Draft Notes 5-13-12 – Brian Johnson, Mathew Reckling, Spencer Kieboom, Ross Stripling

Keith Law –

Q - If healthy, you think Royals take Giolito over top three college arms?

A – “I would.

Florida LHP Brian Johnson –

5.0-IP, 4-H, 1-ER, 2-K, 1-BB, Loss (5-4) – season: 13-ST, 5-4, 4.29, 65.0-IP, 52-K, 13-BB – The 6-3 lefty started out the mock season as the top lefty in the draft. At times, GSU’s Chris Beck, Harvard-Westlake H.S. Max Fried, and Solon H.S. Matt Smoral have passed him, but, if the draft was right now, Oklahoma State’s Andrew Heaney would be the first lefty picked. Johnson has not had the banner year he had hoped for, especially for the banner team he plays for. Everybody loves a lefty, and a 6-3 lefty is like a 6-6 righty.  All the names mentioned will probably go in the first 31 picks, along with Camarillo HS Hunter Virant and Georgia’s Alex Wood. This is a pitchers draft. Projection: 25-31 range.

Rice RHP Matthew Reckling –

Reckling had an excellent outing Saturday, though there was a little wildness: 5.0-IP, 8H, 2-ER, 5-K, 4-BB, 8-1, 3-WP – vs. UAB  The talent pool in this draft falls off pretty quick past the top 90 and Reckling has worked himself back into contention for a first day pick. I see him going in the sup-1 round, even though a lot of scoutns are suspicious about the Rice jinx.    

Matt Grabusky –  Rice righthander Matthew Reckling has greatly improved his draft stock since being selected in the 22nd round last year.  He is a groundball pitcher who keeps the ball in the park. Reckling’s fastball sits in the low 90′s.  He throws primarily a 2 seam fastball that has good sink, using his 4 seam fastball sparingly.  He throws a 12/6 curve, 79-8,2 that is above average to plus.  His change is from 78-80

TAMU (36-14) Ross Stripling –

Can you think of a better day to throw a no-hitter than the day you graduate college? Stat line Saturday vs. San Diego State (22-29) - 9.0-IP, CG, 0-H, 0-R, 7-K, 1-BB, minimum 27 batters… it was interesting that he was drafted last year in the 9^th round but chose to return for his senior year in college. No one does that anymore. Seasonally: 12-ST, 8-2, 2.59, 94.0-IP, 90-K, 14-BB. It’s obvious that he won’t go before his teammate, Michael Wacha, though he’s right there stat-wise with Mike. The no-hitter will have people writing his name down again. Originally a reliever, he’s only  pitched for five years. Projection: 2^nd round.    

                   

Clemson C Spencer Kieboom –

Hitting a three-run homer against a D1 team is a big deal. Hitting one against the number one team in the nation is everything. Clemson junior C Spencer Kieboom may only be hitting .261 for the season, but he proved Saturday night that he can hit under pressure. He went 10-15 earlier this year in the weekend series with Georgia Tech. I guess you should draft this kid and just play him against teams leading their division. We all know that Florida’s Mike Zunino will go early on the first day, but the rest of the catcher situation is still undetermined. Miami’s Peter O’Brien, Union HS’s Clint Coulter, Accadania HS’s Stryker Trahan, Tcu’s Josh Elander, and Buffalo’s Tom Murphy could all go the first day of the draft.  This one game could elevate Spencer to a high second day pick. Projection:  4^th round