1) RHP Walker Weikel
6-19-11: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=5909 - Walker Weickel followed Fulmer, and was arguably the most impressive pitcher so far during the National Showcase. He has a tall, strong and still projectable frame. He threw 92-93 consistently touching 94, and threw two very effective secondary offerings in his mid-70s curveball and low-80s changeup. The speed differential and his ability to throw all of his pitches for strikes gives Weickel a near flawless repertoire.
8-12-11: - http://www.perfectgame.org/AllAmerican/News.aspx?num=6123 – Right-hander Walker Weickel tossed the second inning for the East, throwing what was described by David Rawnsley as a "typical easy Weickel inning." He was 89-91 with a big, slow 71 curve.
8-25-11: - http://sullydraft.blogspot.com - This summer I went to the National Showcase, Prospect Classic, and the Under Armour All-American Game. Here is my updated top 50 HS prospects. - 7. Walker Weickel-RHP, Olympia HS
10-1-11: - http://mlbdraftguide.com/1/2011/10/01/walker-weickel-2012-draft-profile - Prep righthander Walker Weickel is one of the top arms eligible for the 2012 draft. He is big, athletic, and projectable. Weickel has a high 3/4 to over the top delivery. He does an excellent job of pitching downhill. His delivery creates some deception. Weickel throws a low 90′s fastball that has hit 94. Some additional velocity should come as he matures. He has a low 70′s curve that is a potential plus pitch but is still somewhat inconsistent. His low 80′s change also shows flashes of plus potential. Weickel is almost assured of being selected in the first round and could land among the top 10 selections
10-23-11: - http://www.baseballamerica.com/blog/draft/2011/10/smoral-stands-out-among-big-arms - • Righthander Walker Weickel from Olympia High in Orlando was his dominant self today for the Orlando Scorpions. Weickel pitched four innings, giving up one hit (a home run to catcher Austin Rei from Campolinado High in Moraga, Calif.) with eight strikeouts and three walks. His fastball sat in the 90-92 mph range, topping out at 94. He threw his fastball to both sides of the plate, mixed in a sharp 72-74 mph, 12-6 curveball and an 80-82 mph changeup. When Weickel stays on top of his fastball, he gets steep plane on the pitch, using his 6-foot-6 height to his advantage. But the pitch also has a tendency to flatten out a bit and become hittable.
11-15-11: - http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=6369 - Walker Weickel (2012 RHP, Orlando Scorpions)- The tall athletic hurler possesses a legitimate big league fastball, living in the bottom corners of the strike zone at 90-94 mph with heavy sink. At 6-foot-6 Weickel is athletic enough to repeat his deceptive delivery well for a tall pitcher and the result is a consistent pounding of the bottom of the strike zone. The question about Weickel's ultimate upside lies in his secondary stuff, as his 74 mph curveball showed good depth and a lot of break. But to catch up with his fastball he will need to increase the sharpness of the break and command it better. Currently his curve is only an out pitch when he is able to spot it to the bottom corners for called strikes or entice hitters to chase. He's shown the ability to do both at times, but not yet on a consistent basis. The changeup has shown improvement and is a good complement to the fastball but his command of it is still a work in progress. Weickel sets up hitters as well as anyone in the country, but to reach his potential he will need to develop his ability to put away high level hitters to become more than a innings eating ground ball pitcher at the next level.
Weikel is one of my favorite pitching prospects in this class.
ReplyDeleteIf he falls to the Mets, they could surely do much worse.