Monday, February 9, 2015

DrB's 2015 Giants Top 50 Prospects: #47 Matt Lujan

Matt Lujan, LHP.  DOB:  8/23/1988.  6'1", 200 lbs.

2014  Low A:  6-2, 2.19, 70 IP, 2.70 BB/9, 8.49 K/9, GO/AO= 1.47.
2014  High A:  6-2, 3.42, 71 IP, 2.92 BB/9, 8.75 K/9, GO/AO= 1.39.

Matt Lujan is one of those prospects you love to root for.  He's a local kid from Stockton, CA then pitched for USF in college.  He had a great 2011 senior season at USF until his UCL popped during a routine long-toss session.  He underwent TJ surgery and took a job in marketing for a company in SF while he rehabbed.  The Giants Stockton area scout, who had liked and followed him since HS, monitored his rehab and signed him as an undrafted FA in April 2012.  Matt pitched well for the Rookie League Giants and moved up to Augusta where he again pitched well in 2013.  He started 2014 back in Augusta and pitched even better, earning a call up to San Jose midseason.  He didn't miss a beat and was one of San Jose's best pitchers in the second half last year.

Lujan has a simple left-handed delivery that does not look like he is using a lot of effort.  He has at least 3 pitches that he can throw anytime with good command.  He is a statistical triple thread with solid if unspectacular K, BB and GB rates.  He should move up to AA in 2015.  He's a bit on the older side due to staying in college for his senior season and missing his draft season due to TJ.  A left-hander who can put up those numbers is a prospect at any age.  If he can keep it up, there will be a place for him on somebody's MLB roster someday.

4 comments:

  1. He could be a good back end of the rotation type guy

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  2. I met and had a chance to talk to that scout as he was scouting Bradley Zimmer and Brian Anderson at Cal last year. Was very high on Lujan and from the looks of his reactions and notes not so much on Zimmer.

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  3. You have to love this guy's consistency from August to San Jose. The only thing that changed was his ERA but San Jose is a hitter's league. I think he could be a sleeper in our system and may be an eventual 4-5 guy in our rotation in 2 years. I will be watching him in 2015 for sure.

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  4. Great numbers. Any reports on velocity?

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