Tuesday, June 7, 2011

With their 3rd Round pick

...The Astros select 6'7" 230lb junior RHP Jack Armstrong out of Vanderbilt.

His father, Jack Armstrong, Sr., pitched in the majors for seven seasons.

Head coach Tim Corbin on Armstrong:
Jack bolstered our pitching staff last year as a weekend starter and I expect that he will be in that role again this year. There are not many kids out there that possess the athleticism and pitching tools that Jack does. He continues to make strides every time we give him the baseball. He was the winner of our Omaha Challenge for the pitchers as well.

ProDraft Central:

For all of his success, or lack thereof, he still offers huge upside. He’s a big guy, which means he throws hard, in the mid 90s. He’s even been known to crank it up to 99-mph on occasion. He also features a pretty good curveball and he’s working on a changeup.

Aside from his high-heat, the best thing Armstrong has going for him is the fact that he is an amazing athlete. He was the star of his high-school basketball team, and warranted several scholarships before deciding on Vandy and baseball.

His control isn’t the best, but he projects to have at least average big-league control. If he doesn’t cut it as a starter, many experts believe that he would be well suited for a relieving role, possibly even as a closer, where his high-heat and bulldog mentality would be a perfect fit."


Baseball Beginnings has an interview with Armstrong.

PineTar Press (from 2010):
Jack Jr. throws very hard and sits in the mid 90′s with a solid change up and curve. He throws a fastball with a nice sink. His father (I don’t know if this is because his career ended prematurely) has not let his son throw a slider for fear of an injury.

He was a prized prospect coming out of high school and the Rangers took him in the draft and offered him a million to sign but he chose to go to Nashville. His first year he was buried behind a veteran staff and only pitched in 6 games (all relief) going 0-0 with a 12.91 e.r.a But in the summer he shined for his dad’s old Cape Cod team Wareham as he was league all star going 4-1 with a 2.57 e.r.a and 31 k’s in 35 IP. His dad was a tall pitcher but Jack jr. reminds me of Chris Young of the Padres.


Here's MLB's scouting video.