25 Additional Pitchers for the 2010 Draft, Part One

 
Drew Cisco has great bloodlines

25 Additional Pitchers for the 2010 Draft, Part One

Here are 12 additional pitchers for the upcoming draft worthy of your attention. I don't think many of these guys will get into the first round, but they are all capable of being picked on the first day. I will post another 13 tomorrow morning. 

Robert Aviles, RHP, Suffren (New York) High School
     Cold-weather high school pitcher, has a 90 MPH fastball with more velocity possible as he matures. Also has a decent curveball and changeup, and a fresh arm. Committed to the University of Florida, he should be signable if picked on the first day. Could see him going as early as the late second or in the third round.

Kyle Blair, RHP, University of San Diego
    Not to be confused with Seth Blair of Arizona State, Kyle (no relation) has a 90-92 MPH fastball and a good slider, but hasn't quite lived up to expectations due to problems with command within in the zone. He was considered a potential first round pick at one point, but now looks likely to slip into the late second or third round range. He's 4-3, 3.73 with a 62/22 K/BB in 51 innings this spring, with 47 hits allowed.

Seth Blair, RHP, Arizona State University
     Blair has been well-known to scouts for a long time, and like many such players he can be nitpicked when flashier/newer prospects come around. But there is still a lot to like here, including a fastball at 91-95 MPH, breaking ball, changeup, and solid command. He's pitched against excellent competition in college and on the Cape, and should be a "safe" pick for someone in the second round. He's 6-0, 3.21 this spring with a 56/12 K/BB in 53 innings with 53 hits allowed.

Kevin Chapman, LHP, University of Florida
    This one time top prospect saw his star dim following Tommy John surgery, but he's revived his career as Florida's closer this year, with seven saves, a 1.37 ERA, and a 26/6 K/BB mark in 26 innings with 20 hits allowed. He still throws 90-93 MPH and has a good curveball. He could help quickly in a major league bullpen, and has enough stuff that he won't have to be confined to a LOOGY role. Expect to see him go as early as the third round.

Drew Cisco, RHP, Wando (South Carolina) High School
    If Cisco threw harder he'd be a certain first-round pick. As it is, he works at 88-92, mixing it with a solid curveball and changeup. What makes him special is outstanding command and control, along with baseball bloodlines: his grandfather Galen was a major league pitcher and coach. Cisco is physically maxed out and unlikely to gain additional velocity, but he should get drafted early enough to pass up his commitment to the University of Georgia.

Sam Dyson, RHP, University of South Carolina
     A 10^th round pick last year by Oakland, Dyson didn't sign and returned to school. Frequent injury issues have hurt his stock at times, but he doesn't throw as hard as he used to, working in the low-90s now rather than the 95-99 marks he used to post. On the other hand, his control has been much better this year, with a 48/9 K/BB in 45 innings. His 5.04 ERA is unattractive on a team with a 3.24 mark. He could go anywhere from the second to the 10^th round, depending on how cross-checking reports go.

Perci Garner, RHP, Ball State University
    A draft-eligible sophomore, Garner came out of nowhere this spring after he gave up football, showing a 90-95 MPH fastball, a promising breaking ball, and good statistical performance, going 5-0 for a 17-20 team, with a 3.51 ERA and a 49/21 K/BB in 41 innings, 34 hits allowed. He is just now starting to get attention and is rather raw, but he could end up going as early as the second round if he pitches well in May.

Cole Green, RHP, University of Texas
     I saw Green pitch for Texas back in March. He doesn't have Brandon Workman's stuff, but still gets his fastball to 88-93 MPH and has a very strong breaking ball. His 6-0, 210 pound body turns off scouts, but they also respect his excellent pitching instincts, and his performance this year (2.09 ERA, 45/16 K/BB in 60 innings, just 39 hits) is hard to beat. I could see him being a successful fourth starter or long reliever in the majors, and on draft day he could go anywhere from the third through 10^th rounds. Teammate Chance Ruffin (0.92 ERA, 54/12 K/BB in 39 innings, nine saves) should go in the same range.

Tyler Hanks, RHP, College of Southern Nevada
     Scouts coming to see Bryce Harper play have gotten a look at reliever Tyler Hanks, owner of a 93-97 MPH fastball and an effective slider. Like many junior college pitchers he is still rather raw, but a team looking for a young arm with upside will possibly take a shot as early as the third round.

Chris Hernandez, LHP, University of Miami (Florida)
     Hernandez has just average velocity, but is very polished and mixes it with a good slider and curveball. He is the kind of pitcher who should make short work of the lower levels, and if he transitions well to Double-A/Triple-A could end up as a solid fourth starter in the majors. He's pitched well this year (3.29 ERA, 53/15 K/BB in 55 innings, 50 hits) after an erratic sophomore season, and could go as early as the third round to someone looking for a reasonably safe, strike-throwing investment.

Mario Hollands, LHP, University of California Santa Barbara
     Unsigned as a 24^th round draft-eligible sophomore last year, Hollands returns to the draft pool for 2010 and should go much higher, possibly as early as the second or third round. He has some mechanical issues with a deceptive delivery that concerns scouts, but he's pitched well this spring (3.12 ERA, 56/21 K/BB in 58 innings, 50 hits) and has shown a 90 MPH heater to go with his strong changeup. In pro ball he probably profiles best as a reliever.

Bryan Morgado, LHP, University of Tennessee
    A draft-eligible sophomore last year, Morgado was picked by the White Sox in the third round but did not sign. That may have been a mistake, as his performance this spring has been erratic. He has an ugly 5.88 ERA and has walked 28 in 52 innings, but has allowed just 44 hits and has fanned 60. The K/IP and H/IP point to his potential. Mechanical problems are his biggest issue, but he still has a live arm with a 90+ fastball that someone could take a chance on fairly early.