The Cincinnati Reds took pitcher Mike Leake out of Arizona State with the 8th pick of the 2009 MLB Draft today.
Leake is only 21 and was a junior at Arizona State. He posted a miraculous 16-1 record last season with a 1.36 ERA in 17 games. In 133 innings pitched he fanned 150 batters and only walked 21. As a sophomore he posted a 11-3 record with a 3.49 ERA and in his first season as a Sun Devil posted a 13-2 record with a 3.69 ERA.
His strikeout to walk ratio stands out the most to me as he posted 348 K's to only 70 BB's at ASU, almost a 5:1 ratio!
Leake is overlooked by many due to his 6'0, 180 pound stature. He's not the type of pitcher that will blow up the radar gun but he can throw four pitches, and throw each well: a curve, change up, slider and fastball. Lets hope Leake can prove the doubters wrong and be the next Tim Lincecum.... I sure hope so after looking at the Reds previous 1st round pitching prospects.
For a scouting video of Mike Leake, click here.
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2 comments:
I like the fact that they took a college pitcher. A college pitcher is a little more mature and probably has to use more than just the fastball. High school pitchers so often can get away with just throwing a good fastball that they don't really learn how to pitch.
I agree, this guys numbers are up there too. He seems to be a MLB ready type pitcher. We could see him on the major league field in a couple of years hopefully.
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