Post by Pirates GM (Steve) on Feb 28, 2016 15:07:52 GMT
I'm sure we've still got our long-range sleepers to pick, but being 700 guys in to this draft now I think we should open up some prospect discussion. I'll start by talking about a few guys I'm projecting to rocket up lists maybe as early as mid-season.
Jose Lopez - Round 17, 507 overall, SP, CIN
Lopez was drafted in the 6th round in 2014 out of Seton Hall. Didn't throw many innings in college and sat out all of 2014 with TJ. Came back last year and after about 5 starts really hit his stride in the incredibly difficult Pioneer league. I haven't necessarily scoured the records but it was really hard for me to find any examples of dominance in that league over the last 5 years other than Jose DeLeon. I think these guys profile out really closely and Lopez is a prime candidate to see the same type of surge that DeLeon saw.
I think Lopez might come in 1-1.5 K/9 below DeLeon but with a little lower BB rate too. His season line in 2015 looks very solid when accounting for the 5.73 R/G average in the Pioneer league - 57 IP, 53 H, 19 BB, 67 K, 3.15 ERA, 1.26 WHIP - but when you drill down to the splits, the last half of the season he dominated with - 33 IP, 27 H, 7 BB, 43 K, 1.91 ERA, 1.03 WHIP.
He's still trying to dial in a 3rd pitch but flashing 98 with a hard slider and seemingly back to having control after the TJ. I'm always aware of guys being over-age at a level but the Pioneer league was 20.8 avg this year and he was 21 the whole year and in his 1st pro season. As is the case with anyone who has thrown about 150 total innings in college and the minors and has had TJ already there's some serious risk, but at the spot I took him I'm elated with the upside.
So let's tear down these walls and let's talk prospects, I need this! I'm lazy right now and will write up a few more of my sleepers later.
Jose Lopez - Round 17, 507 overall, SP, CIN
Lopez was drafted in the 6th round in 2014 out of Seton Hall. Didn't throw many innings in college and sat out all of 2014 with TJ. Came back last year and after about 5 starts really hit his stride in the incredibly difficult Pioneer league. I haven't necessarily scoured the records but it was really hard for me to find any examples of dominance in that league over the last 5 years other than Jose DeLeon. I think these guys profile out really closely and Lopez is a prime candidate to see the same type of surge that DeLeon saw.
I think Lopez might come in 1-1.5 K/9 below DeLeon but with a little lower BB rate too. His season line in 2015 looks very solid when accounting for the 5.73 R/G average in the Pioneer league - 57 IP, 53 H, 19 BB, 67 K, 3.15 ERA, 1.26 WHIP - but when you drill down to the splits, the last half of the season he dominated with - 33 IP, 27 H, 7 BB, 43 K, 1.91 ERA, 1.03 WHIP.
He's still trying to dial in a 3rd pitch but flashing 98 with a hard slider and seemingly back to having control after the TJ. I'm always aware of guys being over-age at a level but the Pioneer league was 20.8 avg this year and he was 21 the whole year and in his 1st pro season. As is the case with anyone who has thrown about 150 total innings in college and the minors and has had TJ already there's some serious risk, but at the spot I took him I'm elated with the upside.
So let's tear down these walls and let's talk prospects, I need this! I'm lazy right now and will write up a few more of my sleepers later.
