3/29/14

Draft - Weekend D1 High-Lowlights



There doesn't seem to be a clear cut #1 overall pick in the 2014 draft anymore.

Matt Garroich and I were discussing this earlier today and this just isn't where a high school player is picks. In fact, I don't think there ever has been.

No, this 'power pitcher time, but here's the rub... favorites like NC State's Carlos Rodon, East Carolina Jeff Hoffman, and Vanderbilt's Tyler Beede are looking a little too human right now.

#18 NC State LHSP Rodon ran it up to 94 in the first against unranked Miami, coupled with an 88-90 slider, but he gave up a run early. Hit 95 once. Slider not as good as the summer. The game was supended at 1-1 after six innings and we'll pick up the statline tomorrow.

East Carolina RHSP Jeff Hoffman was 94-95 in the 2nd inning vs. UMBC (Un iversity of Maryland, Baltimore County), changeup 85-86.. nasty 80mph hook… up to 97 in the 4th… really pitched well… Hoffman went 7.0-IP, giving up 2-ER… 6-K, 2-BB…90 pitches, 63 strikes…  better, but not what a once projected #2 overall pick should be tossing up…

And Vanderbilt's Beede had another meh performance (5.0-IP, 5-H, 3-ER, 3-BB, 3-HBP, 4-K) Loss, this time against A.J. Reed and Kentucky. Failed to get. an out in the 6th..

These are the three elite power college pitchers that have to rise above what they are putting out right now. One will work his way back to the top because frankly, there is no position player in this drat that warrants this hind of reward, and, though there are plenty of other very talented pitchers, they aren't in the calss of Rodon, Hoffman, and Beed.

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Beating up on Beede and Vandy was LHP A.J. Reed with a stat line of 8.0-IP, 2-R,7-K 1-BB, and hit 2-5. Right now, he still projects as a hitter rather than a pitcher, but don't tell Vanderbilt that.

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How's this for a stat... CSF's Thomas Eshelman has a K/BB ratio of 41/1. He added seven shutout innings against Wichita State.

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Once again, OF Michael Gettys added to the critic's concern as to whether he can hit. Gettys went 0-3 for Gainsville in the NHSI finale against Orange Lutheran (CA).

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The draft’s top projected outfield, Virginia’s Derek Fisher, is expected to miss 4-6 weeks with a broken hamate bone in his right write. First comes the reset, then the rehab, and then the strength build-up. My guess is the remainder of his college junior season is pretty shot. He went into the injury with a stat line of: .333/.391/.451 line in 51 at-bats with five extra-base hits and most had him as the first outfielder being picked in the draft. That isn’t going to happen now and he’ll probably fall as low as a mid-2nd rounder.

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#2 Florida State (20-5) beat Boston College (7-16), 6-0, behind RHP Luke Weaver’s one-hit shutout. His fastball sat mostly in the high 80s but he still got the job done.

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UNLV RHP Erick Feede packaged a 91-92 FB, with 83-85 changeups and n 82 slider against Nebraska… 12 groundball outs through 5 innings of 1-run ball…

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More bad news… projected early first round pick RHP Dylan Cease out of Milton (GA) HS, is projected to be out for the remainder of the 2014 season with a partial tear of the UCL which usually leads to Tommy John Surgery. I would expect Cease to drop drastically in the June draft and send feelers out, telling scouts that he has decided to attend Vanderbilt instead.

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Some good news. It looks like NC State SS Trea Turner is breaking out of his extra base funk and has now hit four home runs in the past five games.

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Projected first round pick, Parkview (GA) LHSP Mac Marshall, threw a complete game against Venice (FL) HS at the National High School Invitational on Thursday night at Cary, N.C. Marshall struck out six, walked one, and gave up only four hits while throwing 88 pitches. His fast ball touched 92, down a few clicks from previous outings; however, evaluators reported that he was far more accurate this outing. Marshall projects in the 10-25 pick range on the first day of the draft.

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#20 Clemson RHP Daniel Gossett did was asked of him (8.0-IP, 1-R, 6-K, 1-BB) against conference rival Maryland

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