last yearÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Marshall University shortstop who has since transferred to Arkansas, as the deepest sleeper in the Major League Baseball Draft, which begins at 6 p.m. Sunday and continues through Tuesday.
Baseball AmericaÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Peter Flaherty said heÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œgotten a few great looks at (Niu) over the past monthÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ in the prestigious Cape Cod League, the premier summer college circuit. Pro scouts traditionally give strong credence to prospects who play well on the Cape.
Niu, who just completed his junior season with the Thundering Herd, leads the Cape Cod League with seven home runs and 18 runs batted in. Playing for Falmouth, Niu is batting .338, reaching base at a .404 clip and slugging .650. At Marshall last season, Niu, who transferred to Huntington from New Orleans, hit 15 homers and 14 doubles and slashed .273/.343/.560. He stole 11 bases.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œNiu has shown the ability ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” both with metal and wood ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” to hammer the baseball to all fields, though his highest quality of contact has come to the pull side,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Flaherty wrote. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œAt school, he posted a 90th percentile exit velocity of 106.8 mph, while this summer he has registered multiple triple-digit exit velocities.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Flaherty also lauded NiuÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s speed, arm strength and athleticism, adding the former Herd star fits best as a center fielder.
Negatives, according to Flaherty, include NiuÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s tendency to chase pitches out of the strike zone, difficulty picking up spin and identifying pitches.
Niu isnÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t ranked in Baseball AmericaÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s top 500 draft prospects, which was compiled before the Cape Cod League started.
Flaherty also listed as sleepers Tennessee pitcher Brandon Arvidson, Niagara pitcher Matt Barr, Southern Mississippi outfielder Jake Cook, Gonzaga pitcher Payton Graham, USC third baseman Ethan Hedges, Tulane pitcher Michael Lombardi and Cincinnati outfielder Landon Vidourek.
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