[video=youtube;-HzNYRm5Hac]http-~~-//www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HzNYRm5Hac

 

Born: June 28, 1991 - Grapevine, TX

 

Bats: Left

Throws: Left

Height: 6'2"

Weight: 170

 

Drafted as a P out of Northwestern State University by the Twins - 2nd round (#63 Overall) of 2012 June MLB Amateur Draft. Has started his professional career with the Elizabethton Twins, working out of the bulllpen.

 

College Stats:

2010: NWSU - 0-0 | 3.28 ERA | 14G - 24.2IP | 1.46 WHIP - 5.11 K9 - 2.55 BB9

2011: NWSU - 1-3 | 3.98 ERA | 24G - 40.2IP | 1.57 WHIP - 9.96 K9 - 3.98 BB9

2012: NWSU - 4-4 | 3.63 ERA | 23G - 62.0IP | 1.05 WHIP - 10.16 K9 -2.61 BB9

 

Report: Melotakis is a left-handed power pitcher with a plus fastball that sits 94-97 mph and is located to both sides of the plate. His secondary offerings lag behind in the form of a spike breaking ball and an average changeup. However, he’s worked exceptionally hard this season on improving both pitches, as it lends to his projection as a starting pitcher. The southpaw’s mechanics are fluid and repeatable, as he’s already demonstrated the ability to attack opposing hitters out of the bullpen with his plus fastball. However, will a big-league bullpen be Melotakis’ final destination?

This week Mason picked up his first professional win and got back on the right track with 2 relief appearances for Elizabethton where he pitched 2 perfect innings with 3 strikeouts.

 

On the season: 1-1 | 2.45 ERA | 4G - 3.2IP | .818 WHIP - 12.3 K9 - 4.9 BB9

Mason made only one relief appearance this past week, in said game he was perfect over 1 inning with 1 strikeout.

 

On the season: 1-1 | 1.93 ERA | 5G - 4.2IP | .643 WHIP - 11.6 K9 - 3.9 BB9

Mellow Mason (still trying to come up with a good nickname...) continues to fill the "closer" role for the E-Twins. However, since the team has a penchant for winning games by 10+ runs, they've only provided 3 save situations. One, he blew, the second was while he was hurt and the third was in the second game of a double-header where MM finished off game #1 in a non-save situation. Still, Mason's career is off to a solid start:

 

On the season: 1-1 | 1.35 ERA | 7G - 6.2IP | .600 WHIP - 13.5 K9 - 2.7 BB9

 

It'd be nice to see Mason put in another Month at E-Town and then throw some late-season heat in Beloit. Has anyone seen reports on whether Mason's fastball speed is still keeping in the mid-90s?

Somewhere over the past week, Mason was moved up to Beloit where he's already been used twice and ended up on both sides of the decision (although the run in his loss was unearned). Congrats to Mason on the quick promotion!

 

On the Season:

 

E-town: 1-1 | 1.35 ERA | 7G - 6.2IP | .600 WHIP - 13.5 K9 - 2.7 BB9

Beloit: 1-1 | 0.00 ERA | 2G - 4.0IP | 1.000 WHIP - 6.8 K9 - 2.2 BB9

Combined: 2-2 | 0.84 ERA | 9G - 10.2 IP | .750 WHIP - 11.0 K9 - 2.5 BB9

Two week update: The Jar continues to pitch well against tougher Midwest League competition. At this point, he doesn't have a clearly defined role (finishing some games, pitching mid or early relief in others, etc...) but it appears as though the Snappers are content with keeping him at only 2 games a week with 1-2 inning per appearance.

 

On the Season:

 

E-town: 1-1 | 1.35 ERA | 7G - 6.2IP | .600 WHIP - 13.5 K9 - 2.7 BB9

Beloit: 2-1 | 2.00 ERA | 6G - 9.0IP | 1.444 WHIP - 9.0 K9 - 3.0 BB9

Combined: 3-2 | 1.72 ERA | 13G - 15.2 IP | 1.085 WHIP - 10.9 K9 - 2.9 BB9

He has a wicked delivery, and a very odd release point.

He has a wicked delivery, and a very odd release point.

I take it you've hit up a few Snappers games. Any other notes on The Jar? Pitch speed/mix? Composure?

The Jar's first professional season has been a mostly positive endeavor, as would be expected from a 2nd Round power college arm in Rookie and Low A Ball. None-the-less, reports have his fastball consistently in the mid-90s with good control of the offspeed stuff (6BB's in 22 IP).

 

On the Season:

E-town: 1-1 | 1.35 ERA | 7G - 6.2IP | .600 WHIP - 13.5 K9 - 2.7 BB9

Beloit: 3-1 | 2.35 ERA | 11G - 15.1IP | 1.174 WHIP - 12.3 K9 - 2.3 BB9

Combined: 4-2 | 2.05 ERA | 18G - 22.0 IP |1.000 WHIP - 12.7 K9 - 2.5 BB9

Those strikeout rates and velocity numbers are encouraging! But perhaps, what is the best thing overall is his BB rate.

 

Looks like a guy who could blow through the system pretty quickly and could be in the mix as a future set up or closer type guy!

http://chrissyscaffidi.wordpress.com/2012/08/22/getting-to-know-the-2012-draft-class-snappers-style/

 

Chrissy Scaffidi with a nice Get to Know 'Em on Mason Melotakis and Taylor Rogers.

Offseason Update:

Over the winter, The Jar was featured in an MLB top prospect profile, and was a consensus Twins top 20 prospect (#12, #18, #22, #14, #13 etc...)

 

2013 Outlook:

Making the switch to starter, it would seem logical for Mason to begin back in the Midwest League as part of the Kernels rotation. If he's able to maintain the power fastball and control that brought success as a reliever, Mason could shoot quickly up prospect lists and through the organization. Otherwise, a future as a Glen Perkins-type power lefty reliever is not a bad alternative. Let's check back on this one around May 1.