2008 Draft, Rd2, #75, Scott Bittle

Born: 27/08/1986
Height: 6′1″ Weight: 190 lbs
Position: RP
Throws: R
Transactions: Selected in 2nd round (75th overall) of 2008 draft out of University of Mississippi.

Video
MLB Scouting Video
http://mlb.mlb.com/media/player/mp_tpl_3_1.jsp?w_id=701864&w=/2008/open/draft/broll/br_bittle_joseph_400.wmv&mid=200805302799296&pid=gen_video&vid=11071&cid=mlb&v=2
ESPN
http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?videoId=3412849

Photo
http://yankees.scout.com/PictureGallery.aspx?PlayerId=77133&Title=Scott%20Bittle

Pending Pinstripes
http://mvn.com/milb-yankees/2008/06/05/yankees-2nd-round-pick-scott-bittle/
Bittle is the closer for Mississippi, and put up nasty numbers this season, including a batting average against around .100, and 16.1 strikeouts per 9 innings. He was dominant primarily because of his nasty cutter, a pitch that he threw regularly in the high-80’s, but was unhittable. He also has a good change and a 4-seam fastball at 90-91, but he throws the cutter probably 80% of the time. I like this pick as a good bet to be a useful piece for the bullpen to be useful relatively soon. While Bittle doesn’t have the velocity to be a closer most likely, he could be a very good setup man, and improve his cutter even more by learning from Mariano Rivera. He is not a traditional bullpen prospect, but the fact that his cutter dominated metal bats in college is a good sign for future success against wood bats. Bittle was one of the guys I posted about in the days leading up to the draft. The Yanks have evidently been following him for a while, as they drafted him last year in the 48th round, and apparently, they liked what they saw from him this season.

River Ave. Blues
http://riveraveblues.com/2008/06/05/yanks-third-pick-75-overall-2984/
With their second round pick, the Yanks’ selected Scott Bittle, RHP, Mississippi
Scouting Report: Wrote him up here, so I’ll refer you to that (scroll all the way to the bottom). Here’s his scouting video.
My Take: I like the pick. Should move very fast as a power reliever. The cutter should eat wood bats alive.
Outlook: If the Yanks choose to be aggressive with him, they’ll send him to High-A Tampa for the rest of the year. Otherwise he’ll torment the NY-Penn League with Staten Island.

http://riveraveblues.com/2008/06/03/unsigned-gems-2732/
After a rather unspectacular career as a starter at Northeast Texas CC, Bittle transferred to Ole Miss his junior year and served a long reliever/swingman/part-time closer for the Rebels in 2007. The Yanks selected him late after posting a 2.79 ERA with a 59-17 K/BB ratio in 42 IP, but he chose not to sign and headed back to school for his senior year. Biddle has emerged as one of the most dominant relievers in the country this year, going 66.1 IP, 32 H, 13 R, 12 ER, 27 BB, 118 K, and leading the SEC (aka the toughest conference in the college baseball) in strikeouts as a reliever. He operates primarily off of a bane high-80s cutter that he throws 80-85% of the time, but he also mixes in a decent changeup. The cutter and his bulldog mentality have him close to ML ready, and a team not willing to drop its first rounder on one of the top college closers could snatch Biddle up in the 3rd or 4th round and have him in the bigs just as fast.

The Pinstripe Press
http://nyyankeesnews.blogspot.com/2008/06/rhp-scott-bittle-university-of.html
Statheads are quick to point out that Scott Bittle compares favorably with Joshua Fields (selected 20th overall by Seattle). The Yankees second round draft choice doesn’t light up the radar gun however, so he may be overlooked. Instead, Bittle relys on a mid-80s cut fastball – with late life. Bittle commands the pitch well, throwing the offering 80 percent of the time.

Bittle, an All-American taken by the Yankees in the 48th round last season, uses a 91 mph fastball to keep hitters honest and a split-finger changeup, often used with two strikes. All three of Bittle’s pitches are plus pitches when you consider his plus command and pitchability.

Viewed as a potential first-round selection, Baseball America viewed the right hander as a top 50 pick.

In his junior season at Ole Miss, Bittle posted Nintendo-like numbers. He dominated SEC hitters with a 7-1 record, 8 saves, a 1.78 ERA, while holding opponents to a .145 batting average. He struck out 130 and walked 30 in 70.2 innings.

The junior led the Southeastern Conference in strikeouts during the regular season, earning All-SEC Second Team honors as he also was named a semi-finalist for the Clemens Award and the Stopper of the Year.

Bittle profiles as a strong setup man. He should be a fast mover. Depending on when he decides to sign, he could be available for the majors as soon as late 2009.

NYYankeeFans.com
http://www.nyyankeefans.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=64983
Drafted by the Yankees in the 48th Round last year. Tall, strong-framed closer with plus command and a plus cutter that comes at hitters on a severe downhill plane. His FB velocity is merely average, but subtracts from it very well and has a late release which lets it play up. He was thrown into the closer's role for the Rebels and has dominated SEC hitters all season, putting up Nintendo type numbers. He has tallied an almost 5 to 1 K/BB ratio, striking out close to two batters per inning pitched. Uncharacteristic for a closer, Bittle's fastball is just an average pitch, with velocity between the 88-91 mph range. However, Bittle pitches mainly off his cut fastball—a devastating late breaking pitch in the mid-80s that has two-plane movement similar to a slider. Bittle is able to command this pitch down in the zone and creates a ton of swings and misses by starting it just above the knees and having it drop just below the strike-zone. He also effectively mixes in a changeup, freezing unsuspecting hitters. Talk that he's big league ready and should reach the majors by next year.

70 IP 1.78 ERA 30 walks 130 strikeouts 3 HR alowed .145 BAA

Baseball America
Taken by the Yankees in the 48th round of last year’s draft, Bittle elected not to sign and transferred to Ole Miss this season from Northwest Texas CC. He was thrown into the closer’s role for the Rebels and has dominated SEC hitters all season, putting up Nintendo type numbers. He has tallied an almost 5 to 1 K/BB ratio, striking out close to two batters per inning pitched. Uncharacteristic for a closer, Bittle’s fastball is just an average pitch, with velocity between the 88-91 mph range. However, Bittle pitches mainly off his cut fastball—a devastating late breaking pitch in the mid-80s that has two-plane movement similar to a slider. Bittle is able to command this pitch down in the zone and creates a ton of swings and misses by starting it just above the knees and having it drop just below the strike-zone. He also effectively mixes in a changeup, freezing unsuspecting hitters. At 6-foot-1, 212 pounds, and without an above-average fastball, Bittle does not fit the typical closer’s profile in the major leagues. He will most likely be a long relief or setup man in the pros. Once signed, he should move quickly as his command and stuff are close to major league ready.

Perfect Game (by Allan Simpson)
On performance alone, there wasn’t a pitcher in college baseball this season that dominated quite like Bittle. He went 5-1, 1.48 with seven saves for the Rebels, but his other numbers were off the charts. In 54 regular-season innings, he allowed just 21 hits—not only resulting in a meager .116 opponent batting average but a hits-to-nine innings ratio of 3.45, easily the best in Division I. His 99 strikeouts represented a nine-inning yield of 16.27, also the best in Division I by a considerable margin. His overall stuff has improved significantly from a year ago, when he was a late-round draft pick of the Yankees, but the pitch that area scouts referred to as “nasty” and “unhittable” was his cut fastball. The pitch was effective at 80-84 mph a year ago, when he went 2-5, 2.79 with seven saves and 59 strikeouts in 42 innings, but it became a significant weapon this season when it topped out at 87-88. Bittle’s other stuff also showed a marked improvement, with his four-seam fastball improving 3-4 mph to 90-91. The greatest improvement in his stuff might have come with his changeup, which he messed with in the bullpen a year ago but became an equalizer pitch this season, giving Bittle three legitimate pitches.

2008 Draftee Info (3)

From Pending Pinstripes

Thoughts on the Draft

So, Dennis Shulman won the primary… and the campaign immediately sent me down to D.C. to work on some training. Its been a long 2 weeks. I was busy enough that I couldn’t even follow the draft live, a long-time ritual of mine. I’ve had some time for the Yankee picks to ruminate in my head, so here are my thoughts.

Gerrit Cole, 1st Round - What a great pick. He’s a little risky, but has tremendous upside. He’s the kind of pick where we might be recounting the chain of events five years from now that had to line up in order for him to fall to us. By all measures, he was the best player available and we grabbed him. His scounting video reveals a fairly violent, cross-body motion that could cause problems in the future, but I’m sure that the Yankees are already thinking about how to smooth out his delivery once he signs. He’ll also be forever compared to Phil Hughes by minor league folks like ourselves. There is no such thing as a truly “safe” pick for a pitcher in the draft, so the Yankees went for the biggest upside pick they could.

Jeremy Bleich, Supplemental Round - He seems like an overdraft. Lefties tend to be overrated as is on draft day, and there are very few remarkable things about Bleich. He has good control, but was never that strong of a pitcher in college. He followed his poor sophomore year (5.56 ERA) with a strong partial season this year (1.38 ERA), but didn’t improve on his peripherals. His career rates stand at 3.05 BB/9 and 5.59 K/9.

Scott Bittle, 2nd Round - Unlike Bleich, Bittle was flat-out dominate this season. 70 2/3 innings, 30 walks, 130 strikeouts, 1.78 ERA. Watching his video, he seems to generate powerful downward movement on the ball. Had Melancon been healthy, this is the kind of position that he would have occupied. While I’m not certain that the Yankees need another strong set up man relief prospect, Bittle looks like a strong pick when viewed independently. He should also be a fast mover. Depending on when he decides to sign, Bittle could be available for the majors as soon as late 2009.

David Adams, 3rd Round - Derek Jeter would be jealous of his opposite-field swing. He’s a better version of Colin Curtis, but playing 2nd base.

Corban Joseph, 4th Round - Watching his draft video, the man’s got a power swing. I’m not sure if he’s a shortstop in name only (meaning, he’s just the most athletic guy on his high school team), but he seems to be a good enough hitter to profile lower down the spectrum. Eric reported that he hit over .700 in high school, but we’ll have to see how he does against real competition. Definitely a guy to keep an eye on.

Chris Smith, 5th Round - I don’t have much of an opinion on Smith, so I won’t insult your intelligence by offering one. He’s a fast guy who chokes up on the bat.

Brett Marshall, 6th Round -He’s a classic high upside pick. You can’t teach 95. He’s a project, but the Yankees should end up paying him the kind of money that he’ll demand.

Other Thoughts - We got Pat Venditte back! And this time, he’s a senior. I’d say that there is now an 80% chance that the switch-pitcher will play for one of the Yankee’s minor league affiliates. How good he is remains to be seen, but I can’t wait to see him pitch. The Yankee draft appears appears to be an ambitious one - they drafted lots of upside. For the second year though, I will reserve judgment on the draft until the August signing deadline.

2008 Draft, Rd1s, #44, Jeremy Bleich

Born: 18/06/1987
Height: 6′2″ Weight: 190 lbs
Position: SP
Throws: L
Transactions: Selected in 1st round supplemental (44th overall) of 2008 draft out of Stanford University.

Video
MLB Scouting Video
http://mlb.mlb.com/media/player/mp_tpl_3_1.jsp?w_id=701870&w=/2008/open/draft/broll/br_bleich_jeremy_400.wmv&mid=200805302799302&pid=gen_video&vid=11071&cid=mlb&v=2

Photo
http://yankees.scout.com/PictureGallery.aspx?PlayerId=61678&Title=Jeremy%20Bleich

Pending Pinstripes
http://mvn.com/milb-yankees/2008/06/05/supplemental-round-selection-jeremy-bleich/
With their sandwich round pick at #44, the Yankees selected lefty Jeremy Bleich, who was limited by injury to 33 innings on the season. The 6′2″ 185 pound lefty did very well in those 33 innings, however, posting a 1.09 ERA, with 26 strikeouts, though his 21 walks were concerning. He was Stanford’s ace before being sidelined in March with an elbow strain. He also pitched well in the Cape Cod League last summer, which put him on the map as a prospect to follow. Bleich is also repped by Scott Boras, so that makes 2 Boras clients in 2 picks for the Yankees. He supposedly has a high 80’s-low 90’s fastball with a good curve and changeup, good stuff for a lefty, . It seems like the Bleich pick came somewhat out of nowhere, and he could have been available later, and I would have preferred a higher ceiling with this pick. Nonetheless, repeat after me: In Oppenheimer I trust!

River Ave. Blues
http://riveraveblues.com/2008/06/05/yanks-second-pick-44-overall-2983/
With their second pick, the Yanks selected Jeremy Bleich, LHP, Stanford

Scouting Report: Neither BA nor Keith Law nor MLB have a report on the guy, so we’re out of luck. Here’s his video.

My Take: Don’t like the pick, it’s an overdraft. Can’t even find the kid on BA’s top 200 list.
Outlook: Bah. Staten Island I guess.

The site’s a bit overloaded right now, apparently walkoffs and draft broadcasts don’t mix well. Please be patient if the site loads slow, don’t hit refresh over and over, it only makes it worse. Use this thread until the next post is up.

Update: Got a scouting report: 88-91 with movement, good change and curve. Missed a good chunk of the season with an elbow strain.

The Pinstripe Press
http://nyyankeesnews.blogspot.com/2008/06/lhp-jeremy-bleich-stanford-university.html
The Yankees supplemental draft choice, Jeremy Bleich missed much of the Pac-10 season (March 28 and May 19) with tendinitis in his elbow. With the system devoid of young lefthanded pitching, the Oppenheimer regime once again overlooked injury issues to select who they consider to be the top talent available - think 2007 first round draft pick Andrew Brackman or ninth-rounder Mark Melancon.

A Scott Boras client, Bleich is an intelligent but not overpowering lefty with the stuff to have a solid career.

During his injury-shortened regular seasoon Bleich made six starts (eight total appearances) posting a 2-2 record, 1.09 ERA and 26 strikeouts in 33.0 innings pitched. He limited opponents to a .197 batting average against him.

Bleich pitched in the Cape Cod League last summer, going 1-1, 2.09 with 31 strikeouts in 43 innings in the regular season. His best performance was a playoff start against Cotuit when he blanked the league’s best-hitting team for seven innings in a 1-0 win.

The Yankees received the supplemental selection as compensation for the loss of Luis Vizcaino as a free agent.

NYYankeeFans.com
http://www.nyyankeefans.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=64983
Bleich doesn't have the greatest numbers in the world. But neither did George Kontos. Its hard not to like a lefty with two plus pitches. The Louisiana native, returned from his elbow strain in late May and was projected to move into the first five rounds with a strong NCAA postseason. He sits in the 88-91 mph range with his fastball that has natural lefty movement, complemented by a solid curveball and a plus straight change. He has a great feel for both pitches would should project as plus down the road. The scout that covers the Stanford baseball team says that Bleich's been pitching 93-94 lately as he's gotten farther away from injury. His velocity has been steadily climbling since HS and he can sit around 92 the Yankees could have a steal. According to him he models his game after Yankee Andy Pettitte.
MLB Comp: Cliff Lee

Baseball America
Bleich, a Louisiana native, returned from his elbow strain in late May and could move into the first five rounds with a strong NCAA postseason. At his best, he sits in the 88-91 mph range with his fastball that has natural lefty movement, complemented by a solid curveball and a plus straight change

John Manual on the NoMaas’ Yankee Draft Blog
Bleich is far from “under the radar.” He was in our Top 100 college players entering the year, and he was a big deal coming out of high school. He just had an elbow strain most of the year, then returned in the last three weeks, throwing 4 scoreless IP against Arkansas in the regional. He’s a three-pitch guy, 89-91 mph when he’s at his best, more like a lefthanded Ian Kennedy. If you search www.BaseballAmerica.com, he should pop up in a Cape Cod League top 30, forget which year. But he’s a guy.

John Manual on the BA podcast:
"At 44, Jeremy Bleich. I love this pic for the New York Yankees. They need left-handed pitching. Jermey Bleich has first-round talent. He was inured this year; elbow strain. He has come back. He's pitched four very good innings in the Regional ... the Yankees had an extra pick and they spent it on a high-ceiling lefthander, something they really don't have in their farm system."

Jim Callis (Ask BA):
"Some media outlets have described Bleich going in the supplemental first round as a reach, perhaps because he didn't make our our overall Top 200 Prospects list. But last summer, I ranked him as the second-best 2008 draft-eligible lefthander in the Cape Cod League, trailing only Christian Friedrich, who went in the first round to the Rockies.

"I don't think Bleich would have been an early first-rounder had he been healthy all season, but he could have been regarded as a consensus sandwich-rounder. He's a lefty who knows how to pitch with an 88-91 mph fastball, a curveball and changeup, and his changeup grades as his best pitch. I wouldn't call him a steal in the supplemental first round, but he wasn't a reach either."

Baseball Analysts (by Rich Lederer)
Bleich (pronounced Blishe) began the year as Stanford's No. 1 starter before suffering an elbow injury that sidelined him for almost the entire Pac-10 schedule. The tendinitis went away and he returned in the last half of May. Has a fastball in the upper 80s to low 90s with good movement and deception. Also throws a curveball and changeup. Known for his competitiveness on the mound. Had a 4-2 record with a 2.44 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 44.1 innings in the Cape Cod League last summer. Bleich has never been drafted before.

Baseball Prospectus (by Bryan Smith)
I can almost guarantee that Jeremy Bleich made himself quite a bit of money by proving his health in the Stanford regional last weekend. He was very good in the Cape last summer and to start this year, but the Yankees needed to see his health. He showed it with 4 great innings.

Baseball Prospectus (by Kevin Goldstein)
This pick makes me think the Yanks wanted [Wade] Miley [another college lefty who was taken by Arizona with the 43rd pick] here. Unlike Cole, this is a surprise that he went this high, not this low.

Perfect Game (by Allan Simpson)
Bleich sandwiched his second straight impressive season in the Cape Cod League in 2007 around an ugly sophomore campaign at Stanford, where he went 2-8, 5.56 with just 60 strikeouts and 119 hits allowed in 99 innings. He was decidedly gun shy from the experience in his first two or three outings of the summer season for Wareham but eventually got his confidence back and went 4-2, 2.44 with 47 strikeouts in 44 innings. Just like the previous summer, when he went 1-1, 2.09, he had command of three average or better pitches. His fastball was 87-89 mph, touching 91, but his 75-77 mph curveball and changeup were more effective offerings. A crafty lefthander, he gets occasional late, sharp bite with good rotation on his breaking ball and good deception with fade and tail to the arm side with his changeup. He has pitching knowledge and polish beyond his years, but needs to work on putting away hitters with his stuff instead of nibbling with his fastball

UPDATE (5/15): Bleich got off to an encouraging 2-2, 1.38 start this spring as the No. 1 starter for Stanford, but went to the sidelines after five starts with a strained tendon in his pitching elbow. He was checked out by some of the best elbow specialists in the country and they all agreed there was nothing major wrong with his elbow, but he still had not resumed pitching by mid-May. He had begun throwing again, however, and there was a strong likelihood he would be pitching again by the end of the month, particularly if Stanford advances to post-season play. His prospects for the draft remain in limbo and will hinge on whether he pitches again before the draft, and is pain-free.

Yankees
Bleich, 20, was limited to five games in 2008 at Stanford, battling tendinitis from March through mid-May. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound junior went 2-2 with a 1.09 ERA (33.0IP, 4ER), 26 strikeouts and a .189 opponent's batting average, closing out the season with a 14.2 scoreless-innings stretch. He played with the USA Junior National team in 2005 and earned Cape Cod League All-Star Honors while playing for the Wareham Gatemen in 2006.

Wyndam Makowsky, Stanford Daily via Pete Abe
This was a bit of a reach, but the Yankees are desperate for lefty talent. It is certainly a need pick. Now, why Bleich instead of someone else? He has a nice, three pitch arsenal: his curveball and change up both have good movement. Additionally, his velocity has gotten better over the course of his career. He consistently throws his fastball in the low 90s whereas previously, he would stay in the high 80s and only scrape 90. Lefties with good fastballs and two put-out pitches aren't easy to come by, and so while the Yankees may have extended themselves a bit here, it isn't as much of an odd selection as it initially appears.

Bleich is very smart and knows how to alternate well between his pitches. He is fairly calm on the mound, and has shown an ability to get out of bad situations. His biggest weakness was always maintaining control, but that has become less of an issue over the past year. Since returning from injury late last month, he has been lights-out.

[Abraham: Can you compare him to anybody in the majors now?] A nice comparison is Cole Hamels of the Philadelphia Phillies. They have a similar repertoire, although Hamels has a better change up. Both have battled through injuries. Hamels, though, is supposed to be the Phillies' fixture at the top of the rotation. I doubt that's where Bleich projects. I see him as either a fourth or fifth starter, or as a top left-handed reliever. He dabbled in relief pitching when he came back from injury, and did very well out of the bullpen.

2008 Draft, Rd1, #28, Gerrit Cole

Born: 08/09/1990
Height: 6′3″ Weight: 195 lbs
Position: SP
Throws: R
Transactions: Selected in 1st round (28th overall) of 2008 draft out of Orange Lutheran High School.

Video
MLB Scouting Video
http://mlb.mlb.com/media/player/mp_tpl_3_1.jsp?w_id=701934&w=/2008/open/draft/broll/br_cole_gerrit_400.wmv&mid=200805302799367&pid=gen_video&vid=11071&cid=mlb&v=2
ESPN
http://sports.espn.go.com/broadband/video/videopage?videoId=3412808
OLU Gerrit Cole ends game with strikeout
http://www.vimeo.com/1021100
OLU Gerrit Cole interview
http://www.vimeo.com/1021142

Photo
http://yankees.scout.com/PictureGallery.aspx?PlayerId=116982&Title=Gerrit%20Cole

Pending Pinstripes
http://mvn.com/milb-yankees/2008/06/05/yankees-1st-round-pick-gerrit-cole/
I just got back home, right in time to see the Yankees’ selection. With their 1st round pick, the Yankees went for ceiling, selecting Cole, a high school righty out of southern California. He is one of the top high school pitchers available, and certainly the hardest thrower among them, reportedly reaching 100 mph in a recent outing. He also has a very promising slider, though He has some issues with makeup, not the best mechanics, and high bonus demands, but the 6′3″ righty has a dynamite arm, and I trust Nardi Contreras and the Yankee organization to develop him well. It wouldn’t surprise me if they try to teach him a curveball like they did with Hughes and others. There were some rumors that he could slide further in the draft, but the Yankees’ drafting him in the first round seems to indicate that he is serious about signing. This was a very good selection.

River Ave. Blues
http://riveraveblues.com/2008/06/05/yanks-first-pick-28-overall-2981/
With their first round pick, the Yanks selected Gerrit Cole, RHP, Orange Lutheran HS

Scouting Report: Big fastball, 96-97 consistently and touching triple digits, and there’s some projection left. His two seamer comes in a little slower, at 93-94. Sharp breaking ball that’s somewhere between a slider and curve, but it needs improvement. Decent changeup that fades. Not the prettiest delivery, but he’s got time to work on it. Here’s his scouting video, and another clip from ESPN

My Take: I love the pick. He was the best player on the board, and the Boras factor certainly helped. Best high school righty to come out of SoCal since Phil Hughes said Baseball America. All of the concern about his makeup didn’t pop up until people found out he signed with Boras, so I’m going to reserve judgment on that until I learn more.

Outlook: Signing the kid will probably go right down to the August 15th deadline, so he might not get more than a handful of innings in the Rookie level GCL, if any at all.

The site’s a bit overloaded right now, apparently day games and draft broadcasts don’t mix well. Please be patient if the site loads slow, don’t hit refresh over and over, it only makes it worse. Use this thread until the Yanks pick again.

The Pinstripe Press
http://nyyankeesnews.blogspot.com/2008/06/rhp-gerrit-cole-orange-lutheran-hs-28th.html
To the surprise of no one, the New York Yankees selected the best available pitcher in the first round of last week's MLB Draft. As predicted by many, that player happened to be Gerrit Cole, a strong-armed right-handed high schooler who dropped due to signability concerns.

Cole, 18, has been described as the best right hander to come out of Southern California since Phil Hughes. His four-seamer sits in the mid-90s, topping out at 98. He has a hard, late-breaking curve with good bite, tilt and depth. His changeup, used sparingly in his high school career, needs the most work.

Scouts are split as to whether Cole profiles best as a starter or closer. Those who believe the former, including the Yankees, point to his ability to maintain velocity and pitch movement deep into games. Scouts that see him as a closer zero in on his sometimes inconsistent command and a tendency to run up high pitch counts trying to strike out every hitter.

Cole's delivery will likely be tweaked. He lands on a stiff front leg and recoils his arms during his follow-through (think vintage Pedro Martinez). Also contributing to his availability at 28 was concerns over Cole's maturity. He didn't endear himself to scouts or teammates with his mound demeanor. On several occasions, he became animated with umpires and teammates.

"Gerrit has a big, strong, projectable body with a high ceiling," Damon Oppenheimer told the NY Daily News. “He throws a power fastball with sink in the 94-98 range and has also developed a good changeup. He’s a competitor every time he takes the mound, and he pitches with a lot of confidence.”

As a senior at Orange Lutheran High School, Cole went 8-2 with a 0.47 ERA, striking out 121 batters in 75 innings. He was named the Trinity League’s Pitcher of the Year, a 2008 Rawlings Preseason All-American and was selected to the AFLAC All-American team as a senior.

NYYankeeFans.com
http://www.nyyankeefans.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=64983
Cole is the best righthander out of Southern California since Phil Hughes. Blessed with a lightning quick arm, Cole has the perfect pitcher’s proportions making him one of the most exciting pitching prospects in the draft. His fastball easily sits a 93-97 and according to sources has touched 101 MPH. He throws an inconsistent slider right now around 78-82 mph, but it projects as a plus pitch in the future. It has some depth coming from a 3/4 arm angle. His change-up needs some work but he 'has a feel for it.' Cole commands the ball very well for a High School Pitcher. His weakness' are mechanical. He tends to throw across his body and some scouts think some slight mechanical tweaks would lengthen his career. Tends to peeve people on the mound. Some question his maturity and he tends to be too emotional on the mound. Boras signing. He's going to play tough but he'll be signed shortly before the deadline.

Note: Can't find senior stats?: As a junior at Lutheran High, Cole was 3-0 with two saves and a 0.97 ERA. In 29 innings he had 36 strikeouts and 11 walks and allowed 12 hits

Random shizzle: Cole is active in community service, and has volunteered at the Children's Hospital of Orange County. He enjoys surfing, playing golf and playing acoustic guitar in his spare time. He has committed to UCLA. He considers Lou Gehrig his role model in life and Derek Jeter as his role model in baseball.

MLB Comp: Jake Peavy.

Note the Comps are based on similar players and the player reaching his HIGHEST ceiling... So take it lightly.

MLB Scouting Report
Fastball: Cole was throwing 95-98 mph early and settled in at 92-94 throughout his start.
Fastball movement:
He usually has plus arm-side sink and bore, though he was fairly straight in this outing.
Slider: It's an average pitch now, which he throws 78-82 mph, but it projects as a plus pitch in the future. It has some depth coming from a 3/4 arm angle.
Changeup: It's a little too firm at 79-80 mph, but he's got a good feel for it.
Control: He's an above-average strike-thrower for a high schooler, letting his stuff work for him in the zone.
Poise: His makeup on the field can be an issue, as he gets animated with umpires and teammates at times.
Physical Description: Cole is a projectable high school right-hander who compares a bit to Kyle Farnsworth.
Medical Update: Healthy.
Strengths: His projectability and his stuff, with the ability to throw three average to plus pitches, and to throw them for strikes.
Weaknesses: He has some mechanical issues with his delivery, with an arc in the back and a tendency to throw across his body; he gets too emotional on the mound.
Summary: A projectable high school right-hander with the capability already to throw a fastball up into the upper 90s is bound to garner interest. Throw in a future plus slider and a changeup, all for which he can throw for strikes, and it's no wonder Cole is considered one of the top prep pitchers in the class. He's going to have to work out some kinks in his delivery and he's got Scott Boras as an advisor, but neither of those issues should keep him from being drafted early.

Baseball America
Cole is the best righthander out of Southern California since Phil Hughes starred at Santa Ana's Foothills High in 2004. Cole's four-seam fastball ranges from 93-96 mph, occasionally peaking at 97-98. He adds a hard, late-breaking curve which shows bite, tilt and depth. Cole used his changeup sparingly early in the season, though he used it more later. Adding to Cole's considerable appeal to scouts is his tall, lanky and projectable frame, which is nearly ideal for a prep righthander. Scouts are split over whether Cole profiles as a starter or closer. He maintains velocity and pitch movement deep into games, but his inconsistent command and tendency to run up high pitch counts may move him to the bullpen. Some scouts have compared him to Mariners closer J.J. Putz. Cole does bring mechanical concerns. He lands on a stiff front leg, and he recoils his arm during his follow-through. Both hurt control and raise injury concerns. Complicating the situation, Cole's adviser is the Scott Boras Corp., which may eliminate many clubs from consideration. Cole also hasn't endeared himself to scouts or teammates with what one scout described as his immature mound demeanor.

At 28, the Yankees took Gerrit Cole, no surprise. A Scott Boras Corporation client who fell for signability reasons, Cole also fell for his immaturity and mound demeanor, which didn't endear him to many scouts and teams. That said, Cole has the biggest arm in the prep class, and he fell to the Yankees, and that's probably win-win for the Yanks, SBC and Cole.

Baseball Analysts (by Rich Lederer)
Cole may have the best teenage arm in this draft. He throws a four seamer that peaks at 97-98 and a heavy two seamer that runs in the low-90s. Baseball America has ranked his fastball at the top of the high school class. There are two questions that have dogged Cole this spring: (1) his makeup and (2) his signability, as he is represented by the Scott Boras Corporation and has committed to UCLA. Slot money probably won't do the trick here. The tall righthander could slide like Rick Porcello last year, but it is unlikely that he will receive a signing bonus approaching Detroit's first pick in the 2007 draft.

Baseball Prospectus (by Kevin Goldstein)
This is a great pick on a talent/slot level. Most talented high school pitcher in the draft, and the Yankees can pay him. As bad as the Brackman pick was last year . . . that's how good this one is. I'm not a big fan of low arm slot guys, but at 28, this is a fantastic pick for the Bombers.

Minor League Ball (by John Sickels)
Gerrit Cole, RHP, California HS: 6-3, 190 pounds, has been clocked as high as 97 MPH, also shows promising changeup and slider. Concerns: his mechanics aren't textbook, he can be emotionally volatile, and the Scott Boras Factor. Depending on what happens over the next two weeks, could go anywhere from 10 to 30.

Perfect Game (by David Rawnsley)
For pure electric stuff, Cole might stand on top of the list of pitching prospects in the 2008 class. His fastball was up to 97 mph with tons of late life and movement at the World Wood Bat Association fall championship in Jupiter, Fla., and his changeup, low-80s curveball and upper-80s slider showed the same kind of quality and life. His fastball velocity was the highest recorded at the 80-team event. Cole has some pitchability and command, and plenty of projectability in his young 6-foot-3, 190-pound frame. His extended mid three-quarters release point is a bit lower than standard and helps add to his fastball life. The question for scouts this spring is going to be seeing him extend himself. Few scouts have seen him pitch deep into games, as he competed on the showcase circuit during the summer—he worked only four innings in Jupiter—and has thrown less than 40 innings at the high school level (3-0, 1.21 with two saves in 29 innings as a junior) due to a deep pitching staff at Orange Lutheran High, where he also plays right field. He was a 2007 Aflac All-American.

UPDATE (5/1): Cole is one of the enigmas of the 2008 draft. He answered some questions very well this spring, throwing 61 innings while going 7-1, 0.57 with 98 K’s and only 16 walks, and pitching deep into pitch counts. His fastball was dominant, touching 97 mph at times with very good life. Questions arose about his curveball consistency, his exaggerated long and extended arm action and his approach to the game. Throw in a Scott Boras-signability scenario and it’s very difficult to tell how June 5 will play out for Cole.

ESPN (by Keith Law)
This is a great pick; he fell to the Yankees for financial reasons. Cole has the best arm among the prep pitchers in the draft. He has a loose, quick arm. He has the best fastball of the high school pitchers; it tops out 97 mph. He needs more consistency on the breaking ball. And he needs to just throw his changeup instead of guiding it. He's a high-ceiling arm that could be a No. 1 starter. If that doesn't work, he could be a dominant reliever.

ESPN (by Matt Meyers)
Like the Tigers, the Yankees have made a habit of waiting for Boras clients with big bonus demands to fall to them and then pay them the big bucks. Lo and behold, it's happened again.
Cole isn't considered a sure thing by any means. His fastball touches the high 90s, but he has what scouts refer to as "severe makeup questions." That translates loosely as, "he's a punk."

Yankees
The 6-foot-3, 190-pound Cole went 8-2 with a 0.47 ERA as a senior at Orange Lutheran High School in Orange, Calif., in 2008, striking out 121 batters in 75.0 innings pitched with 13 runs allowed (five earned) and 18 walks. He was named the Trinity League's Pitcher of the Year as well the 2008 Co-Orange Lutheran Male Athlete of the Year. The right-hander was named a 2008 Rawlings Preseason All-American and was selected to the AFLACAll-American team as a senior.

Cole was ranked by Baseball America as the ninth-best pitcher in the First-Year Player Draft and 17th-best prospect overall. He was tabbed by the publication as the fourth-best high school pitching prospect in the draft and rated as the having the best fastball among high school hurlers.

"Gerrit has a big, strong, projectable body with a high ceiling," said Damon Oppenheimer, Yankees Vice President of Amateur Scouting. "He throws a power fastball with sink in the 94-98 range and has also developed a good changeup. He's a competitor every time he takes the mound, and he pitches with a lot of confidence. We were really pleased with both of our first two selections."

2008 Draftee Info (2) LHP

From NoMaas’ Yankee Draft Blog

Stop your blood-clot crying about LHP

We all know that there is a dearth of LHP in the Yankees system. When Sean Henn is the closest thing that a farm system has to an impact lefty, you’re at a low point. During the draft I received many e-mails and read much commentary critiquing the Yankees for not taking chances at lefties as their picks wore on.

The truth of the matter here is that the Bombers actually did a fantastic job of picking LHP talent in the draft this year, contrary to popular opinion. As I’ve mentioned before, talent level is not distributed linearly in the draft. Kids with top three round talent can be drafted at the very end of the draft, or perhaps not at all.

It also needs to be restated that David Price’s and Clayton Kershaw’s aren’t in abundance. Left-handed pitching talent is few and far between, and very often a LHP taken in the 1st round is only taken there because he’s a lefty. To illustrate this, we can look at the LHPs taken in the first round in recent years who have had a chance to sort themselves out.

2003:
Paul Maholm, John Danks
2004:
Jeremy Sowers, Bill Bray, David Purcey, Scott Elbert, Glen Perkins, Taylor Tankersley, Matt Campbell
2005:
Rickey Romero, Mark Pawelek, Aaron Thompson, Brian Bogusevic
2006:
Andrew Miller, Kershaw, Kasey Kiker

Besides Kershaw, no one there has me salivating. The Yankees have done the right thing in recent years, and that is take the best pitching talent available, regardless of what hand he throws with.

SO we come to the 2008 draft, and Jeremy Bleich is taken with the 44th overall pick in the supplemental round. At first it is met with a bit of consternation, but after hearing multiple opinions on him, and seeing one of his outings, most reasonable people agree that the Yankees did their homework. However, when no additional lefties were taken right after that, the clamoring began.

Well, if you look closely at this draft, you will see that the Yankees took multiple LHP, and some of them have very high ceilings. In the order of their ceilings, here are the lefties taken by the Yankees this year.

1) 36th round pick, Chris Dwyer. If you missed my earlier commentary on him, you can find it by clicking here. This kid has the size, arm, and athleticism to be a big league starter. He’s just going to be very, very expensive. Cross your fingers.

2) Supplemental round pick, Jeremy Bleich. The Stanford lefty looked fairly impressive in his national television appearance last night. John Manuel likens him to a lefty Ian Kennedy in many ways.

3) 50th round pick, Nik Turley. Pay attention to this one, folks. Turley is 6′4″, 210 lb, and currently commited to BYU. In the recruiting process he was also being pursued by UCLA, Pepperdine, and Cal-State Fullerton. He has a lot of projection in him, and is probably a long shot, but the Yankees took the chance. This ain’t no Larry Day.

4) 26th round pick, Blake Monar. The Indiana recruit sits in the mid to upper 80s, but has two plus breaking pitches. Speaking with a source, he expected to go earlier in the draft, and is another signability case at this point.

5, 6) 32nd round pick, Andy Suiter; 42nd round pick, Clint Preisendorfer. Neither would seem to be a signability case, but they both have solid stuff, large frames, and were noted prep recruits before they went to college. These are the solid LHP in the bullpen the Yankees fans have been missing.

So, all in all, they took SIX lefties. Three are legitimate signability cases, two are solid bullpen arms, and one is a legitimate, signable starter. Make sure to check back here often to follow the signability cases, and no more crying about the Yankees not selecting LHPs.

2008 Draft Review (2)

From Scout.com

2008 MLB Draft Winners

儘截錄洋基的部份

New York Yankees

Overall Talent Grade - A-

Top Selections - Gerrit Cole, Jeremy Bleich, Scott Bittle, David Adams, Corban Joseph, Chris Smith

Early Selections Overview - The Yankees continue to use their first couple picks on top talents who fall into their laps for various reasons. They were able to land the best arm in the class, Gerrit Cole, as well as one of the best lefties in the class, Jeremy Bleich, who fell because of an injury plagued spring. New York is also seeming to make a habit of getting a quality college closer year after year now. Bittle could rocket through their farm system. And, after selecting Adams, who gives them the polished college position player that they need in their system, the Yankees then went for upside taking Corban Joseph and the huge talent that is Chris Smith.

Sleepers/Tough Signings - It's rare to get as quality a college arm as the Yankees got in round ten when they landed Clemson righty, D.J. Mitchell. Mitchell is the owner of a heavy 89-94 MPH fastball but faded down the stretch this spring. The Yankees, as usual, have a number of high upside late round selections, but two that stick out as potential tough signings are prep shortstop, Garrison Lassiter and prep lefty, Blake Monar.

2008 Draft Review (1)

From River Ave. Blues

2008 Draft Review

After months and months of anticipation, the draft has finally come and gone, and all I have to say is: Thank God. It’s fun trying to find hidden gems and discussing who your team should take, but the actual event can be like watching linoleum curl. Televising the draft was a great idea, and it’s amazing how far draft coverage has come in the last 10-15 years, but it’s time to go back to the old rapid fire conference call. Four hours for 46 picks is just too long, sorry.

The Yanks employed their tried and true philosophy of taking the best talent available on their board regardless of bonus demands. While they didn’t land any of the sexy names in the later rounds like we’re accustomed too, Damon Oppenheimer & Co. still selected a bevy of high ceiling players late to supplement the talent they took at the top of the draft.

Obviously, the big prize is first rounder Gerrit Cole, a UCLA recruit who was ranked as one of top three high school pitchers in the country all year long, but other prep pitchers like Brett Marshall, Mikey O’Brien and Matt Richardson all bring a similar package of stuff, projectability and youth. To diversify the portfolio, so to speak, the Yanks also took safer college arms like Jeremy Bleich, Scott Bittle and Luke Greinke. Bleich and prepsters Blake Monar & Chris Dwyer give the club a solid group of southpaws for the farm system, which is all but devoid of quality lefties.

On the position player side, the Yanks went for youth and hitting ability up the middle with high schoolers Corban Joseph, Chris Smith, Garrison Lassiter and Sam Mende, and balanced them out with proven college bats like David Adams, Dan Brewer, Jack Rye and Luke Anders. Kyle Higashioka and Ben McMahan add to an already impressively deep crop of young catching, and Addison Maruszak is a prime conversion candidate.

Overall, I’m pleased with the haul. They landed high upside talent on the mound at up-the-middle positions, which are the critical areas of any baseball team. You can see all of the Yanks picks here. Selecting the players was only half the battle. Now they have to get them signed.

2008 Draftee Info (1)

From Yankees: Looking for the Furture

Draft Recap and Review

Overall, I’d say the Yankees had a pretty good draft. First, I’ll review and grade each notable selection (note that the Yankees selected in every round but not every pick is analyzed):

1st rd., 28: Gerrit Cole, RHP, HS (California): The only reason Cole was available was due to signability concerns coupled with some overrated makeup issues. Either way, Cole has one of the better arms in the draft, boasting a plus 94-97MPH fastball, a sharp slider at 87-88, and a raw but fading changeup. The latter two pitches have plus potential as well. He still has some projection left, so the velocity may eventually rest in the high 90’s. His delivery is concerning as it is max effort along with other small, incorrect mechanics (showing the ball to CF, etc.) that can be injury concerns. However, these flaws will most likely be corrected by proper professional coaching. There is debate about whether he helps out best as a starter or as a dominant closer. I say to begin with him as a starter and to see how things pan out. Grade: A.

1st suppl., 44: Jeremy Bleich, LHP, Stanford: Bleich was on the prospect radar for a while, pitching very well at Stanford in his sophomore year and also doing very well at the Cape Cod League. However, an elbow strain that caused him to miss part of the season really put a damper on his star, and he didn’t have much in terms of stuff (88-91 FB, fading 78-79 change, loopy 72-73 curve), but, according to some reports, Bleich was throwing 93-94 upon returning from his injury late in the year. Apparently the Yankees, interested in a left-handed starter for their system, took Bleich based on seeing that. If he can improve his curve and if the 93-94MPH fastbal report is true, then I like this pick. Last night, at least, he was consistently in the low 90’s and had a very low pitch count throughout the game, which does a lot for me. If he still throws as had originally been reported, then there were certainly better options available–Robbie Ross, Nick Maronde, etc. Grade:B+

2nd rd., 75: Scott Bittle, RHP, Mississippi: Bittle throws a sick cutter in the mid-to-high 80’s with plenty of movement that no one can hit, and which he throws about 80% of the time. He can complement that with an 89-92MPH fastball. He struck out almost 2 batters per inning in college, in the SEC no less. His changeup has the potential to be an average pitch. Bittle is a solid grab here, and he should soar through the system as a college closer. Without the big fastball he projects to be a solid set-up guy in the Yankee ‘pen. He was drafted last year in the 48th round. Grade: B+

3rd rd., 106: David Adams, 2B, Virginia: Adams reminds me of Dustin Pedroia. A great contact hitter with 10-15HR power at best, not a burner but is good with the glove. And don’t forget all that gritty, hard-nosed stuff too. If the Yankees ever get sick of Cano’s slow starts/slumps and decide to trade him he wouldn’t be a bad replacement. Middle infielders are in short supply in the system but there were probably better options out there. Grade: B

4th rd., 140: Corban Joseph, 3B, HS (Tenn.): Joseph is an offensively-minded SS who doesn’t project to stay there for long. He has power to all fields as well as the ability to make solid contact. He has some frame to fill, so there should be more power (and a position change) coming. A good value at this spot and he has good potential. Grade: B+

5th rd., 170: Chris Smith, LF, HS (Cal.): I have mixed feelings on this guy. His coaches rave about his abilities, and one, who coached both him and Coco Crisp liked Smith’s skillset more. He had the highest batting average in the country at any level, batting .708 (that’s right, .708). However, BA had him as only the 109th best prospect in California, a baseball hub. Still, .708 is .708 anywhere you go, and if what his coaches say about him is true, I say it’s a good pick. Grade: B

6th rd., 200: Brett Marshall, RHP, HS (TEX): Another signability guy. This is an insanely good value pick at 200–plus mid-90s fastball and a potentially plus 87-88 slider. His fastball went up about 10MPH from last year to this year, and has pitched very well. He will take $1M to sign, but that shouldn’t be a problem. He needs to learn how to repeat his delivery, but he is relatively new to pitching. Grade: A

9th rd., 290: Michael O'Brien, RHP, HS (FLA): Brown fell because of the so-called “undersized righty syndrome.” Brown is 5′11″, 185, but he has a low-90s fastball with both a solid change and curve. He has a little projection and has plus command. A great value at this spot. Grade: A

10th rd., 320: William Mitchell, RHP, Clemson: Mitchell is a lanky guy (6′2″, 165 lbs) who doesn’t have much in terms of stuff but gets the most out of it by being aggressive. Doesn’t really seem like more than a Grade C prospect until I see otherwise. Could be a back-of-rotation guy. There were better options out there, though. Grade: C/C+

15th rd., 470: Matt Richardson, SS/RHP, HS (FLA): Scouting report from Perfect Game via NoMaas:
Matt Richardson is a 2008 SS/P with a 6′2”, 180 lb. frame from Lake Mary, FL who attends Lake Mary HS.Tall athletic build, projects well, solid bat speed, quick hands, short swing plane, high level hitting tools, runs well, very good raw arm strength in the field, quick actions, good release, hands work well, quick arm on the mound, high 3/4 arm slot, nice late life on fastball, tight spin on curveball, drop and drive delivery, big upside, strong student, highest-level two-way prospect with high draft potential.
According to this report, in the 15th rd., this is an excellent value pick. I would try him as a SS first. Grade: A

27th Rd., 830: Garrison Lassiter, SS, HS (SC): Lassiter is a “major signability case” per NoMaas. According to Perfect Game, again via NoMaas:Garrison Lassiter is a 2008 SS/3B/OF with a 6′3”, 195 lb. frame from High Point, NC who attends West Forsyth HS. Tall athletic build, body projects well, solid hitting mechanics, easy swing, quick hands, good bat speed, stays inside the ball, turns on the ball easily, strong infield actions, quick hands, good transfer and release, raw arm strength, runs well, strong student, highest-level prospect with early round draft potential.Another early round talent falling because of signability. Great value at this time, no let’s get him signed. Grade: B+, A if he signs

30th Rd., 920: Ben McMahan, C, HS (FLA): McMahan is a defense-first catcher with good speed for his position. He can eventually evolve into an above-average-hitting catcher with Gold Gloves at best, but is more likely to end up as a backstop. Still a little frame to fill out. I’d like to see him play before I make judgments Grade: B+

36th Rd., 1100: Chris Dwyer, LHP, HS (CT): I absolutely adore this pick. HOWEVER (big however): He is a huge signability concern. At 6′4″ and 200 lbs., he is pretty much filled out, though that isn’t a concern. Dwyer is an exceptional outfielder, and he also throws 92-94 with his plus fastball, to go along with a “tremendous” curve, per SI. If sign this year, at 20 he’ll be a draft eligible freshman, a rare occurence in the draft ranks. Either way, he may end up being the second best player the Yankees selected in this draft. Grade: A+

So, there are your most important draft picks. There are some other interesting picks (Switch-pitcher Pat Venditte [no gimmick], 1B Luke Anders [massive guy], etc.), but the listed players are the ones who should be on your prospect radar now. Overall, the grade of this draft is A- right now. I truly believe there is a great draft. You can’t compare any draft with the legendary 2006 draft, which produced, Ian Kennedy, Joba Chamberlain, and Dellin Betances. Many of these ‘08 guys are raw and young and have great potential, and could make a huge impact on future Yankee teams. We’ll see it in the future.