Sunday, June 05, 2005
Gio Gonzalez, P White Sox Age 19
I am back, and continuing my review of high school pitchers from last year's draft. Gio Gonzalez was picked in the supplemental first round.
Gonzalez got off to a great start last year. After excelling in rookie league, Gonzalez pitched 41 innings in low A, which is quite rare for a high school pitcher in his first year.
This year Gonzalez is back in low A and doing extremely well:
45.2 IP 29 H 18 BB 71 K 1.77 ERA
comparing this to his low A numbers last year:
41 IP 39 H 20 BB 34 K 3.76 ERA
shows a definite improvement. I think it's fairly likely that Gonzalez will be promoted to high A at some point this season. Gonzalez did miss about 3 weeks this season with a strained side muscle but he has not missed a beat since returning. His last start:
8 IP 1 H 2 BB 9 K
The only question about Gonzalez is that he is not tall ( 5' 11'') and he doesn't throw particularly hard (high 80s-low 90s). Will this affect his durability, and will his relative lack of velocity be an issue at higher levels? Only time will tell, but as long as Gonzalez pitches like he is now, he is someone to be excited about.
(0) comments
I am back, and continuing my review of high school pitchers from last year's draft. Gio Gonzalez was picked in the supplemental first round.
Gonzalez got off to a great start last year. After excelling in rookie league, Gonzalez pitched 41 innings in low A, which is quite rare for a high school pitcher in his first year.
This year Gonzalez is back in low A and doing extremely well:
45.2 IP 29 H 18 BB 71 K 1.77 ERA
comparing this to his low A numbers last year:
41 IP 39 H 20 BB 34 K 3.76 ERA
shows a definite improvement. I think it's fairly likely that Gonzalez will be promoted to high A at some point this season. Gonzalez did miss about 3 weeks this season with a strained side muscle but he has not missed a beat since returning. His last start:
8 IP 1 H 2 BB 9 K
The only question about Gonzalez is that he is not tall ( 5' 11'') and he doesn't throw particularly hard (high 80s-low 90s). Will this affect his durability, and will his relative lack of velocity be an issue at higher levels? Only time will tell, but as long as Gonzalez pitches like he is now, he is someone to be excited about.
Wednesday, April 20, 2005
Eric Hurley, P Rangers Age: 19
Eric Hurley was the last pick of the first round. He is a hard-throwing high school pitcher. Hurley's rookie league numbers were OK but not great (44 IP, 51 H, 6 BB and 36 K). Supposedly Hurley's velocity was down a little last year due to being tired.
So far this year Hurley is doing great: 17 IP, 10 H, 3BB, 19 K. On Tuesday he was matched up against Kyle Waldrop and clearly outpitched him. I haen't heard what Hurley's velocity is this year, but so far he is definitely improved from last year.
When I complete my reviews of high school pitchers, I will do a summary, including up-to-date stats.
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Eric Hurley was the last pick of the first round. He is a hard-throwing high school pitcher. Hurley's rookie league numbers were OK but not great (44 IP, 51 H, 6 BB and 36 K). Supposedly Hurley's velocity was down a little last year due to being tired.
So far this year Hurley is doing great: 17 IP, 10 H, 3BB, 19 K. On Tuesday he was matched up against Kyle Waldrop and clearly outpitched him. I haen't heard what Hurley's velocity is this year, but so far he is definitely improved from last year.
When I complete my reviews of high school pitchers, I will do a summary, including up-to-date stats.
Monday, April 18, 2005
Kyle Waldrop, P Twins Age: 19
The twins drafted several high school pitchers this year and Waldrop was drafted highest at pick #25 in the first round. Lat year Waldrop pitched well at stops in both the GCL and the Appalachian league.
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The twins drafted several high school pitchers this year and Waldrop was drafted highest at pick #25 in the first round. Lat year Waldrop pitched well at stops in both the GCL and the Appalachian league.
This year Waldrop is again pitching well. In two starts, he has the following numbers:
12 IP 7 H 0 ER 1 BB 8K
The only number I would like to see improved on is his strikeouts which are a little low. But 8 baserunners in 12 IP is very nice. 1 BB is also showing good control.
These numbers are consistent with what Waldrop did last year, when he also showed excellent control and good overall numbers, but his strikeout/IP ratio was just a little low (not bad, but it could be higher).
Waldrop is a big guy at 6-5, but he reportedly doesn't throw too hard, topping out in the low 90s. He does have an excellent change-up, though and I like him a lot.
Saturday, April 16, 2005
Scott Elbert, P Dodgers Age: 19
Next up is Scott Elbert who was drafted at pick #17 by the Dodgers. Elbert's numbers last year were not great. Especially bad was that he walked 30 batters in 50 IP. So far in 2005, Elbert has pitched only once. It is a little hard to draw any conclusions from these numbers:
4 IP 1 H, 2 BB, and 3K
It is not a bad start, but I will be watching his walks as the season progresses. Elbert does throw into the mid 90s, so if he can get the walks under control he could be quite good.
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Next up is Scott Elbert who was drafted at pick #17 by the Dodgers. Elbert's numbers last year were not great. Especially bad was that he walked 30 batters in 50 IP. So far in 2005, Elbert has pitched only once. It is a little hard to draw any conclusions from these numbers:
4 IP 1 H, 2 BB, and 3K
It is not a bad start, but I will be watching his walks as the season progresses. Elbert does throw into the mid 90s, so if he can get the walks under control he could be quite good.
Homer Bailey, P Reds Age: 18
Bailey pitched for the first time this year on Friday night, and it did not go especially well. Here are his numbers:
2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 2 BB and 4 K.
The 4 strikeouts are promising, and one start doesn't meen too much, but so far both Bailey and Makr Rogers are being outpitched by the high school pitchers picked below them. We have already seen that Philip Hughes is doing well so far, and my upcoming reports will highlight some high school pitchers who are doing very well.
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Bailey pitched for the first time this year on Friday night, and it did not go especially well. Here are his numbers:
2 IP, 4 H, 3 ER, 2 BB and 4 K.
The 4 strikeouts are promising, and one start doesn't meen too much, but so far both Bailey and Makr Rogers are being outpitched by the high school pitchers picked below them. We have already seen that Philip Hughes is doing well so far, and my upcoming reports will highlight some high school pitchers who are doing very well.
Friday, April 15, 2005
Philip Hughes - P, Yankees Age: 18
The second highest high school pitcher picked in the 2004 draft was Homer Bailey of the Reds at pick #7. Bailey has not pitched yet because the Reds are being cautious with him returning from knee surgery. He is supposed to pitch tonight, and if he does I will report on him tomorrow.
In the meantime I will drop down to the next high school pitcher, Philip Hughes who was drafted by the Yankees at #23. Hughes is a big guy (6-5, 220) who also throws into the mid 90s. He has pitched twice so far this year and is off to a pretty good start: 10.1 IP, 8 H, 3 BB, 9 K, 1 ER. Hughes will not turn 19 until June, so he is still quite young. Hughes has good potential if he continues to progress.
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The second highest high school pitcher picked in the 2004 draft was Homer Bailey of the Reds at pick #7. Bailey has not pitched yet because the Reds are being cautious with him returning from knee surgery. He is supposed to pitch tonight, and if he does I will report on him tomorrow.
In the meantime I will drop down to the next high school pitcher, Philip Hughes who was drafted by the Yankees at #23. Hughes is a big guy (6-5, 220) who also throws into the mid 90s. He has pitched twice so far this year and is off to a pretty good start: 10.1 IP, 8 H, 3 BB, 9 K, 1 ER. Hughes will not turn 19 until June, so he is still quite young. Hughes has good potential if he continues to progress.
Thursday, April 14, 2005
Mark Rogers - P, Brewers Age: 19
Despite the recent Moneyball trend towards college pitchers, there were a lot of interesting high school pitchers drafted in 2004. I am going to spend some time reviewing some of these pitchers, starting with Mark Rogers who was the highest high school pitcher drafted at pick #5.
Despite the high pick, Rogers has been somewhat disappointing so far. Last year his rookie league numbers were quite average: 27 IP, 30 H, 14 BB and 35 K. His strikeout rate was good, but other than that his numbers were quite average.
This year in low-A, Rogers has pitched twice so far. His numbers are: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 6 BB and 5 K.
Obviously it is far too early to draw conclusions, but so far he has been underwhelming. Rogers is a hard thrower with significant upside. He is also from Maine and may develop later than players from warmer climates. However, as we will see with some of my upcoming reviews, there are other high school pitchers who have had more success than Rogers so far.
(0) comments
Despite the recent Moneyball trend towards college pitchers, there were a lot of interesting high school pitchers drafted in 2004. I am going to spend some time reviewing some of these pitchers, starting with Mark Rogers who was the highest high school pitcher drafted at pick #5.
Despite the high pick, Rogers has been somewhat disappointing so far. Last year his rookie league numbers were quite average: 27 IP, 30 H, 14 BB and 35 K. His strikeout rate was good, but other than that his numbers were quite average.
This year in low-A, Rogers has pitched twice so far. His numbers are: 5.2 IP, 6 H, 6 BB and 5 K.
Obviously it is far too early to draw conclusions, but so far he has been underwhelming. Rogers is a hard thrower with significant upside. He is also from Maine and may develop later than players from warmer climates. However, as we will see with some of my upcoming reviews, there are other high school pitchers who have had more success than Rogers so far.
