high school pitchers

[DHonks]

this is mainly for colby, but also for anyone else in the know. I'm a fan of HS pitchers. Who are the HS pitchers likely to be considered for our pick?

[colbyjack]

I personally don't believe there are any prep pitchers worthy to go 5th overall. If there was one, it would probably be Chris Volstad, a RHP from Florida. He's mighty tall at 6'7" and from what I saw from him in the AFLAC game, I liked the way he pitched. He has a good sinking fastball, and while he was only pitching in the upper 80s at the AFLAC game, reports are that he's up to 94 this spring. He's been maintaining his velocity well, and he has a great BB to K ratio as well. He doesn't have the electric arm of a Mark Rogers, and I think that's what you look for with such an early pick.

 

Utah LHP Mark Pawelek is rising up draft boards, and I suppose he could be a possibility. He has thrown in the mid-90s, outstanding for a lefty, and in some reports I've read he hasn't pitched below 91 mph all game long. Rumor has it that he's advised by Boras, and while that is usually a negative, you know it's a good thing as Boras only associates himself with the best & brightest players in the nation (quality of quantity with him).

 

Sean O'Sullivan was one of my favorites entering the season, but he hasn't performed as well this spring. Michigan RHP Zach Putnam is a solid prospect with a good overall repertoire, but he doesn't have the pure, electric arm.

 

Pawelek is probably the only prep pitcher I would consider. There is solid depth, but there isn't that one guy that can touch the upper-90s that you just can't pass on like a Homer Bailey or Mark Rogers.

 

***I should add Brett Jacobsen as well, who pitched for Blazer25 on the Wisconsin Blazers at the World Wood Bat Championship last October. He probably has the most consistent fastball velocity to go along with a improving breaking pitch. He has a very good frame. I'm sure he would sign without blinking at #5 overall, but as a Vanderbilt commit, he may go to school if he starts to slide.