Born: 04/06/1986Height: 6′10″ Weight: 195 lbs
Position: SP
Throws: R
Transactions: Selected in 12th round (380th overall) of 2008 draft out of Auburn University.
Video
MLB Scouting Video
http://mlb.mlb.com/media/player/mp_tpl_3_1.jsp?w_id=702114&w=/2008/open/draft/broll/br_greinke_luke_400.wmv&mid=200805302799550&pid=gen_video&vid=11071&cid=mlb&v=2&bypass=true
Photo
http://yankees.scout.com/PictureGallery.aspx?PlayerId=81692&Title=Luke%20Greinke
Perfect Game (by Allan Simpson)
SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): At .417, Greinke posted the highest average among all players in the nation’s recognized summer college leagues in 2007. He also topped the Valley League with a .517 on-base average and a .642 slugging average while playing for the Winchester Royals (Luke’s brother Zach pitches for the Kansas City Royals). He battled at the plate, showed good plate discipline, hit the ball hard consistently and drove the ball with surprising power to all fields. A good student of the game, he made positive adjustments at the plate through the course of the summer. Ironically, Greinke went to the Valley League last summer to concentrate more on pitching than hitting after going 0-0, 2.61 and working in just six games on the mound in an injury-plagued season at Auburn in 2007. He still worked in 51 innings at Winchester, going 3-1, 2.66 with 48 strikeouts with a fastball at 88-92 mph, topping at 93, but Greinke’s performance on the mound overall paled compared to his performance as an everyday player. Though his pro future appears to be on the mound, he showed four solid tools. He’s considered just a marginal defender, yet proved versatile enough to move interchangably between the outfield and first base, showing enough speed and arm strength to play comfortably on an outfield corner. He would generally DH on days after he pitched. A true dual performer, he was scheduled to serve in a DH role this season for Auburn while taking a regular turn in the rotation. In 25 innings last fall, he may have given an indication of things to come as he allowed only one earned run in 25 innings.
UPDATE (3/1): Greinke did not capitalize on his big summer of 2007, falling far short of expectations this spring as both a pitcher and hitter. Predictably, his draft stock has dropped significantly. With a pro future on the mound, he focused primarily on pitching but went just 4-4, 4.47 with 38 strikeouts in 50 innings. Though his fastball was 88-90 mph, topping occasionally at 91, and his slider was effective against righthanded hitters and his changeup a plus pitch against lefthanders, he suffered from shoulder tendonitis, causing him to miss several starts. In the final analysis, he proved to be just another college righthander though his superior athletic ability may enable him to blossom in pro ball eventually. He was mainly an afterthought as a position player this spring, getting just 35 at-bats.
http://mlb.mlb.com/media/player/mp_tpl_3_1.jsp?w_id=702114&w=/2008/open/draft/broll/br_greinke_luke_400.wmv&mid=200805302799550&pid=gen_video&vid=11071&cid=mlb&v=2&bypass=true
Photo
http://yankees.scout.com/PictureGallery.aspx?PlayerId=81692&Title=Luke%20Greinke
Perfect Game (by Allan Simpson)
SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): At .417, Greinke posted the highest average among all players in the nation’s recognized summer college leagues in 2007. He also topped the Valley League with a .517 on-base average and a .642 slugging average while playing for the Winchester Royals (Luke’s brother Zach pitches for the Kansas City Royals). He battled at the plate, showed good plate discipline, hit the ball hard consistently and drove the ball with surprising power to all fields. A good student of the game, he made positive adjustments at the plate through the course of the summer. Ironically, Greinke went to the Valley League last summer to concentrate more on pitching than hitting after going 0-0, 2.61 and working in just six games on the mound in an injury-plagued season at Auburn in 2007. He still worked in 51 innings at Winchester, going 3-1, 2.66 with 48 strikeouts with a fastball at 88-92 mph, topping at 93, but Greinke’s performance on the mound overall paled compared to his performance as an everyday player. Though his pro future appears to be on the mound, he showed four solid tools. He’s considered just a marginal defender, yet proved versatile enough to move interchangably between the outfield and first base, showing enough speed and arm strength to play comfortably on an outfield corner. He would generally DH on days after he pitched. A true dual performer, he was scheduled to serve in a DH role this season for Auburn while taking a regular turn in the rotation. In 25 innings last fall, he may have given an indication of things to come as he allowed only one earned run in 25 innings.
UPDATE (3/1): Greinke did not capitalize on his big summer of 2007, falling far short of expectations this spring as both a pitcher and hitter. Predictably, his draft stock has dropped significantly. With a pro future on the mound, he focused primarily on pitching but went just 4-4, 4.47 with 38 strikeouts in 50 innings. Though his fastball was 88-90 mph, topping occasionally at 91, and his slider was effective against righthanded hitters and his changeup a plus pitch against lefthanders, he suffered from shoulder tendonitis, causing him to miss several starts. In the final analysis, he proved to be just another college righthander though his superior athletic ability may enable him to blossom in pro ball eventually. He was mainly an afterthought as a position player this spring, getting just 35 at-bats.
