Braves select Princeton right-handed pitcher David Hale with their second pick
by gondeee on Jun 9, 2009 10:35 PM EDT
28 comments
I guess the trend so far this year is that the Braves are picking polished college pitchers from elite private universities. When was the last time the Braves selected two college pitchers with their top two picks?
After selecting Mike Minor with the #7 pick in the draft, the Braves took Princeton right-handed pitcher David Hale in the third round with the 87 pick. Hale was ranked as the 28th-best right-handed pitching prosepct in the draft by Baseball America, and 76th overall, and considered second-round talent.
Hale sports a fastball in the mid-to-upper 90's to go along with a plus slider. He played both center field and pitcher in college, so concentrating solely on pitching should help him harness his raw pitching talent. He may project as more of a reliever down the road.
Here is a video of Hale pitching at Princeton:
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Just posted this on the other thread …
Hale is from Marietta and this article says he is a top 75 prospect and majored in operations research and financial engineering.
His fastball runs from 91 to 94 mph but is flat with just a little tailing life. His 83-84 mph slider is an average pitch right now with a hard break and adequate tilt
by playertobenamedlater on Jun 9, 2009 10:42 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Key section from the first article:
[Hale] pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings against Cornell on April 24 and struck out a career-high 10 batters. His fastball reached 96 miles an hour (154 kilometers an hour), which would make him among the hardest-throwing major-leaguers.
"Obviously, he showed a lot of arm strength," said Roy Clark, the scouting director for the Atlanta Braves who came to Princeton himself for the game. "He can’t pitch much better than he threw today."
Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.
by MichaelProcton on Jun 10, 2009 12:17 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
"He can’t pitch much better than he threw today."
…so he has no potential left. great
AB: Jeff Francoeur
Pitching: Any pitcher in MLB
Runners: Escobar at 3rd, Chipper at 2nd, McCann at 1st.
Pitch 1: In play, out(s)
by mvhsbball on Jun 10, 2009 12:22 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I am kind of surprised to see the Braves pick two pitchers. I was hoping for a college hitter. I guess the thinking is young pitching can always be traded.
by playertobenamedlater on Jun 9, 2009 10:46 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
supposedly, though I’m no expert, hitting in the draft was weak this year, at least compared to pitching.
by RichmondBraves on Jun 10, 2009 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Hopefully they can teach him a change-up. If not, an intelligent righty with a good fastball and an average slider will be a decent middle reliever. Not really what you’re looking for with guys like Wallach still on the board.
by 17843 on Jun 9, 2009 10:59 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
LOL
at Princeton’s baseball field and its surroundings. Theres a big ass house like 50 feet from the 1st base line. Its a shame Princeton doesnt have very good facilities. Maybe one day they’ll turn into a decent education institution..
AB: Jeff Francoeur
Pitching: Any pitcher in MLB
Runners: Escobar at 3rd, Chipper at 2nd, McCann at 1st.
Pitch 1: In play, out(s)
by mvhsbball on Jun 9, 2009 11:00 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Like the pick
Looks like someone who’ll be a reliever down the road, but he looks like he has two nice offerings that could be very good out of the pen if he works at them and I love the mechanics. Simple, quick to the play, and easily repeatable. Nice to see someone who doesn’t think they need to have an incredibly complicated delivery.
by was385 on Jun 9, 2009 11:04 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
+1
Very clean mechanics, which I also noticed right away. Nice FB movement too.
With Minor and now Hale, it certainly looks like ATL is emphasizing readiness over upside.
by Yakker on Jun 9, 2009 11:45 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
which is a little surprising
especially for Minor, considering how good our rotation should be for the next couple of years. I do wonder how quick Hale’s development will go because his college numbers have never been more than mediocre and his control obviously needs some work (another reason he seems to fit better in the pen).
by was385 on Jun 9, 2009 11:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Yeah
Drafting polished, low upside, MLB-ready arms doesn’t seem like an area of need. I wonder about Hale. Given his clean delivery, I wonder where the control issues are coming from? I have a feeling he’ll move quickly (cold weather guys often do once they get into an MLB system).
I love Minor’s slider, especially to LHBs. I think he could be pen-ready with 2 pitches very quickly.
by Yakker on Jun 10, 2009 12:05 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
It may just be a case that can be fixed by him solely concentrating on his pitching and not being a two-way player like he was in college. I could see him moving quickly as long as he shows fairly quick improvement on his control, but I’m not so sure Vanderbilt counts as cold-weather.
It would be strange to see Minor in the pen, especially since Jo-Jo Reyes looks like he’s drifting that way. His pick just doesn’t make sense but I have faith in Roy Clark and Wren so I’ve got my fingers crossed.
by was385 on Jun 10, 2009 12:18 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Cold weather
Was talking about Princeton.
Ultimately, I think we’re at the same place: a little surprised by both picks, but have faith in the Braves scouting and system to scout and mold good-to-great major league players.
by Yakker on Jun 10, 2009 1:25 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Minor...
with White still on the board, i don’t understand the pick. I know he’s “safe” and will be a #2 (#3 at worst) in 3 years, but come on now…
by apoxonbothyourhouses on Jun 10, 2009 1:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
White
Hard to know what Clark and/or Wren were thinking. This to me is a much bigger mystery than why the Braves didn’t take Matzek. Come on, how long have we been Braves fans? Have they ever taken the cr@ppy attitude athletically insane guys? No. Makeup’s a big part of the ATL draft philosophy and a guy like Matzek who coasts on a plus FB and is going to hold out for a lot of $$ isn’t their style. Passing on Matzek wasn’t surprising to me at all.
White? I don’t know. I think he probably would have required above-slot money.
by Yakker on Jun 10, 2009 1:44 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Anyone have any idea why they passed on Alex White,I seen on a couple of draft boards that he was our guy.Was it because of the bonus he would command,because he seemed like a better pitcher to me,but being a Braves fan I will root for this kid to succeed and get the job done.Personally I like guys who can throw 95 plus and have mulitple pitches he can throw for strikes.Like Hoover for example though he haven’t gotten to the start I would like to see him put up.
by BravesMania on Jun 9, 2009 11:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Minor was a more sure thing. If you’re going for a safe pick, might as well make it really safe.
by 17843 on Jun 10, 2009 12:13 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Giants
broke my heart. Not only did I want Wheeler in the first but I kinda liked Matt Dominguez in the second. Would’ve been nice…
by BlueVol03 on Jun 9, 2009 11:39 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
where on EARTH???
are the position players?
i thought that Clark stated over and over and over that he wanted to restock the position players (Catchers and Middle Infielders in particular). I know we got something like 30 rounds today, but Jesus…
by apoxonbothyourhouses on Jun 10, 2009 1:32 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Chill, bro...
Just keep repeating to yourself: BPA, BPA, BPA
Remember, kids...don't ever let facts get in the way of your argument.
by MichaelProcton on Jun 10, 2009 1:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
11 of our picks have been position players so far so they’re picking some late. A lot of them are college guys with little potential, but Hefflinger has potential and if Jones hits a bit, he’s a good utility guy at least.
by 17843 on Jun 10, 2009 2:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Mechanics?
I guess they’re somewhat clean. He does make a bit of an inverted-L, but his body catches up quickly and the arm stress isn’t too bad. More worrisome is the follow-through- it’s non existent. The backlash looks very violent, which doesn’t bode well for long term health.
by kasas on Jun 10, 2009 10:18 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
that’s a pretty minor problem and a fairly quick fix though
by was385 on Jun 10, 2009 3:33 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
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