Draft 14 - An Early Look at: LHP Carlos Rodon - NC State

1. Carlos Rodon

 

1-7-13 - Behold, Carlos Rodon, ace of the North Carolina State pitching staff.

Rodon, a 6-foot-2 left hander, took the college baseball world by storm as a true freshman in 2012 with his 9-0 record, 1.57 ERA, 135/41 strikeout to walk ratio and 71 hits allowed in 114 2/3 innings. The unfortunately-not-a-draft-eligible sophomore was a 16th round pick of the Brewers in 2011. At that time, he was around 30 pounds lighter, weighing around 200, and threw between 88-92 MPH with his fastball. He was coveted for his projectability and potential plus slider, but decided to attend college and it is clear now that he made the right call. http://www.crawfishboxes.com/2013/1/7/3846162/carlos-rodon-prize-of-the-2014-draft

 

5-23-13 - Carlos Rodon, LHP, North Carolina State - The 6’-3”, 235-pound southpaw, who is about a clear-cut number-one overall pick as there is, didn’t start the season on a high note. In the season opener against Appalachian State, he gave up five runs over six innings in a 6-3 loss. He did, however, strikeout eight to just one walk, so it wasn’t all that bad. His last two starts have been something out of a video game. Over 14 innings, he has allowed one run on just two hits, including seven no-hit innings against LaSalle in which Karl Keglovits finished off the no-no with two hitless frames. Over those 14 innings, Rodon has struck out an incredible 30 batters to just three walks, pushing his season totals to 38 K/ 5 BB over 20 innings (17.1 K/9). He has a five- pitch arsenal that includes a mid-90s heater, a power slider, a lethal cutter, an above-average curveball and a change-up with nice fade. He commands all of them and is comfortable throwing any of them in any situation LINK

 

6-2-13 - Carlos Rodon has spent much of his sophomore year searching for the form that made him one of the best pitchers in the nation as a freshman. He’s found it when it matters most. Rodon pitched on Saturday like the country has come to expect, firing a two-hit shutout Saturday against William & Mary in the winners’ bracket game at the Raleigh Regional. North Carolina State needed every bit of Rodon’s dominance too, emerging with a 1-0 win against a tough Tribe squad as Rodon and his opposite number, John Farrell, traded zeroes deep into the night. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/rodon/

 

6-9-13  -  1.Carlos Rodon, LHP (NC State): You could have make an argument for Rodon going 1:1 this year. His stuff, K rate, polish, and mechanics all point to him being a strong 1 or 2 starter. http://www.minorleaguerundown.com/2013/06/09/2014-mlb-draft-top-30-prospects/

 

6-10-13 -  Carlos Rodon, LHP, North Carolina State - Rodon begins the summer as the favorite to go first overall in the 2014 draft.  When he is on, he is the most dominant pitcher in college baseball.  His fastball sits 92-95 and his slider is a plus plus pitch.  His curve, change, and cutter are also quality pitches. http://bigleaguefutures.net/1/2013/06/10/2014-mlb-draft-early-college-names-to-know/

 

6-11-13 - 1. Carlos Rodon, LHP, North Carolina State: The Wolfpack are headed to the College World Series and Rodon is a big reason why. Even after starting slowly, the big lefty has gone 9-2 with a 3.19 ERA and 170 strikeouts in 118 1/3 innings. There is almost universal consensus that he's the early choice to be No. 1 in 2014. http://mlb.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20130611&content_id=50293726&vkey=news_mlb&c_id=mlb&tcid=tw_article_50293726

 

6-13-13  -  2. Houston Astros — Carlos Rodon, LHP, North Carolina State - Rodon has pretty much everything you want in an ace. At 6’-2” and 230 pounds, the southpaw definitely has the size to carry the workload and his legs look like tree trunks. He has a five-pitch arsenal that includes a mid-90s heater, a power slider, a lethal cutter, an above-average curveball and a change-up with nice fade. He commands all of them well and is comfortable throwing any of them in any situation. Over 16 starts so far this year, he has a 3.19 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 161 K/40 BB over 110 innings. Opponents are hitting just .190 against him. His junior season should be full of ridiculousness. The only knock I have heard on him is his size and if he will be able to maintain that kind of velocity for the long haul. He also tends to get into control issues at times. http://beforeitsnews.com/sports/2013/06/2014-mlb-mock-draft-1-0-no-time-like-the-present-2513748.html?currentSplittedPage=2

 

6-17-13  -  Carlos Rodon, LHP, N.C. State - Last year Rodon (6-foot-3, 234) became the first Division I freshman to be finalist for the Golden Spikes Award as college baseball's best player. This year, he is the ace of a Wolfpack team that has advanced to the College World Series. He is a coveted power lefty whose fastball sits in the mid-90s and can reach the upper 90s. He has two obviously plus pitches "His fastball can be overwhelming and dominant," Simpson said, "and he has a wipeout slider." http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/mlb/news/20130610/draft-prospects-carlos-rodon/#ixzz2WWk0FqzU

 

6-18-13  -  Jordan Sams ‏@astrosjordan  - Carlos Rodon is going be so good. I can't believe he's coming out the year the Astros won't have 1-1.

 

6-19-13  -  from Don Olson on 6/18/2013 - Stout wide frame, impressive present strength and build, think maturation and power potential TORL. FB was 90-94 mph (95), cruising speed is never an issue.  4S was solid 92-95 mph, nice backspin with arm slot tails away from RHH.  Works both sides of the plate, attacks the inside, and changes eye levels constantly with the offering, all natural late subtle movement.  Command is average, think it can improve with his ability, losses it a little too much low, point of improvement. He hides the ball well and can get hitters to stretch the zone.  2S 90-91 mph (92) with a good amount of hand side tail that is hard, showed good command, hits it consistently L/O.  Cutter/Baby Slider was tight with good bite, more horizontal than vertical tilt at 89-91, safe plus grade with room to grow, effective action to both sides hitters, shows action that forces swings. Curve has good shape, a lot of spin with late drop action, but not a heavy rotation offering at any view this spring.  He shows a projectable change, showed good arm action and potentially highly deceptive, but it is a work in progress, point to monitor in the future.

 

6-28-13 - Carlos Rodon, LHP, N.C. State - Not only is there no better player in the 2014 draft than Carlos Rodon, he'll be the best pitching prospect drafted since Stephen Strasburg was picked in 2008. A 6'2'' lefty, Rodon sits in the mid-90s with his fastball and throws a sinker that's already a plus pitch. He also throws a low 90s cutter and a few more pitches, ranging from a curve, changeup and splitter. They're all behind the others, and he'll most likely choose one and scrap the others when he reaches pro ball. He has an easy throwing motion from the left side that generates easy velocity, and scouts really like his mechanics. Though a team like the Marlins could opt to take one of the elite high school bats if they get the #1 pick next year, there's no reason at this point why Rodon is not deserving of the #1 overall pick http://www.crawfishboxes.com/2013/6/28/4450674/the-way-too-early-2014-tcb-astros-draft-board

 

7-6-13 - Ben Badler ‏@BenBadler  - Carlos Rodon looks like he would dominate a Double-A lineup today. And that's being conservative.

 

7-23-13 - John Manuel ‏@johnmanuelba  - Standing O for Carlos Rodon well deserved. He finishes the night with 11 SO in 6.2 IP, 0 BB, 21 SO in 17 IP for the summer with Team USA vs. Cuba

 

8-5-14  -  Who are the top five lefthanded pitching prospects in baseball, with ceiling as the primary consideration? (question from Jim Kubinski) – answer from Jim Callis - The best lefty prospect in baseball isn’t a professional yet. North Carolina State’s Carlos Rodon is the favorite to go No. 1 overall draft, and he looked spectacular in his final Team USA outing of the summer. http://ht.ly/nEhSu

 

8-14-13 – Through The Fence – Top 50 Prospects – 1. Carlos Rodon, LHP, NC State - The prize of the draft, the 6’-3” southpaw continued to demonstrate his silly array of abilities against the rest of the world after posting a 2.99 ERA, 1.05 WHIP with 184 K/45 BB over 132.1 innings for the Wolfpack this year. Pitching for The Collegiate National Team, he went 3-0 with 21 K/4 BB over 17 shutout innings, allowing just five hits. He has a five-pitch arsenal that includes a mid-90s heater, a power slider, a lethal cutter, an above-average curveball and a change-up with nice fade. He commands all of them well and is comfortable throwing any of them in any situation. There may not be much projection left but what more do you want? http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-top-50-prospects/36463#mwWwsFxSUZy7YC5V.99