The Keepers - #87 - SP - Michael Hebert

87. Michael Hebert – SP – Rookie – 20/yrs.

From: http://www.the-signal.com/: Four Centurion graduates are taken in first 16 rounds of the draft, including pitchers Michael Hebert in the seventh round and Shawn Smith in the ninth. Hebert, a right-handed pitcher, was also drafted, in the seventh round by the New York Mets. Aside from reaching the first step of their baseball dreams, the two had another thing in common. Like Smith, Hebert was asleep when he got the call at eight in the morning. Except it wasn't one of those annoying early morning phone calls. Hebert was told he'd be taken somewhere between the 7th and the 16th round, and although he got his hopes a few times on the first day, the seventh round suits him just fine.

Hebert was a 7th round draft pick in 2008 (he was the second pitcher chosen that year by the Mets), who has gotten off to a slow, unspectacular start; however, progress was made in 2009.
In 2008, Hebert signed with the Mets and went on to the GCL Mets, where he went 2-2, 4.71, in nine games, three starts. Control was not his forte, walking 29 batters in 21.0 innings.

Hebert came back to the GCL Mets in 2009, and finished up: 1-3, 3.38, in seven games, five starts. More importantly, he walked only 14 batters in 29.1-IP.

Forecast: Let’s not forget that Hebert was drafted as an 18-year old, straight out of high school. But, let’s also not forget that, so far, this was a very bad choice for the second pitcher you’re going to draft. I really hate 18-year old high school pitchers, especially ones that pitched to inferior competition. I’m old school. Give me the guy that pitched three years at Texas, or Clemson, or Rice any day. That being said, Hebert may be doing baby steps, but they aren’t embarrassing. So far, in his major league career, he is 3-3. 3.68, 1.59, in 14 games, with 28 Ks in 39.1-IP. He’s also too young to buy a beer in the Piggy Wiggly down the block from my townhouse. Let’s give him two more years. Look for a well deserved promotion to a full season team in Savannah.