Top three Major League Baseball draft picks for 2011: the future of the game - Part 2
After declining the staggering offer from the New York Yankees, Gerrit Cole led UCLA to heights that surprised everyone, including himself.
He made the UCLA Bruins the best baseball team in the school’s history with a 51-17 record. This record consequently made them the second best team in the country as well. With the support and immense talent of Cole, the team went on to the 2010 College
World Series but were not successful in beating South Carolina who won the NCAA Championship Series. In the 123 innings that Cole pitched, he accumulated 123 strike-outs along with an ERA of 3.37 and an excellent 11-4 record.
At 6ft 4in with a strong, athletic frame Cole is what a typical pitcher looks like. His performance is leaps and bounds more than that of a typical pitcher. If he were to be picked up by a good team, he could easily develop his slider which currently rates
at 65 mph on a 20-80 scale. Cole’s changeup averages between 85-87 mph in which he delivers fastballs using raw power and velocity. At times when he wants to deliver, Cole pitches in between the 92-92 mph range without issues and there have been times where
he has gone up to 97-98 mph without seeming fazed.
The only thing that isn’t working for the member of the 2009 Collegiate National Team (Team USA) is his control which has been seen to falter. Cole doesn’t have the command that dominates the strike zone that hinders him from throwing even more quality strikes.
Maybe that is something that will improve over time once he gets exposed to the Majors, for now he is one of the front runners in the 2011 MLB Draft.
Matt Purke from the Texas Christian University is the third best Draft Pick that will emerge in the 2011 season. Like Gerrit Cole, he was offered a ridiculous amount when the Texas Rangers drafted him in the first round in 2009. They offered him a whooping
$6-million to sign on with the team, but due to the Rangers financial state and the MLB Commissioners’ pressure the amount was reduced to $4-million. Leaving that on the table, Purke went ahead to study at TCU.
The prized pitching prospect has a dangerous curveball which is one of his biggest features. With a bit of tweaking to his mechanics, the curve ball which is currently at 78-81 mph with a sharp 11-5 break has a lot more potential. Purke’s fastball has an
above average velocity which averages between 93-94 mph. The biggest advantage he has is definitely the control he can exercise over the ball. Purke is known to consistently throw excellent strikes but that’s not the only thing he excels at.
Purke is also quite impressive when he throws a solid change up or a cutter which has room for improvement that can come with experience in the Majors.
Matt was the Baseball America’s Freshman of the Year in 2010 and if his amateur career is an indication of anything, it is greatness in the big leagues. At his age with his limited exposure, his presence on the mound and poise is far more advanced than it
should be. Purke has the confidence and tact to keep hitters on their edge and that is definitely a plus point for anyone who wants to envision a pitching career in the Majors.
His only downfall is his not so typical build which is much smaller than that of an average Major League pitcher. He has a bit of shoulder bursitis last year and that has possible investors worried. There is a chance though, that Purke might use his non-traditional
pitching frame to his advantage like National League’s Cy Young winner, Tim Lincecum who has made a name for himself in pitching history without having perfect build for a pitcher.
Tags: