June 8th- With the economic downturn hampering many aspects of the baseball and sporting world, it is essential that team’s groom and develop their own talent to supplement their major league rosters to avoid major cost restraints.
This year’s ’09 crop is set out to be a solid group with top heavy pitching, and then bottoming out as you get into the supplemental rounds. There are a lot of interesting subplots this year AFTER the expected Stephen Strasburg pick. Are the Mariners really sold on UNC’s OF Dustin Ackley? Do the Padres gamble on signing super phenom OF Donovon Tate? If not, how far will Tate go? How will Missouri’s RHP Kyle Gibson’s injury affect his draft status? Will the NY Yankees have any budgetary constraints this year after their offseason spending spree? Who will be this year’s OF Ben Revere surprise pick in the 1st round? As you can see, there are many questions surrounding this year’s Major League draft, and we here at TPFS want to get you started on answering those with our exclusive Mock Draft:
1. Washington Nationals – San Diego State | RHP Stephen Strasburg | 6’4” 220 lbs B: Right T: Right
There are once in a generation talents that hit the scene every few years, and Mr. Strasburg seems to fit in that category. He’s been looked upon as the savior for the Nats for two years now, and they’ll finally get their man come Tuesday. The tall bulky right hander has electric stuff in a repertoire that includes a 95-100 mph, devastating 88-90mph slider, and an improving changeup. His final statline tells the story on how dominant he was: 13-1 1.32 ERA 19 BB 195 K in 109 innings. Many scouts worry about his extraneously violent delivery that seems to cause the dreaded “inverted w” that many people talk about leading towards elbow problems, while others believe his launch and mechanics are just fine. He’s often been compared to the ill fated Mark Prior, but Strasburg has thrown 236.1 innings in his three years at SDSU, while Prior threw 267 IP in his two years at USC. One thing Strasburg will have to work on is commanding his pitches in the strike zone. Hitters in the pro ranks won’t be fishing for his slider in the dirt if the fastball command isn’t consistent, and if you’ve looked at a lot of Strasburg’s starts this year, there are a lot of swing and misses by batters out of the strike zone. The Nats need a shot in the arm, and even though he may not be a 10 time All Star because of impending arm injuries, he’ll excite many in the baseball world.
Comparison: RHP Justin Verlander
2. Seattle Mariners – University of North Carolina | OF Dustin Ackley | 6’1” 185 lbs B: Left T: Right
New Seattle Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik made his name by re-stocking the once barren Milwaukee Brewers farm system, and judging by his track record, it seems like he usually leaned towards drafting athletic positional players with hitting upside. Ackley won’t “wow” you with his power, but his sweet swing and patient approach at the plate have many believing he’s the safest positional prospect in this draft. Through June 6th, Ackley is hitting at a .415/.515/.772 clip, but those numbers won’t be the norm for him when he gets to pro ball. One concern about him is his throwing arm after undergoing Tommy John surgery last summer. If he’s able to play a solid CF throughout his pro career, then this will be a good pick, if not then a gap hitting average fielding 1st baseman doesn’t seem too appealing. The Mariners need bats though.
Comparison: OF Darin Erstad
3. San Diego Padres – Fort Worth Cats (Independent League) | RHP Aaron Crow | 6’2” 205 lbs B: Right T: Right
With the San Diego Padres looking to revamp their whole team and not wanting to really overslot on a talent such as OF Donovan Tate, they’ll “settle” on the talented right hander Mr. Crow. “Signability” concerns are out there, as Crow didn’t sign last year after being selected by the Nationals at #10, but we’re sure the Padres can get him into the staple this year. His demands were $4 million then, and who knows what he may command this year, but what we do know is that he’s a legit top 10 talent once again as his 2009 performance in the Independent League warrants his inclusion. His repertoire consists of a nice 91-94mph fastball/sinker and an above average high 80’s slider. One thing to be worried about is a little wrist-cuff action in his delivery that makes his arm lag a little, and thus reducing arm velocity towards delivery. Other than that, Crow is a “safe” pick right here, and projects to being a #2 starter in the big leagues with a high GB%.
Comparison: Matt Garza
4. Pittsburgh Pirates – Vanderbilt University | LHP Mike Minor | 6’4” 195 lbs B: Right T: Left
With rumors that the Pirates will lean heavily towards investing in this year’s Latin American market, their ’09 draft choices will have to balance a talent/signability beam. Minor wont “wow” you with raw lefty power like a Jon Lester or David Price or his 2009 college stats (6-6 3.90 ERA), but his low 90’s fastball and high 80’s slider combo, along with his improving command make Minor an intriguing and safe prospect. He needs to work on his fringe changeup and curve offering to really be an effective Major Leaguer. He has a pretty smooth delivery that takes advantage of his long arms, and hides the ball decently.
Comparison: Zach Duke
5. Baltimore Orioles – Saint Paul Saints (Independent League) | RHP Tanner Scheppers | 6’4” 200 lbs B: Right T: Right
Scheppers was another of the ’08 arms who failed to sign last year, and decided to go the Independent League route. A draft pick of the Pirates last season, an injured right shoulder and price demands kept him out of pro ball last year, but he rebounded this year with good reports on his power fastball and improving 12-6 curveball. If his medical reports come back strong, the Orioles snatch him up here and you could possibly see him closing for the O’s in two years. He doesn’t have much of a feel for his secondary stuff, but the power arm and smooth delivery are there.
Comparison: Kerry Wood
6. San Francisco Giants – Capistrano Valley (Calif.) HS | LHP Tyler Matzek | 6’3” 185 lbs B: Left T: Left
Given that the Giants still need offensive help, they’ll turn to arguably the best left handed high school pitcher in the country in Matzek. The talented southpaw commands a 90-94mph with sink, a developing mid 70’s round house curve, and a marginal mid 80’s slider that will probably be put on the back burner for a few years to save wear and tear on his arm. His delivery is very compact, and his slender body could add some additional weight, which would improve his tail and velocity on his fastball. He should be a relatively easy sign, as he wants to get in pro ball as soon as possible, and with the way the Giants seem to churn out pitching prospects, it’s a good situation career-wise to invest in.
Comparison: Ted Lilly
7. Atlanta Braves - East Paulding High School (GA) HS | RHP Zach Wheeler | 6’4” 180 lbs B: Right T: Right
With the history that the Braves have in taking Georgia bred high school prepsters, this is a slam dunk pick right here for GM Frank Wren and his developmental staff. The wiry and tall righty has an electric arm which is thrown at a three quarter angle that makes it uncomfortable for right handed hitters to pick up. His fastball has been clocked at 94-95mph, but consistently sits in the low 90’s with good movement. He also flashes a very good curveball that he uses mostly outside of the strikezone, as his command with it is not all there yet. It has a good biting plane to it with heavy tilt and velocity (78-80mph) which makes for good separation from his fastball. He doesn’t have another pitch to hang his hat on and his command can become spotty at best, as he’s very lanky and has a lot of leg/arm action during his delivery. It’s correctable and with a better feel for his curve and if he can develop another pitch he could be another gem from Georgia for the Braves.
Comparison: A.J Burnett
8. Cincinnati Reds – University of North Carolina | RHP Alex White | 6’3” 200 lbs B: Right T: Right
There were many questions surrounding the inconsistent, but talented Alex White going into the Super Regionals, and he responded by throwing an 8 inning 12K gem vs. East Carolina that got scouts re-thinking about White’s spot in the top 10. People have soured on him because of his so-so 2009 campaign that saw him pitch at an 8-4 4.13 ERA clip. It also didn’t look good in the Regionals last week vs. Coastal Carolina only lasting 4 innings in a game where he gave up five runs. The Reds would have liked to snag Crow or Minor here, but their recent inclinations to draft college players and stay away from giving huge bonuses to HS pitchers, White with his electric mid 90’s stuff (mostly sits in low 90s with lateral movement), tumbling high 80’s splitter and slider would be too good to pass up here.
Comparison: Danny Haren
9. Detroit Tigers - Brownwood (Texas) HS | RHP Shelby Miller | 6’3” 195 lbs B: Right T: Right
Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski is a sucker for talented high school power arms, and Miller is probably the best left on the board here. The young right hander sports a heavy sinking fastball that runs between 91-94 mph on a consistent basis with reports of 96-98mph readings at times. He also has a very good curveball with good snapping action that compliments his array of fastballs. He really gets on top of the ball, but sometimes pitches too high in the strike zone, which negates his heavy fastball action. Could Dombrowski grab Tate here?
Comparison: Roy Halladay
10. Washington Nationals – Stanford University | RHP Drew Storen | 6’2” 175 lbs B: Both T: Right
With the Nats expected to shell out an unprecedented bonus to their top pick Stephen Strasburg, many believe (including myself) that Nats management will seek to take a signable player here with their second pick in the 1st round. Even so, Storen has shot up the draft boards recently, as his mid 90’s fastball, sure curve, and off the charts makeup really caught the eyes of most scouts this year. He’s also a command machine walking only 5% of the batters he faced this year. The Cardinal season has been over for a while now, so Storen has also been resting for a bit, which should bode well in his recovery from the wear and tear of the season. Storen has the makeup and stuff to possibly be in the Nationals bullpen by next May.
Comparison: Justin Masterson
11. Colorado Rockies – Arizona State University | RHP Mike Leake | 6’1” 180 lbs B: Right T: Right
The Rockies have shown that they’re committed to drafting college players, and Leake’s name right now is rising up the charts. He’s been overshadowed by the dominance of Strasburg this season at the college level, but he’s more than dominated himself in the much tougher PAC-10 compiling an amazing 15-1 1.23 ERA 143 K 20 BB statline in 124.2 innings (compare to Strasburg above). Leake commands four above average offerings: a 88-92 fastball with sinking action to both sides of the dish, a hard tight slider at 88-90mph, a get-me-over mid 70’s curve, and a soon to be plus (70 scale) changeup which he throws at any time. His size is a question mark, but he’s an extremely athletic player with a good work ethic, and an excellent knack for pitching. He’s a two year Major League ready guy.
Comparison: Tim Hudson
12. Kansas City Royals – University of Southern California | SS Grant Green | 6’3” 200 lbs B: Right T: Right
Most baseball people had Green going in the top 3 of this year’s draft going into the season after his sparkling performance in the ’08 Cape League, but he started out slow to start the year and questions arose about his work ethic. It didn’t help that he also had some nagging injuries during the year, and was pitched around a lot on a team that was impotent offensively. What he does have is a very compact inside-out stroke with good gap power to all fields. He’s really a five-tool talent if you study his overall game, and his fluid actions and strong arm should be able to play at shortstop as he matures. Just the fact that he plays a premium position is too good of a deal to pass up for the offensively challenged Royals here.
Comparison: Troy Tulowitzki
13. Oakland A's – Millville High School (NJ) HS | OF Mike Trout | 6’2” 195 lbs B: Right T: Right
Beleaguered A’s GM Billy Beane’s star has diminished a bit in the last few years, and maybe this time he’ll stop taking the marginal Quintanilla’s and Pennington’s of the world and actually get high ceiling high school talents like Trout. It also makes sense since the Athletics have re-stocked their system with a ton of pitching, but their positional prospects leave much to be desired. Trout is an all around baseball player with great “coachability” and attitude. He received the second highest on-the-field rating (66) from the Baseball Scouting Bureau this March trailing only Strasburg. He’s very raw right now, but his instincts are superb and his speed/power combo make him a favorite amongst Northeast area scouts. He translates as a high energy player with good power for CF, and 30 stolen base capability.
Comparison: Craig Biggio/Rusty Greer
14. Texas Rangers – Klein HS (Tex.) HS | LHP Matt Purke | 6’3” 185 lbs B: Left T: Left
With Nolan Ryan now running things in Texas, the organization has turned towards developing pitching prospects, and that renewed devotion will have an effect on who they go after in this 2009 Draft. Purke is a big time prep prospect, who in many circles was rated the #1 guy coming into the season. He definitely didn’t disappoint, as he was as good as advertised showing a mid 90’s fastball, a low 80’s slider with good tilt, and a very good feel for a changeup. His delivery is another plus that scouts love, as he throws from a three-quarter tilt with an easy stride that looks effortless. His bonus demands could be in the Rick Porcello range of $6 million, which could throw a monkey wrench into this pick here, but Texas has to start to make a commitment right now.
Comparison: Madison Bumgarner
15. Cleveland Indians – Indiana University | RHP Erik Arnett | 6’5” 225 lbs B: Right T: Right
The Indians GM Ron Shapiro would like to take a shot at high school pitcher here, but will take the big powerful Arnett with this pick. He showed dramatic improvement in his junior season after two average campaigns at Indiana, but this year he grew into what scouts believed he would be coming out of high school. He throws a heavy fastball that sits around 91-93mph that has the capability to get into the upper 90’s when he wants to, a very good and hard low 80’s slider when he’s on top of his game, and a very good splitter that was taught to him before the season. Scouts love his competitiveness and that should translate well into the pro ranks.
Comparison: Jonathan Papelbon
16. Arizona Diamondbacks – Westminster Christian Academy, MO (HS) | RHP Jacob Turner | 6’5” 210 lbs B: Right T: Right
Maybe Turner doesn’t slide this far, as he’s one of the more talented right handed prepsters in the country, but his salary demands, good but not great low 90’s fastball and average command of his slider may turn some teams off. What he does have is a very projectable frame and with some mechanical alterations could see him blossom into a mid 90’s fastball pitcher that could fill out into a top of a rotation type of guy. With the D-Backs trying to replenish their system with arms, this would be a likely landing spot for young Mr. Turner. A Jarrod Parker/Jacob Turner combo wouldn’t be too shabby.
Comparison: Brad Penny
17. Arizona Diamondbacks – University of Notre Dame | OF A.J Pollock | 6’1” 200 lbs B: Right T: Right
With D-Backs GM Josh Byrnes pulling the trigger on the high bonus demand Jacob Turner, he and his staff will be going back into the college ranks and selecting one of the more advanced hitters in the country in A.J Pollock. Pollock always seems to make consistent contact, and is rarely fooled at the plate. He makes great adjustments at the plate, and even though he doesn’t project to hit for big power, he’s too good of a hitter to pass up and should sign quick. As a fielder, Pollock is very heady and has enough recovery speed in the field to make up for lack luster jumps. He’s a player that could move quickly through the system. A “safe” pick here.
Comparison: David Murphy (right handed version)
18. Florida Marlins – Norco HS (Calif.) HS | RHP Matt Hobgood | 6’4” 245 lbs B: Right T: Right
The Marlins are the best in the business in churning out power high school arms, and they’ll dip into the well again and select the bulky right hander from California. Hobgood is an all business-type of pitcher that just goes after hitters with his mid 90’s fastball that stays humming well into the latter stages of games. His curveball is mentioned as the best in the high school ranks, and sits in the 76-79mph range with excellent rotation and bite. Hobgood will likely have to work on his changeup a little more, but he has thrown it this year and the results haven’t been terrible. His delivery is very compact and easy, which saves tear on his arm, and that should translate into a healthy prognosis for his future. He’s also a terror at the plate as well. A no brainer pick here.
Comparison: Carlos Zambrano
19. St. Louis Cardinals – Lipscomb University | LHP Rex Brothers | 6’1” 205 lbs B: Left T: Left
Brothers’ stock has risen over the past few weeks after his performance in the Atlantic Sun series where he flashed a 97mph fastball and a devastating late 80’s biting slider that helped register 12k’s in a losing, but valiant performance vs. Kennesaw State. This year he compiled 143 K’s with just 43 BB in just 94 innings. He’s primarily a two pitch pitcher, but both those offerings are plus-plus bullets in his holster. He’s the type of guy who can fly through the system and potentially be closing for Tony Larussa full time by mid-2011.
Comparison: Billy Wagner
20. Toronto Blue Jays – Bishop Verot HS, Fla. (HS) | 3B Bobby Borchering | 6’4” 200 lbs B: Both T: Right
The Blue Jays brass and their fans would be ecstatic if Borchering fell to them at this spot, as he’s thought of as potentially being the best high school hitter in this class. His switch hitting prowess and body type have some comparing him to Chipper Jones. He displays plus-plus bat speed from both sides of the plate (better lefty) and his swing has great loft in it. Borchering shows power to the opposite field, and does a good job letting the ball travel deep in the zone before whipping his arms through the hitting area (key when facing advanced pitching). Some scouts wonder if he can stay at 3rd base, as his feet are a little slow and he carries a stiff upper body. He tried his hand at catching last summer, but scrapped those plans, as he went out to improve his fielding this year and succeeded in doing that. He needs more tutelage though. With the Jays lacking true offensive talent on the field in their system, a guy like Borchering would be a welcomed addition.
Comparison: Chipper Jones (switch-hitting toolswise)
21. Houston Astros – University of Kentucky | LHP James Paxton | 6’4” 215 lbs B: Left T: Left
With the Astros system being the worst in the Major Leagues, this will be a telling draft where this team is headed in the future. Paxton is a tall rangy lefty with a mid 90’s fastball with late tail and a late 80’s hard biting slider. His command isn’t where it should be, especially on the 3rd base side of the rubber, which won’t help him in the pro ranks, but if he learns to pound right handers on the inside half of the plate, he could blossom into a very intriguing pitcher. Some scouts don’t like his command and delivery which might tend you to believe he’s destined for a bullpen role, but if he develops more consistency with his fastball and manages to develop a decent changeup he could make it as a starter and move quickly through the system. It’s a high risk/high reward pick because he’s a southpaw, and if he doesn’t pan out, he could land in the bullpen where his mid 90’s fastball from the left side could be an effective weapon late in games.
Comparison: Jonathan Sanchez
22. Minnesota Twins – Kenesaw State | RHP Chad Jenkins | 6’4” 225 lbs B: Right T: Right
Along with the Marlins, the Twins do a superb job in developing young pitching and Jenkins would be a great pick at this point. He’s a big burly workhorse of a pitcher with a compact delivery that protects his arm. At Kenesaw State this year he compiled a very impressive 8-1 2.54 ERA with 15 BB 98 K’s in 92 innings. He throws four big league pitches: a 91-94mph fastball that he uses on both sides of the plate with sink to produce groundballs, a biting hard mid 80’s slider that causes many swings an misses, a very effective fading changeup (vs. lefties) that tops out at 83mph, and mid 80’s cutter that he features to get in on left handers. Those four quality pitches could all be Major League ready already, but he needs to get a hold of his command, as he sometimes leaves his pitches up in the zone too much; All workable problems that can be fixed by Twins instructors.
Comparison: John Lackey
23. Chicago White Sox – Texas (Texas) HS | OF Slade Heathcott | 6’1” 195 lbs B: Left T: Left
White Sox GM Kenny Williams seems to be the Al Davis of Major League Baseball for his unpredictable picks (not awful picks like A.D., but unpredictable) and Heathcott would be a Ken Williams-like selection right here. There’s no question that Heathcott can become a five-tool outfielder with grit if he harnesses it, but off the field concerns have some raising major red flags. On the field he displays a cannon for an arm, a great glove that can play in all three outfield spots, a nice left handed swing that generates very good bat speed, and potential for 20+ home run power. He’s a very intriguing prospect nonetheless and that could pay major dividends down the road for a White Sox organization devoid of young outfield talent.
Comparison: Colby Rasmus
24. Los Angeles Angels – Cartersville (GA) HS | OF Donovan Tate | 6’3” 200 lbs B: Right T: Right
The wait is over. If Tate gets picked in the 1st round, then this is the most logical spot for him to be taken. Last offseason the Angels saved a ton of money letting Mark Teixeira and Frankie Rodriguez go. Why not allocate that money into this draft and re-stock their drying up system? Tate is looking for a huge $6-$7 million bonus money and seems intent to attend UNC on a dual sport scholarship, but why not take a chance on a very good talent here? Tate projects to be a gold glove centerfielder who’s pretty raw offensively right now, but could develop upper deck power that could play in the middle of an order. A lot of teams question his bat, but if he starts playing baseball full time, he’ll grow into a very fine ballplayer that could take over for Tori Hunter in four years or so.
Comparison: Adam Jones
25. Los Angeles Angels – Maize (Kan.) HS | RHP Garret Gould | 6’4” 195 lbs B: Right T: Right
Garret Gould has been shooting up the draft boards lately, as his athletic and projectable body have scouts reshuffling their draft rankings as of late. He may have the best high school curveball for any right hander in this draft class, a consistent 90-94mph fastball and very good command for a young hurler make him a very intriguing selection. He has a real funky delivery which causes him to land on the side upper most left hand side of the mound as he lands, which his command even more so unbelievable. Instructors may want to tune that up a bit, but its working for him.
Comparison: Michael Bowden
26. Milwaukee Brewers – Troup County (GA) HS | C Luke Bailey | 6’1” 200 lbs B: Right T: Right
Before the season Bailey was thought of as a top 10 pick, but Tommy John Surgery and the notion he could go to Auburn to rehab and come back into the draft three years later changed all those plans. Before the surgery his pop times where very good (not Mauer-like) and his whole defensive game was solid, but not spectacular but has room to grow. When fully healthy though, he has great arm strength and accuracy which is why he was considered a high draft pick earlier in the year. At the plate he shows great power helped by incredibly strong wrists and long extended swing, which may hamper him a bit moving up. Overall, it’s a good gamble to take and if he pans out, could be a major steal down the road for Bruce Seid and his scouting staff.
Comparison: Mike Lieberthal
27. Seattle Mariners – Yucaipa (CA) HS | 3B Matt Davidson | 6’3” 215 lbs B: Right T: Right
Matt Davidson is considered by some scouts as the best right handed hitting high school prospect in the nation, but questions about his glove and holes in his swing will cause him to slide in the 20’s. There’s no denying Davidson has major power potential, but he tends to swing and miss a lot on high fastballs, which worry many as he gets into pro ball. On the field his arm is very average for a third baseman and that may cause him to switch to 1st base, but either way, this is a good gamble for a team that needs corner hitting prospects badly.
Comparison: Michael Cuddyer
28. Boston Red Sox – South Panola (Miss.) HS | 3B/SS David Renfroe | 6’3” 200 lbs B: Right T: Right
Both the Red Sox and Yankees held private workouts with Renfroe last week, and both came away so impressed that Renfroe himself stated that either team would take him if he was still there. No way the Red Sox let that happen, as the young corner infielder put on a pretty legendary display at Fenway Park that “wow’ed” the likes of David Wright who watched him hit during his workout. Renfroe is a four-tool talent player in a premium position, and even though his bonus demands will be a little high, the Sox brass won’t let him slide past them.
Comparison: David Wright
29. New York Yankees - University of Missouri | RHP Kyle Gibson | 6’6” 200 lbs B: Right T: Right
Kyle Gibson came into this year as a consensus top 5 pick, and it looked that way for a while as he carried his Tigers team throughout the season throwing five complete games. However, his stuff seemed to fade at the end of the season. Recently it was discovered that he had suffered a stress fracture in his right forearm that can possibly lead to elbow problems down the road, but the Yankees seem to be OK with taking chances on high ceiling college pitchers with medical problems. If everything works out, the Yankees will have a Major League ready pitcher who sports a 90-93mph fastball with sink, a hard darting low 80’s slider, and a great low 80’s changeup that he uses at any point in the count. Gibson’s stuff and the way he carries himself on the mound are top notch assets, and I think with this recent injury will be an easy player to sign.
Comparison: Derek Lowe
30. Tampa Bay Rays – Yuba City (Calif.) HS | C Max Stassi | 5’10” 205 lbs B: Right T: Right
The Rays picking at an unfamiliar spot should look into selecting a catcher here, as at this point of the draft catching prospects should be going pretty fast. Stassi is a very compact hitter with excellent make up, receiving, and hitting skills. He’s a true leader behind the plate who is pretty athletic for his stocky frame, but has a fringe arm right now. At the plate he makes consistent contact to all fields, and lets the ball travel into the strike zone before attacking it. His approach is very pro-like which is another notch under his belt in the eyes of scouts. With the Rays loaded in positional and pitching prospects, it would make sense to start planning to groom a successor to Dianor Navarro.
Comparison: Lou Marson
31. Chicago Cubs – University of Detroit Jesuit (MI) HS | SS Daniel Fields | 6’2” 200 lbs B: Left T: Right
This may be a reach here, as Fields looks like he’s very intent to honor his commitment to Michigan University and the fact that the Cubs have been very aggressive taking college players lately, but it makes sense here. The Cubs need some middle infield depth in their system, and Fields is a very interesting prospect that may be signable for a high profile Mid-West team like the Chicago Cubs. Fields is the son of a former Tigers hitting coach Bruce Fields, and that baseball blood line serves as major plus. On the field Fields is a very smooth shortstop with a very good arm and great footwork. He’s athletic enough to go into the hole and make plays on the run as well. At the plate he flashes power potential from the left side, and shows good but not great speed. Right now he’s very gap to gap. His bonus demands may be a little too high, but it would serve the Cubs well to get a prospect like this into their stable.
Comparison: Jimmy Rollins/Dexter Fowler
32. Colorado Rockies – Texas A&M University | RHP Alex Wilson | 6’1” 210 lbs B: Right T: Right
Alex Wilson is a pitcher no one is really talking about leading up to the draft. It probably has to do with his max delivery effort, his stocky size, and the fast he had Tommy John surgery, but the stuff seems to be back and I don’t think the Rockies can pass up on that. He throws a mid 90’s fastball that sits 91-93mph and a strike out slider with excellent tilt that he can throw for called strikes as well. He still needs to work on his curveball and changeup mechanics/grip, as they’re very rudimentary right now, but for a team that should always be looking for pitchers who miss bats, I think this would be a very good value pick here.
Comparison: Bobby Jenks
*Note – player Comparison’s are what the player looks like. Not what they’ll be when they mature.*
