In his Monday morning 10 Pack Kevin Goldstein at BP notes Ross Detwiler’s draft stock is soaring:
In last week’s draft notebook, I noted Detwiler’s early heat based on just one start. Taking advantage of pitching on a Thursday with more the 20 scouting directors in attendance, Detwiler whiffed a career-high 13. Take two on Friday was nearly as impressive, as the beanpole righty went seven shutout innings, allowing two hits and striking out seven. With three pitches that grade out at least as average and a projectable frame, Detwiler went into the season projected as a mid-first round pick. Just two weeks into his team’s season, he’s looking like he might go in the single digits.
Mike Findelski at Beyond the Boxscore thinks out own Flat Hat could be a sleeper Cy candidate. That’s sort of hard for me to envision this year, but Rob Neyer did say he has the Cy Young stuff. With word that Reyes is getting a feel for the sinker, perhaps it’s not complete fantasy. I’d be pleased if he pitches close to his projections. (Save his Marcel, which seems overly bearish.)
One draft possibility for the Cardinals could be St. Louis native Nick Schmidt, lefty pitcher for the Arkansas Razorbacks. Brewerfan.net has a scouting report on Schmidt:
Schmidt was last year’s SEC pitcher of the year, which is a pretty big honor given the conference he pitches in, not to mention he was a sophomore. He enjoyed success immediately upon stepping onto Arkansas’ campus, being named a freshman All-American. Schmidt has stuff and size for a lefty that you just don’t find very often, unless you’re looking at some of the other talented southpaws available for the 2007 draft. He pitches comfortably in the 88-92 range and also mixes in a solid slider and change up, giving him a proven, three-pitch repertoire. He has the size to sustain long innings while maintaining his velocity, and the natural pitching moxie to get batters out when he doesn’t have his best stuff. A strikeout lefty with his stature and stuff won’t last very long on draft day ‘07.
His stock may be dropping some this season so far, Schmidt’s struck out 15 while walking 14, but only allowed a .183 batting average against.
Jason Scott at the Birdhouse has the low-down Fernando Salas and Angel Rivera. It’s subscription only, I will say both players sound promising, particularly Rivera.
The first round of cuts happened today, Mark Worrell, Mike Parisi, Mike Sillman, Chris Lambert, Mark Worrell, Bryan Anderson, Danilo Sanchez, Ryan Christianson and Michel Hernandez. Notable NRI’s are still there is Colby Rasmus and Rick Ankiel.
Filed under: 2007 Draft, Angel Rivera, Anthony Reyes, Colby Rasmus, Rick Ankiel, Ross Detwiler Watch
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sounds like detwiler is going to be out of our range. one correction on what goldstein said, detwiler is a lefty.
schmidt had been struggling early, but he had his best start of the year on sunday throwing a complete game shutout giving up only 5 hits and 2 walks while striking out 11. he will be available at 18, but hopefully he will slip down and we can grab him at 36.
another guy that i’m sure is on the cardinals’ radar is TCU righty jake arrieta. so far this season he is 3-1 with a 1.77 ERA in 20.1 IP allowing 19 hits, 6 walks, and striking out 23. he doesn’t have a whole lot of upside, but he has decent stuff and throws strikes.
suprised i didn’t catch goldstein’s error. i’ve seen arrieta’s name on some of the mock drafts going to the cardinals, and he seems like the cardinals type of draft pick, i have a gut feeling about the cardinals selecting him. lots of good lefties available this year.