Weekend Pirates Draft Prospects Preview: 3/16-3/18

Posted by on March 16, 2012 | 2 Comments

Today I added a new draft tracker to the site, University of San Francisco pitcher Kyle Zimmer.

Zimmer emerged as a top of the rotation starter at San Francisco in 2011, leading his team to a win over Gerrit Cole and UCLA in the regionals with an 11 strikeout performance. He entered the 2012 season as a late first round draft candidate, although he’s moved up the draft boards in the early part of the season.

Zimmer has a plus fastball which has topped out at 98 MPH this year, and usually sits 92-97. The pitch has good movement, and he maintains his velocity deep in to the game. His second best pitch is a hammer curve, which also profiles as a plus pitch when he’s on his game. He has a tendency to leave the pitch up in the zone at times. Zimmer also throws a change-up, although he hasn’t used the pitch much in college.

He got off to a great start in his first three outings, allowing one run in 15 innings, with a 15:0 K/BB ratio. He was hit hard last week against Fresno State, although he did have a blister injury bothering him, according to Keith Law. Law has a good write up of Zimmer’s draft stock and his rise this year.

Notes From the Past Week

-Deven Marrero went 2-for-3 with a homer in game one of a two game series against Utah Valley. He went 0-for-4 in game two.

-Trey Williams went 1-for-2 with three walks on Wednesday.

-Mike Zunino went 1-for-2 with two walks and a stolen base in his one game this week against Florida State.

The schedule for the top draft prospects this weekend:

FRIDAY

6:00 PM EST – Georgia Southern (Chris Beck) vs UNC Greensboro

6:15 PM EST – Valencia HS (Trey Williams) vs West Ranch

7:00 PM EST – Florida (Mike Zunino) vs Vanderbilt

8:00 PM EST – LSU (Kevin Gausman) vs Mississippi State

9:00 PM EST – Arizona State (Deven Marrero) at UCLA

12:35 AM EST – San Francisco (Kyle Zimmer) at Hawaii

SATURDAY

1:00 PM EST – Florida (Zunino) vs Vanderbilt

5:00 PM EST - Arizona State (Marrero) at UCLA

SUNDAY

1:00 PM EST - Florida (Zunino) vs Vanderbilt

4:00 PM EST - Arizona State (Marrero) at UCLA

About Tim Williams

Tim is the owner and editor in chief of Pirates Prospects. He started the site in January 2009, and turned it into his full time job during the 2011 season. Prior to starting Pirates Prospects, Tim worked with AccuScore.com, providing MLB, NHL, and NFL coverage to various national media outlets, including ESPN Insider, USA Today, Yahoo Sports, and the Wall Street Journal. He also writes the annual Prospect Guide, which is sold through the site. Tim moved to Bradenton in 2013, and will be providing live coverage all year of the Bradenton Marauders, GCL Pirates, instructs, mini camp, Spring Training, and lunches at Mixon's Fruit Farms.
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2 Responses

  1. Josh
    March 16, 2012 at 2:24 pm

    I think you mean Zimmer entered the year as a late 1st round draft candidate, not a late round draft candidate. Also, Chris Beck has looked horrible so far. He’s getting hit hard and has seen some dips in velo. I would be livid if the pirates selected him 8th overall, he’ll be lucky to be taken in the supplemental 1st at this rate.

  2. Michael Mawhinney
    March 16, 2012 at 11:22 pm

    I think Carlos Correa is a good prospect to be looking at.  Prep SS who has the ability to stay at the position, hit, and hit for power.  MVP potential