Tuesday, June 5, 2018

2-66: Jayson Schroeder

With their 2nd Round pick of the draft, #66 pick overall, the Astros selected 6'2" 205lb RHP Jayson Schroeder out of Juanita High School in Kirkland, Washington. The slot value for the 2-66 pick is $965,300. He has committed to the University of Washington.

In his senior season with Juanita, Schroeder threw 60.1IP, 29H/13ER, 110K:19BB.

*Baseball America listed Schroeder as their #1 prospect in the Northwest. BA:
This spring, Schroeder has picked up right where he left off, regularly sitting 92-93mph with a fastball that includes both power and sink. He has also shown a second breaking ball this spring in a slider, and while both of his secondary offerings are currently fringe-average, many scouts think both could turn into plus pitches down the line thanks to his arm speed and feel for spin. Given his arm slot and strength, a power slider seems to be the pitch most evaluators are banking on as his future go-to offering.

*Juanita HS head coach Brian Shannon:
He's built like he could play Division I college football. A very physical kid, and it shows with his velocity: 92-93 most of the time, was up to 95 this year. Very athletic kid. He runs really well. I think he repeats his delivery very well, and he'll have success.

Chandler Rome notes that Shannon threw a 17-strikeout perfect game earlier this season against a division opponent who made the playoffs.

*Schroeder told the Seattle Times, who named him as their Player of the Year
I love pitching. It's the one sport where you can pretty much dominate the game for your team, and the game doesn't start until you throw the ball. I like having all the control. 

Mercer Island coach Dominic Woody:
His stuff - velocity, movement, breaking ball - those things speak for themselves. But usually when guys throw as hard and physical as Jayson does with his stuff, they really aren't as refined as he is. It's his command that I've been really impressed with. He looks like a Friday-night, Pac-12, front-line starter to me. 

*An unnamed cross-checker:
If he wants to sign and shows that to the club that ultimately takes him, he'll probably go in the 3rd-round range somewhere. The book on him is he's a smart kid, a smart player and he may thrive in the Pac-12 and come back in a few years as a Top 50 player. But I'd prefer to get him (into pro ball) now.

A guy named Joel Latta:
The 6'2" 200lb right-hander makes pitching look effortless with a 3/4 arm slot, fluid arm action, minimal lower half effort, and it results in a sharp, downhill delivery. Working from the third-base side of the rubber, Schroeder does a good job of using his drive leg to launch into his delivery and had no issue repeating it all in this outing.