4/26/13

Draft 13 – Denton Keys, Matt McPhearson, Nick Petree, Austin Kubitza, Terry McClure




Denton Keys, LHP, Rye HS (CO) - You know you are having a good season when you strike out 14 over seven innings and actually lower your K/9 ratio. The 6’-3”, 200 pound southpaw came into his last start with 44 K/3 BB over 16 innings (24.8 K/9). He now has 58 K/4 BB over 23 innings (22.7 K/9) and has yet to allow a run on five hits. His fastball sits in the 89-91 mph range and he has deception in his delivery. He also adds a mid-70s curve and change-up. Committed to Kansas. link


Outside of the usual warm-weather states like California, Arizona and Florida, the 2013 season has been brutal for baseball. Temperatures have barely sniffed normal levels and precipitation has jumbled schedules from the high school level to the low Class A Midwest League. The cold weather has also indirectly affected Matt McPhearson’s run at breaking his own record. An outfielder at Riverdale Baptist School in Upper Marlboro, Md., McPhearson set the Crusaders’ record for stolen bases in a season with 68. He set a goal of swiping 75 in his senior year, but that is in jeopardy after McPhearson has missed eight games this season with a nagging hamstring. link


Nick Petree, RHP, Missouri State - Over his last six starts, the 6’-1” right-hander has a 1.40 ERA, 0.89 WHIP and 52 K/6 BB over 45 innings. He led the nation in ERA as a sophomore (1.01) in a season that included an incredible run of 73 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run. He features a low-90s fastball, a plus change-up, a slurve and a cutter. He has a great feel for his pitches and commands all of them well. link


For Rice junior right-hander Austin Kubitza, the key has always been harnessing the extreme movement on his fastball well enough to throw strikes. There are times when his ball moves too much and his walks pile up: He has 37 walks in 67 innings this year, about as many as he threw in 80 innings last season. But extreme movement is a double-edged sword, and it also allows him to escape jams with strikeouts and weak contact. He ranks fourth in the nation with 90 strikeouts -- just five behind leader Carlos Rodon of North Carolina State -- and his 12.15 strikeouts per nine innings are second-most of any pitcher with at least 70 strikeouts, behind only Rodon's 14.9. link


Dan Kirby@DanMKirby
Riverwood (GA) CF-Terry McClure 2-for-3 w/ 2B, HR, 5 RBI. Hitting .398 over 26 G w/ 7 2B, 8 HR, 40 RBI, 11 SB, .521 OBP/.795 SLG

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