Nix Might Need a Fix, but It Hasn’t Kept His Stock From Soaring

His mechanics are crude and he is rude to hitters, but Wayne Nix of Monroe High has a polite, reassuring message for the horde of major league scouts who phone him.

“I thank them for calling, then say that playing pro baseball is definitely what I want to do. It’s all I’ve ever wanted to do.”

With unquestioned playing ability and unquestioned signability, Nix’s stock is like the Dow Jones Industrial Average: It’s at an all-time high.

“He is performing well yet he has a lot to learn, which is a good combination,” one scout said. “That means when he learns more and develops his mechanics, he’ll just get better.”

The 6-foot-5 Nix throws nearly over the top, which makes him intimidating to hitters but also keeps his 90 m.p.h. fastball from moving much. Any professional pitching coach would love the chance to fix Nix.

High school hitters are lucky the adjustments haven’t been made sooner. Nix has struck out 17 in one game and 15 in another, and he admits to wanting to whiff all 21 before season’s end.

“When I’m pitching, I want to get all strikeouts,” he said. “That’s what I concentrate on most.”

*

Five Valley players besides Nix are nearly sure bets to be drafted in June. Like Nix, all are considered signable. Only one is having a tremendous season, but scouts--who requested anonymity--are looking more at tools and mental makeup than at high school statistics.

* Darrell Dent, Montclair Prep--The tools that make this outfielder the top prospect in the Valley are still evident, but two things disturb scouts: Dent has not hit well and, in the words of one scout, “He’s got a lot of hot dog, mustard and relish.”

The attention Dent receives every game--no player is under more scrutiny--may be the cause of his anemic batting average, which is below .250. Yet it is his mental makeup that causes greater concern.

“Sometimes he talks but doesn’t back it up,” a scout said. “I’ve seen him stand in the batter’s box and point to the center field wall, then bunt the next pitch. What’s that all about?”

Dent still should be the highest draft pick among Valley players, scouts say, because of his combination of speed, arm and defense. At the plate, one scout compared him to perennial .300 hitter Willie McGee, someone who uses the whole field and shows occasional power.

“He’s the type of player an organization loves to draft because you are giving your minor league instructors so much to work with,” the scout said.

* Jon Tucker, Chatsworth--There is only one problem with this man-sized first baseman who projects as a Will Clark-type power hitter: He hasn’t hit with much power.

“Everybody on his team has hit except him,” a scout said.

Tucker has one measly home run--belted in a nonleague game at Montclair Prep, six doubles and two triples. He is an adequate first baseman, but he’s slow, so it his bat that must excite scouts.

“A lot of scouting is using your imagination as to what the player is capable of doing, but that can only go so far,” a scout said.

If he never hits another high school home run, Tucker probably will still be drafted in a fairly high round. His bat speed, balance and fluid swing have got to make solid contact sooner or later.

“I’d give him $50,000 and send him out right now,” said a scout. “You can’t turn your back on that kind of power potential.”

* Judd Granzow, Faith Baptist--Granzow, a 6-4 outfielder with a good arm and good speed, is an intriguing prospect. He possesses tools galore yet his performance is difficult to evaluate because he plays at the smallest school level. Even his .481 batting average is in one scout’s words, “soft.”

“He gets absolutely nothing to hit and he won’t all season,” another scout said. “That’s got to be incredibly frustrating to him.”

More than one scout considers Granzow the sleeper of the Valley, a player who could make the scout who signs him look like a genius three years from now.

* Darrell Hussman, Quartz Hill--Perhaps the most impressive aspect of this pitcher’s phenomenal season is that he had arm problems during the winter and has not reached his top velocity.

“He is beating people with his ability to pitch, which is a plus,” one scout said. “He’s showing me that he can offset a hitter’s timing and exploit weaknesses.”

Last summer Hussman was approaching 90 m.p.h. with his fastball. This year he is in the low- to mid-80s. But this is a case where less is more: Hussman is 6-0 with an earned-run average of 0.34.

* Brandon Hernandez, Saugus--Another strapping senior pitcher, Hernandez played in his first game Friday after being academically ineligible. Scouts were impressed last summer by his arm strength and command of a split-finger changeup.

“If he can come back and show the same command over the next month, he will regain the interest he had earlier,” a scout said.

Hernandez, who plays first base when not pitching, is also an accomplished hitter.

“Personally, I want to see him with a bat in his hands,” another scout said.

*

Add Hernandez: A triumphant return it wasn’t.

He struck out in his first two at-bats and dropped an easy throw to first base in the first inning. He finally singled in his third and final at-bat.

“I felt great, but I was nervous just wanting the game to start,” Hernandez said. “I just wanted to stop all the worrying.”

Hernandez is expected to be drafted in June, but says he’s not ruling out any college offers.

“I just want to play baseball,” he said.

“If it’s the pro route, that’s the way I’ll go. We’ll know in June.”

Contributing: Dana Haddad.

WHO’S HOT . . .

Camarillo High softball player Jessica Ziese was five for eight with six RBIs and four runs scored in two games.

Thousand Oaks sophomore Tyler Holmes was five for six in two games.