2012 New Jersey Baseball Player of the Year, RHP Rob Kaminsky
As the draft approaches, our organizational needs become very clear. The Mets are surely stocked when it comes to Right-Handed Pitchers, as also evident by every other minor league system boasting at least one pitcher with great upside from the right side. Although the Mets are stocked when it comes to right-handed pitching, they are very thin in left-handed pitching, with the exception of relievers. They only have one starter in the upper minors that has a capability of starting as a left-hander, and that is Darin Gorski. Steven Matz is further along the way and has yet to get past A–Ball. With this organizational need in mind, I give you the best left-handed pitchers in the coming June draft.
Pick Of The Litter
Sean Manaea, Indiana State, Ht 6’5” Wt 215, B/T L-L
An Indiana native, Manaea seems like the consensus top Left-hander in the 2013 draft. He reaches 96 with his fastball, and features a hard slurve as well. According to Jon Mayo, his changeup already grades out to above average. He isn’t as polished as other pitchers, but a hard-throwing lefty is never ignored. In the Cape Cod league, he went 5 – 1 with a 1.22 ERA, while striking out 85 players in 51 and 2/3rd innings. To keep in mind, the Cape Cod League is where elite college players go in the summer. He is a lock to go in the top 10 picks, and most likely top 5.
Trey Ball, New Castle HS, IN, Ht 6’5” Wt 175, B/T L-L
Hey, didn’t we just see this guy as an outfielder? Trey Ball is seriously the top two-way threat in the upcoming draft, wherever the drafting team feels fit. His fastball ranges from 90-93, which is plus, while his changeup is around 78-80, as his best secondary option and features a slider that is fringy, but offers above-average potential Baseball America offers a conflicting report saying he has a curveball, not slider that is promising. Lefty pitchers like that don’t come around too often, and it will be interesting to see where Ball ends up in position for this draft.
Rob Kaminsky, St. Joseph Regional HS, Montvale, NJ, Ht 6’ Wt 190 B/T L-L
Kaminsky is not tall for a pitcher, but he is still very intriguing and in the Mets’ backyard. According to Baseball America, he has an athletic delivery with an 88-90 mile per hour fastball, that reaches 93. He loves to throw inside, unlike many other players his age. He also has a nice dropping curveball in the 76-79 mph range, and an interesting changeup coming in at 80-83 miles per hour. He is committed to North Carolina.
Kevin Ziomek, Vanderbilt, Ht 6’ 3”, Wt 200 B/T R/L
A lefthanded pitcher from Vanderbilt, Ziomek has been shooting up draft boards with impressive performances. He went from being a possible second-round pick to a likely first-round selection, possibly in the top 15 picks. He has a plus fastball in the 90 to 93 mph range, as well as a plus changeup and solid curve. His control is considered plus. In the Cape, Ziomek went 3-0 with a 1.27 era in 5 starts, going 28 and 1/3rd innings, with a 6/36 BB/K ratio. He has one knock, which is that scouts worry about his arm action.
More Names To Watch
Stephen Gonsalves, Cathedral Catholic HS, Ht 6’ 5”, Wt 205, B/T L-L
Projectable with a 88-92 mph fastball, Gonsalves has interesting control. He also has a soft curveball at 70-71 mph and a splitter, instead of a changeup. The secondary pitches are a work in progress according to Baseball America. He is committed to San Diego.
Ian Clarkin, Madison HS, San Diego, Ht 6’2. Wt 185 B/T L-L
Athletic build, with a fastball in the 88-92 mph and a plus curveball at 74-78 mph. He also has a solid changeup at 80-83. He is committed to San Diego like Gonsalves.
Kent Emanuel, North Carolina, Ht 6’ 4”, Wt 225 B/T L-L
Fastball sitting in the low 90’s, has a tight and effective breaking ball. He has great command.
Corey Littrell, Kentucky, Ht 6’ 3” Wt 195, B/T L-L
He has a Low 90’s fastball, with a possible increase in velocity. His best pitch however is his changeup, which sits in the low 80s. He also has an interesting slider and curve. He could turn out to be a very good pitcher.
Final Thoughts
There’s a very interesting crop of left-handed pitchers in this year’s draft, and many coming from high school. Ziomek is very intriguing however, and could move very quickly through the system, but I doubt they will go for him. The most likely pick in my opinion is Robert Kaminsky, being a player with great makeup, and considered to be a bulldog on the mound, like Michael Fulmer was considered to be in the 2011 draft. We have a long way to go before draft day, so it will be interesting to see who the Mets ultimately choose.
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