photo via throughthefencebaseball.com
We have already discussed Albert Almora and Gavin Cecchini in this series, and in this installment I will look at a player that has been connected to the Mets at 12, Michael Wacha.
Pros
Wacha has a big frame, standing at 6’6 and 200 pounds (according to the Texas A&M website), which gives him good downward plane on his fastball which will sit 92-94 and top out anywhere from 94-97. His second pitch is a developed change-up that is a big-league ready pitch, supplemented by a below-average curve which sits in the low 70s.
The reason he appears to be on the Mets’ radar is his superior command, as his K/BB ratio this year for A&M sits at 99/16 in 99 innings pitched.
Cons
Wacha really only has two main flaws: low ceiling and lack of a breaking pitch. As mentioned above, although his change-up is MLB ready, his third pitch still needs to be developed. Clocked by Baseball America’s Aaron Fitt, he was said to have been able to “throw it for strikes early in counts.”
Ceiling/Floor
His Ceiling is most likely as a three-starter, while his floor is that of a middle-reliever. He is considered a “low-floor high-ceiling” guy.
6 comments
srt
5/23/2012-3:00pm at 3:00 pm (UTC -4)
Enjoying this series on potential picks.
I’m thinking Wacha wouldn’t be their first choice, unless most of their first choices are off the board by the 12th pick.
Stick
5/23/2012-3:27pm at 3:27 pm (UTC -4)
doesn’t sound too bad as is. hell, profiles already as a pretty good closer!
also looks like a guy that if you can teach him a solid breaking pitch (slider, curve, whatever) he could move quick. I always thought that mastering the change was a lot harder to do. Have Parnell teach him the knuckle curve.
Bryan
5/23/2012-3:58pm at 3:58 pm (UTC -4)
Doesn’t seem like a guy this front office would take in the first round since he doesn’t have as high a ceiling as you would expect in a first round pick.
Stick
5/23/2012-4:22pm at 4:22 pm (UTC -4)
I really don’t see the lack of ceiling, unless that is entirely based on the lack of a developed breaking pitch?
“Wacha has a big frame, standing at 6’6 and 200 pounds (according to the Texas A&M website), which gives him good downward plane on his fastball which will sit 92-94 and top out anywhere from 94-97. His second pitch is a developed change-up that is a big-league ready pitch, ”
That, combined with the control he has displayed and good K/BB rates, seems to me to be a guy that has a pretty good ceiling. Already more than Pelf was getting by with!
Not saying he is ready to jump to the majors, but is he really much different than Harvey coming out (and again, I am just basing it on what is reported here).
could a year or 2 in the minors, with professional coaching, be enough to develop a 3rd pitch? Certainly sounds like if he could his ceiling goes way up.
Bryan
5/23/2012-5:27pm at 5:27 pm (UTC -4)
The post concluded that his ceiling is most likely a number 3 starter, while Harvey when he was drafted had a ceiling of a number 2 of possibly number 1 starter. But I certainly agree that with a year or 2 in the minors his breaking could develop and he could have 3 pitches that are average or better, which means he’d definitely contribute somehow in the big leagues.
drklynoon
5/23/2012-10:32pm at 10:32 pm (UTC -4)
I would appreciate the references to the muppets. As for this guy being more than the supplementary pick I don’t see it. This FO seems to look for high ceiling guys.