1/16/14

Draft 14 - A Quick Look - OF - Alex Verdugo - Sahuaro (AZ) HS

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       Alex Verdugo

7-24-13  -  Alex Verdugo, of/lhp, Sahuaro, Tucson, Ariz./Chi Town Cream - The athletic 6-foot-1, 190-pound Verdugo is a promising two-way talent. He has a solid build with sloped shoulders and a strong lower half. On the mound, Verdugo has a quick, loose-and-easy arm action and smooth delivery. His fastball sits 88-91 mph and touches 93 with armside run and some sink from a high three-quarter slot (although he will vary his arm slot depending on the hand of the hitter). His mid-70s breaking ball can show sharp 1-7 tilt at its best and flashes average. The Arizona State commit compliments with a 79-80 mph changeup. At the plate, Verdugo has an open stance and uses a toe tap. He has a feel for the barrel and generates pull-side power. Verdugo has average to a tick above straight-line speed and an above-average arm from the outfield. Verdugo is young for the class and will turn 18 right before the draft. http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/tyler-koleks-heavy-fastball-among-tournament-of-stars-standouts/   

8-9-13 - Clint Longenecker ‏@Clint_BA  - Alex Verdugo (Ariz) continues to impress in many facets of game. Strong throw from right field to hose runner at the plate
8-10-13 - New Balance Area Code games - For the Reds, Alex Verdugo (AZ) has established himself as one of the best players on both sides of the ball. The left-hander pitched very well on day one, showing great stuff, but has put on a show at the plate all week. He rocketed a ball that was 99 MPH off the bat back up the middle in one at bat today. He has a good swing from the left side and has hit the ball hard all week. http://prospectinsider.com/view/2013-area-codes:-day-4-notes/  

8-21-13 – Area Code Games - 9. Alex Verdugo, lhp/of, Sahuaro, Tucson, Ariz./Chi Town Cream - One of the top two-way players in the class, Verdugo had a tremendous showing in Area Codes with the bat and on the mound. He took an impressive batting practice, hit well in games and showed above-average speed. With bat speed, power and a patient approach, Verdugo has feel to hit and good bat control. He was one of the most impressive pitchers of the event with a control of an 89-92 mph fastball that touched 93 with movement. The Arizona State commit commanded his curveball, a plus offering with 12-to-6 tilt and depth at its best. He will vary the shape of the offering depending upon the hitter and mixed in a low-80s changeup. His delivery and arm action are free and easy.  Verdugo struck out eight against one walk in his four innings and is young for the class. http://www.baseballamerica.com/draft/area-code-games-top-10-prospects/  

8-25-13 - Nathan Rode ‏@NathanRode  - I'm know I'm really going out on a limb, but I love watching Alex Verdugo play. Such a dynamic player on both sides of the ball.

9-21-13 –  Alex Verdugo came out swinging in his first at-bat, showing his strength and excellent bat speed by hitting a triple to the right-centerfield gap on his first swing of the tournament. A lefthanded hitter and pitcher, Verdugo squared up the ball his next two at-bats with deep fly outs outs to left field. On his last trip to the plate, in the bottom of the sixth, the left fielder was positioned nearly on the warning track, clearly aware of Verdugo's power and why he is ranked as the 20th best prospect in the 2014 class. .  http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9017  

10-15-13 – Baseball America - 34. Alex Verdugo, lhp/of, Sahuaro HS, Tucson, Ariz.: He’s a legitimate prospect both ways thanks to his feel for hitting, and a smooth delivery with a fastball up to 93 mph on the mound. http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-draft-top-50-october-2013-carlos-rodon/  

10-29-13 – Jim Callis – Top 10 World Wood Bat Association World Championship (WWBA) Jupiter, Fla - 10. Alex Verdugo, OF/LHP, Texas Scout Team Yankees (Sahuaro High, Tucson, Ariz.) -  Scouts are split on his future because he has a sweet left-handed swing and a strong arm. http://ht.ly/qi5No  

11-6-13 – Todd Gold – WWBA World Championship – Alex Verdugo (2014 LHP/OF, Texas Scout Team Yankees) - The two-way prospect out has scouts split on whether his future lies on the mound or in the outfield. What is certain is that his curveball is a weapon, and he used it with devastating effect in his start against the Dirtbags. His matchup against one of the top left handed hitting prospects in the class (Braxton Davidson) was must-see for crosscheckers. In that matchup Verdugo buckled Davidson's knees with his deep 12-6 hammer, striking him out with it in their second encounter after starting him off with it to begin their first with impressive results. His fastball sat 88-92 as per usual, and a second inning hiccup aside, commanded it well for two of his three innings. Just as importantly, Verdugo bounced back from his spell of wildness in the second inning when his front shoulder began opening early, he managed to make the adjustment and resumed hitting his spots in the third inning, striking out the side on 10 pitches. He also helped himself out a lot in the minds of scouts when he buckled down and struck out Davidson with the bases loaded after a two-out error extended what had been a rough second inning. http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=9157  

11-21-13 – BA Top 100 High School Players - 12 Alex Verdugo OF/LHP L/L 6-0 200 Sahuaro, Tucson, Ariz. Arizona State http://www.baseballamerica.com/college/2014-high-school-top-100-with-commitments/  

11-22-13 - Alex Verdugo, OF/LHP Sahuaro High School, 2013 WWBA Championships (via Baseball Instinct) – Alex Verdugo is a 6'1", 190 LB left handed pitcher and outfielder. He is arguably the best two-way player available in this draft along with Michael Gettys. I'm not sure at this point where he should play. Similar to Trey Ball last year, he has high-end tools both on the mound and in the outfield. His speed is just average, so I don't see him sticking in centerfield long term. His thick legs look more like the legs of a pitcher than an up the middle talent. Once he matures he'll likely be a right fielder so the bat has to be very good, but the bat is that good. He can hit the ball with authority from line to line. He has a strong build but doesn't have a lot of physical projection remaining. If I had to choose, I'd put him in the outfield but athletic lefties with three pitches don't come along that often. If he sits in the low 90's regularly and touches higher, he may end up on the mound. However the spring works out for him, he has the talent to be drafted in the late first to early second round. If he slides or doesn't sign, he is committed to Arizona State where he could be a star in the outfield and on the mound. http://www.minorleagueball.com/2013/11/22/5130714/2014-mlb-draft-profile-alex-verdugo-rf-lhp-tucson-az-high-school

12-10-13 – TTF – Top 50 HS Players - 22. Alex Verdugo, LHP/OF, Sahuaro HS (AZ) - One of the better two-way talents available in the 2014 MLB draft, the 6’-1” left-hander has a tough decision on his hands as he excels as both a hitter and pitcher. He can touch 93 mph with his fastball and also adds solid secondaries in a mid-70s curveball and an upper-70s change-up. He has great bat speed and shows raw power. Over 93 at bats as a junior, he hit .484 with seven home runs, stole 24 bases and drew 25 walks to just three strikeouts. On the mound, he struck out 130 over 65 innings. Committed to Arizona State. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-top-50/40532#zz88YJZTOG8iEa1Z.99

12-9-13 – Pine Tar Press  -  16- OF/LHP Alex Verdugo Sahuaro HS (Arizona State Commit) 5/15/96- Word is you are not getting Verdugo as a pitcher in this draft as he loves to hit. That being said, he is the best hitter in this draft at the HS level. He never has a cheap AB and certainly seems to be a student of the excellent CD by Steve Springer on Quality At Bats. He is more of a line drive guy at this point and that is fine because he has one of those qualities where he seems to catch the ball and spin it where he wants. On the mound, he has very good mechanics and works a low 90’s fastball and solid secondary pitches. (Angels @15) http://pinetarpress.com/early-look-2014-mlb-draft/

1-3-14 – TTF Baseball - 42. Miami Marlins — Alex Verdugo, LHP/OF, Sahuaro HS (AZ) - One of the better two-way talents available in the 2014 MLB draft, the 6’-1” left-hander has a tough decision on his hands as he excels as both a hitter and pitcher. He can touch 93 mph with his fastball and also adds solid secondaries with a mid-70s curveball and an upper-70s change-up. He has great bat speed and shows raw power. Over 93 at-bats as a junior, he hit .484 with seven home runs, stole 24 bases and drew 25 walks to just three strikeouts. On the mound, he struck out 130 over 65 innings. Committed to Arizona State. http://throughthefencebaseball.com/2014-mlb-draft-2/40753#ppGUqI6CbWFvzsPf.99

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