Minor League Prospect Note: Nolan Sanburn, RHP, Oakland Athletics

Oakland drafted University of Arkansas right-hander Nolan Sanburn in the second round this year, 74^th overall. He was a reliever on a deep college pitching staff, but the Athletics are planning to develop him as a starting pitcher. He made his first start last Friday for Vermont in the New York-Penn League, throwing two shutout innings for the Lake Monsters, fanning two and allowing two hits.

Sanburn isn't a tall guy, listed at 6-1, 205, but there's nothing short about his arm: he's been clocked as high as 99 MPH and should work well in the low-to-mid-90s as a starter. He has a power curveball and a cutter/slider. The key now is refining a changeup but the organization feels he has the aptitude to develop it.

One thing in particular that I like about Sanburn: he's a very good athlete who was mainly a position player in high school. I like pitchers with two-way backgrounds.