Matt West will be another hometown favortie, should he hit the Big Time here. That's how it is in Texas with natives playing here. Gast looks to be the best of the bunch, but his injury could be the death of him, if he doesn't bounce back into form that he had in high school before the injury. The Rangers thus far have nine picks, three of which were not pitchers. Six pitchers in the first nine picks is more than addressing the issue of what the team is in DIRE need of currently. I would think the Rangers should get an A on this draft, if for nothing else than simply meeting the need at hand.
Name: Matt West
He's from Bellaire High School in Texas. West was born on November 21st, 1988, and stands at 6'2 and weighs in at a lean 195 pounds. He throws right-handed, and was a third baseman in high school.
He's from Bellaire High School in Texas. West was born on November 21st, 1988, and stands at 6'2 and weighs in at a lean 195 pounds. He throws right-handed, and was a third baseman in high school.
Hitting Ability: West does have some hitting ability, but sometimes pulls off the ball and had trouble with offspeed stuff in this particular game.
Power: West has the chance to have power, but with the hitting issues mentioned above, there was concern about him getting to that power.
Running Speed: West is fairly athletic and runs close to average.
Arm Strength: West's arm grades out as average.
Fielding: West has good hands, but is more likely to profile at third at the next level.
Range: West has good feet and can cover some ground, but as he matures, he's a third baseman rather than a shortstop.
Physical Description: West has an athletic body with some room for growth and the corresponding power potential.
Strengths and Weaknesses: West has juice in his bat, handles the glove well. Overall, scouts like his athleticism. The question is whether his hittability will allow him to reach his power potential. He'll need to stop pulling off the ball and will have to work on recognizing offspeed stuff.
Power: West has the chance to have power, but with the hitting issues mentioned above, there was concern about him getting to that power.
Running Speed: West is fairly athletic and runs close to average.
Arm Strength: West's arm grades out as average.
Fielding: West has good hands, but is more likely to profile at third at the next level.
Range: West has good feet and can cover some ground, but as he matures, he's a third baseman rather than a shortstop.
Physical Description: West has an athletic body with some room for growth and the corresponding power potential.
Strengths and Weaknesses: West has juice in his bat, handles the glove well. Overall, scouts like his athleticism. The question is whether his hittability will allow him to reach his power potential. He'll need to stop pulling off the ball and will have to work on recognizing offspeed stuff.
Scouting Report: West was known mostly for his arm strength coming into 2007, but his bat garnered a lot of attention early this spring and at one point seemed destined to make him a supplemental first-rounder. He has cooled off somewhat, particularly when he faced better competition, and now looks like more of a second- or third-rounder. West doesn't have a long track record as a hitter, but he has fared well in wood-bat workouts. He stays inside pitches well, uses the opposite field and has some power potential. He's a solid athlete with good hands, but he'll have to move from shortstop once he leaves high school. He's probably destined for third base because he's already 6-foot-2 and 195 pounds and second base would be a stretch once he fills out. West has committed to both San Jacinto (Texas) Junior College and Arizona State in order to keep his options open, but he's not considered a tough sign.
Name: Evan Reed
He's from Cal Poly. and was born on December 31st, 1985 (helping his parents get a nice tax deduction at the end of that year), and stands a nice 6'4 and weighs 225 pounds. He's a right-handed pitcher and hitter, and was a closer in college.
Fastball: Reed has a plus fastball that he can throw 91-95 mph.
Fastball Movement: Reed's heater is fairly straight, with below-average life.
Slider: Reed has a slider that projects to be an average pitch in the future
Control: Reed's command currently is below-average. It could be average in the future.
Poise: He's got fair makeup.
Physique: Reed is a big, strong body, a fair athlete only, who has a Brett Myers body type.
Strengths & Weaknesses: Reed has arm strength and a plus fastball, however command has not been consistent.
Strengths & Weaknesses: Reed has arm strength and a plus fastball, however command has not been consistent.
Scouting Report: Reed wasn't on many follow lists in high school; his graduating class at Quincy (Calif.) High, about 80 miles northwest of Reno, Nev., had just 63 students. He had chances to earn a spot in Cal Poly's rotation but has settled in as the team's closer, and ranked second in the Big West Conference this spring in saves. More importantly, Reed has proven durable with 30 appearances. He has good size and a strong body, delivering fastballs in the 94-96 mph range, though his stuff usually has a bit better life and command when he's in the 92-94 range. Reed throws a slider and changeup but works aggressively off the fastball, keeping the ball down and in the ballpark (no home runs allowed in 40 IP). He has a chance to move through the minors quickly if he can throw more consistent strikes.
Name: Garrett Nash
He's from Jordan High School in Sandy, Utah. Nash was born on August 24th, 1988, and stands at an even 6 feet and weighs in at a slender 175 pounds (which is at the high end of the ideal weight). He throws right-handed, but is a switch hitter. He plays short and outfield.
Hitting Ability: Nash came into his senior year with high expectations, but has not swung the bat as well as some expected.
Power: While power is not a big part of his game, and he has no power from the left side, he does have some pop from the right side of the plate.
Running Speed: This is his best tool. Nash can fly and his speed grades out as plus plus.
Base Running: He's not just speedy. Nash is an excellent baserunner and maximizes his speed on the basepaths.
Arm Strength: Nash doesn't have the arm strength to stay at shortstop, but could be a second baseman at the next level.
Fielding: Nash has good actions in the infield, but when the game speeds up, he's shown he doesn't have the hands to be a shortstop.
Range: Nash's range is OK, but he profiles better on the right side of second base.
Physical Description: Nash is a small and speedy middle infield/leadoff type.
Strengths and Weaknesses: Plus, plus speed. His bat is a little light and defensively, he profiles as an average second baseman.
Scouting Report: Nash is a Utah high schooler, listed as a shortstop but probably bound for second or center field. 6-0, 180 pounds, switch hitter. Baseball America considers him the 3rd best prospect from Utah and ranked him the 43rd best high-school prospect in the nation coming into the season. BA also rated him the fastest high-school baserunner in the nation.
Name: John Gast
John Gast is from Lake Brantley High School in Altamonte Springs, Florida. Born on February 16th, 1989, he stands at a good 6'1 with a weight of 195 pounds. He throws left-handed and bats the same. He was a starting pitcher in high school.
Fastball: Gast can throw his fastball anywhere from 86-91 mph, but it averages in the 88-90 mph range.
Fastball Movement: He shows above-average life at times with two- and four-seam fastballs.
Curve: Gast's curve sits anywhere from 71-76 mph. It's particularly tough for left-handed hitters as a late-breaking, high 3/4 break curve.
Curve: Gast's curve sits anywhere from 71-76 mph. It's particularly tough for left-handed hitters as a late-breaking, high 3/4 break curve.
Changeup: This is Gast's third pitch and he doesn't throw it much. He needs to improve his command of it.
Control: Gast is advanced for a high school pitcher, with the ability to command three pitches. Poise: Gast is very poised on the mound.
Control: Gast is advanced for a high school pitcher, with the ability to command three pitches. Poise: Gast is very poised on the mound.
Aggressiveness: He is an aggressive pitcher with a willingness and ability to pitch to both sides of the plate.
Physique: Gast is a strong-bodied left-hander in the Jarrod Washburn mold.
Strengths & Weaknesses: Gast has average stuff across the board with some deception. He is ahead of the learning curve in terms of knowing how to pitch. On the downside, there's not much projection there. He's likely not going to add much velocity or get much stronger.
Strengths & Weaknesses: Gast has average stuff across the board with some deception. He is ahead of the learning curve in terms of knowing how to pitch. On the downside, there's not much projection there. He's likely not going to add much velocity or get much stronger.
Scouting Report: Gast is a high-school pitcher from Florida. Lefty, 6-1, 185. Not fantastic stuff and not a ton of projection, but he knows what to do on the mound. Baseball America ranked him the 34th best high-school prospect in the nation on April 20th. Unfortunately, on May 1st, he had Tommy John surgery. BA considered him a "cinch top-three pick" prior to the surgery.
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