#34 Matt Graham, RHP. BD: 5/1/1990. 6'4", 225 lbs. B-R, T-R.
Rookie AZL: 1-0, 5.63, 8 IP, 5 BB, 8 K's, GO/AO= 2.50. Short Season(Salem-Keizer): 0-3, 6.85, 22.1 IP, 10 BB, 19 K, GO/AO= 2.43.
I know some of you were waiting with bated breath to see what I have to say about Matt Graham. Well the truth is, I don't really know a whole lot! He's a big burly Texas HS pitcher whose stock dropped in the 2009 draft due to inconsistent velocity. The Giants took him in the 6'th round. The general consensus on him seemed to be that he had a lot of potential but would be a project. His 2010 performance, in a small sample size, didn't do anything to dispel that notion. I would deduce from his numbers that he pounds the strike zone with a heavy, sinking fastball, and needs to develop better secondary stuff to make himself less hittable. He remains a high ceiling, high risk prospect.
#35 Brandon Allen, RHP. BD: 8/15/1991. 6'6", 190 lbs. B-R, T-R.
Rookie AZL: 0-0, 7.94, 5.2 IP, 4 BB, 6 K's.
Similar story to Graham but from the 2010 draft. The Giants, under the direction of John Barr, seem to have an early pattern of drafting a few HS players down in the draft and then signing them for a relatively small, but above-slot bonuses. Allen was taken in round 18 and signed for $110 K. He's a little taller and a little thinner than Graham and comes out of Florida. He made just a cameo appearance in 2010 with way too small a sample size to get any read on him at all. Most of the damage to his ERA came in his last appearance as the AZL Cubs scored 3 runs in 2/3 IP. Brandon is yet another high ceiling, high risk arm in the system. I really like the strategy of stockpiling these kinds of arms. It only takes one to hit it big every 4 or 5 years to make it a really good investment.
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I think Graham will rocket up the ranks after this year and become a legitimate prospect (my favorite breakout prospect). Pitchers with good sinkers who can also strike people out usually is a recipe for success. I just have a hunch that he could be a Brandon Webb type guy that just needs time to figure out his body and mechanics to better control his heavy fastball
ReplyDeleteGraham had a scholarship to North Carolina, which we bought him out of with a $500K bonus. At one point during his Junior year, he was considered the top high school arm in his graduating class. Unfortunately, after that season, his mechanics got way, way out of whack and he's been laboring to hit 90-92 ever since. He has 96 mph gas in his arm, but hasn't hit that in a while. Here's to hoping Dick Tidrow can work the magic.
ReplyDeleteI think the Giants' draft approach is absolutely the way to go, and as you pointed out it only takes one of these guys to pan out every 4-5 years for this to be a very cost-effective strategy.
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