Tyler Saladino is a productive collegiate shortstop from Oral Roberts University. He originally attended
University City High School in San Diego, California, where he was only an average prospect and not
really a draft prospect, so he went undrafted in the 2007 draft. He headed from high school to Palomar
Junior College in his home state, where he put together back-to-back impressive seasons, his
sophomore season being his best. He was drafted by the Astros late in the draft last June, and he didn’t
sign, instead continuing his career with Oral Roberts. He put up dazzling numbers this year as a junior,
and he has raised his draft stock to the point where a large enough number of scouts believe that he will
be a starting shortstop at the Major League level. At the plate, he’s a solid-average hitter with a good
idea of how to barrel up a ball, and he has slightly below-average power that should translate into a
good number of doubles at the next level. He’s a solid-average runner, too, so he’s always going to be an
offensive threat. Defensively, he’s a very good fielder, flashing above-average range and hands, and his
arm is also above-average. All these tools put together make a solid player, and scouts like how
productive he’s been in a jump from the junior college level to Division 1 baseball. He’s expected to go
somewhere in the fourth to seventh round area, where he should be signable for slot money.

From Andy Seiler.