Monday, June 7, 2010

With the 2nd 1st Round pick (#19 overall)...

...The Astros select RHP Mike Foltynewicz, 6'4" 190lb from Minooka Community HS (IL), who had committed to Texas.

Phil Rogers:
Baseball America doesn't project Foltynewicz as a first-round pick -- he's not considered in the tier where the White Sox (13) and Cubs (16) pick -- but he could be a smart late first-round pick by a team with multiple first-day picks.

Minooka coach Jeff Petrovic:
He won't make it to the second round. End of the first round, maybe somewhere from the 20th pick down to maybe that sandwich pick area between the first and second round. He throws four pitches for strikes, his slider is nasty and he's just a real complete pitcher."

MLB.com:
Foltynewicz is more of a known quantity and could do quite well when the Draft comes around. That's because of his plus fastball with plus movement, a good changeup and clean mechanics. The breaking ball needs some work but should be fine with more instruction.

Perfect Game:
Pro profile build, good overall strength, some physical maturity. Outstanding power arm, comes through fast and clean, hip turn delivery, gets plenty of power from lower half, does tend to occ drift to the plate and leave FB up. FB to 94 mph, lots of 93/94's, gets late hard running action even at 94, flashed power CB with sharpness, big 11/5 shape, inconsistent release this date, change also had good deception and running action. Potential first round pick, keeps improving.

Baseball America's Jim Callis:
Foltynewicz gives Hou best HS arm in IL 2 yrs in row (Bushue last year). I like how Hou takes the guys it wants, bucks consensus.

Jason Churchill:
Our draft board says he was not the next best prep arm available, that being Barstow's Aaron Sanchez and then Tyrell Jenkins and A.J. Cole, but he's 6-foot-4 and 195 pounds and could end up sitting in the 93-96 mph range as he develops physically and makes adjustments in the delivery.

Baseball America:
The Astros again take a non-consensus first-rounder with Mike Foltynewicz, the Illinois prep righthander. At 6-foot-4, 190 pounds, Foltynewicz has the pitcher's projectable body, and he's a fresh Northern arm, so he has projection. He also sat 91-94 mph most of the spring, peaking at 96. However, he was No. 44 on BA's Top 200.