Round 5/Pick 162: LHP Jack Leathersich

nmigliore · **Posted:** Fri Jun 10, 2011 11:46 am

Again, nobody is saying he can't improve with professional coaching. But right now, an above average fastball with not much else isn't going to bring you to the Majors in any other role besides a reliever.

jdawginsc · **Posted:** Fri Jun 10, 2011 11:47 am

Honestly, I get excited about any lefty arm taken and signed. In my opinion, they are the least projectable quantities, and most valuable entities in baseball.

He starts until the level beats him.

MikeH · **Posted:** Fri Jun 10, 2011 3:35 pm

nmigliore wrote:

Again, nobody is saying he can't improve with professional coaching. But right now, an above average fastball with not much else isn't going to bring you to the Majors in any other role besides a reliever.

Paul Depo says he has a "now fastball and a now breaking ball." Not exactly sure what that means, but sounds like he believes in his breaking stuff.

Metro2007 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 10, 2011 4:32 pm

nmigliore wrote:

Again, nobody is saying he can't improve with professional coaching. But right now, an above average fastball with not much else isn't going to bring you to the Majors in any other role besides a reliever.

DePo made it sound like long term he's probably a reliever but will start for now. I think that is the right approach.

nmigliore · **Posted:** Fri Jun 10, 2011 5:45 pm

I never said anything against the approach. He should absolutely be tried as a starter if the team's scout thing hes got 2 pitches that flash above average to plus.

Metro2007 · **Posted:** Fri Jun 10, 2011 6:22 pm

nmigliore wrote:

I never said anything against the approach. He should absolutely be tried as a starter if the team's scout thing hes got 2 pitches that flash above average to plus.

Nmig,
Keep in mind at lower levels of college baseball it's common that a plus FB and 1 other decent pitch is enough to get by. It's certainly possible with some coaching up he can be a legit starter. I know it's against conventional wisdom but I'd prefer a guy like this when it comes to a lefty then a guy with subpar velocity and 2 "solid" other pitches. Despite all of the love for "crafty" pitchers there are only so many Mark Buerhle's.

jdawginsc · **Posted:** Sat Jun 11, 2011 10:57 am

Lefties are notoriously late bloomers, and most cannot throw the ball straight so that any velocity is likely to be a good thing if they move onto secondary pitches.

Lefties who throw hard first are good bets to develop reasonably good off-speed stuff.

nmigliore · **Posted:** Mon Jun 13, 2011 10:10 am

Quote:

Round 5: Jack Leathersich, LHP, UMass Lowell. A short lefty who put up some crazy numbers in Division II. Leathersich has been known to bring 95-mile-per-hour heat in short outings. As a starter, his velocity drops down to about 88-91. His mechanics are on the ugly side, however—kind of a high elbow in back, lots of recoil, doesn't land consistently with his striding foot and occasionally throws across his body—but they don't seem to hinder his ability to throw strikes too much. I haven't seen too much of Lowell, however—just his MLB Scouting video—but what I've seen jibes with the reports. The breaking stuff is very fringy. You can see the awkwardness in his throwing arm when he's about to spin a curve, like he's gearing up to throw it. According to Baseball America, he throws two breaking balls, a curve and a slurve, but if that's true—sometimes a misthrown breaking ball gets labelled as a separate pitch—he should dump the slurve. It's an ugly pitch that doesn't serve him well at all. If he can learn to throw the curve at the slurve's velocity, he'd have something. Chad MacDonald has suggested that Leathersich may start, but considering his lack of secondary offerings, rough mechanics, size, and reduced velocity in longer outings, I'd say that's crazy talk.

-Amazin' Avenue

nymets945 · **Joined:** Mon Oct 02, 2006 7:00 pm **Posts:** 3955

Leatherrocket: gunna sign in the next few days! #gettinonwithit

nymets945 · **Joined:** Mon Oct 02, 2006 7:00 pm **Posts:** 3955

LeatherRocket Jack Leathersich
#finally

Does this mean he signed?

Gsguy · **Posted:** Wed Jun 22, 2011 2:52 pm

nymets945 wrote:

LeatherRocket Jack Leathersich
#finally

Does this mean he signed?

Nope. He clarified to Jason Esposito that it was still a few days away.

IlikeIKE · **Joined:** Mon Apr 26, 2010 8:21 pm **Posts:** 4116

he with Gorski success, i never rule out a kid now thats a lefty

Round 5/Pick 162: LHP Jack Leathersich

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