On a tier slightly lower than Manaea and Appel is Arkansas hurler Ryne Stanek. Stanek narrowly missed being a draft-eligible sophomore last year, where he would have been considered a Top 5 pick.

 

Perfect Game Draft Profile (subscription required)

 

Then there is Ryne Stanek, who given his track record, power arm, knockout slider, and projectable body could use this spring as a potential springboard to make a strong case [to be the top college arm in the draft class].

 

Game Log:

2/15 vs Western Illinois - 4 IP, 2 H, ER, BB, 4 K. 66 pitches/36 strikes (Win, 1-0) (*Ranked 3 on initial draft board)

2/22 vs Evansville - 3 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 2 BB, 4 K, HBP. 76 pitchers/47 strikes (ND, 1-0) (*Definitely wasn't an impressive outing, averaging 25+ pitches/inning)

2/28 vs Arizona State - 5.2 IP, 5 H, 2 R, ER, 2 BB, 3 K, HBP. 85 pitches/57 strikes (L, 1-1) (*from scout, Stanek was "just ok")

3/8 vs San Diego State - 4.1 IP, 5 H, 3 ER, 5 BB, 5 K, WP, 91/51 (ND, 1-1) (*How Stanek does against the SEC will undoubtedly carry more significance, but he has failed to impress over his first four starts)

3/17 vs Ole Miss - 4.2 IP, 4 H, 3 R, ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 2 WP, 71/44 (ND, 1-1) (*Another ho-hum stat-line, though the reports were that Stanek looked better than the week before. He was also dropped to the Sunday spot in their rotation)

3/23 vs South Carolina - 9 IP, 3 H, 2 R, BB, 7 K, 124/78. (Win, 2-1)

3/30 vs Mississippi St - 4 IP, 3 H, 3 R, ER, 2 BB, 6 K, WP, HBP, 92/56. (Loss, 2-2)

4/5 vs Alabama - 8 IP, 4 H, 5 K, 97/58. (Win, 3-2)

4/13 vs #2 LSU - 6.2 IP, 4 H, 3 BB, 5 K, 103/57. (Win, 4-2) (*Back on the prospect map)

 

 

*This post will be updated throughout the season. Please link game stories or other related Stanek-themed posts below.

Edited April 20, 201313 yr by Jeremy Nygaard

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Stanek came out firing, throwing in the low 90s before hitting 96-97 later with a good slider in the mid-80s.

 

At this point, Stanek should be a guy the Twins have even more solidly in their cross-hairs (due to Appel pulling away - though it's early). Stanek is fighting a little of this production vs perception identity-crisis that Appel was dealing with early last year. Stanek's ceiling isn't as high, but still appears to be a Top 5 guy.

A lot of people had Stanek ranked right there with Appel and Manaea, if not higher, but so far he is lagging behind. Small sample size of course but with the Twins drafting at 4 it would be nice if he closed the gap.

A lot of people had Stanek ranked right there with Appel and Manaea, if not higher, but so far he is lagging behind. Small sample size of course but with the Twins drafting at 4 it would be nice if he closed the gap.

 

I've been told that there are really two players to focus on in the draft as kind of the sure-fire guys, and they are Appel and Manaea... Will one of these guys fall to four? Probably not. So, who will jump into that next tier?

Whoa! 436 ' to CF? Holy cow! Just let them hit fly balls to CF.

Feb 22, Matt Garrioch, from MinorLeagueBall.com, listed Stanek #1. He has Appel 8th.

 

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2013/2/22/4013450/2013-mlb-draft-top-100-draft-prospects

Edited March 5, 201313 yr by ThePuck

Yeah, Matt wasn't a big fan of Appel last year either. Sickels has Manaea at #1, Appel at #4, and Stanek at #5. Before the college baseball season started the three seemed so much closer. Stanek still has plenty of time to prove he belongs right there with Appel/Manaea but he needs to start showing it on the field.

Feb 22, Matt Garrioch, from MinorLeagueBall.com, listed Stanek #1. He has Appel 8th.

 

2013 MLB Draft: Matt Garrioch's Top 100 Draft Prospects - Minor League Ball

 

For the record, Windle and Anderson are around 60...

Stanek had another rough outing. He will not make the Top 4 in Draft Board 2.0.

Jeremy, can you start keeping track of the Florida pitcher? I think he was supposed to be a top 10 guy and, at this point, I might like to see more of him than Stanek.

Jeremy, can you start keeping track of the Florida pitcher? I think he was supposed to be a top 10 guy and, at this point, I might like to see more of him than Stanek.

 

Crawford? I'm keeping my eye on him, but right now, there isn't much good to report. Here are his four starts. There is also some belief that he may be a bullpen guy.

Crawford? I'm keeping my eye on him, but right now, there isn't much good to report. Here are his four starts. There is also some belief that he may be a bullpen guy.

 

That's too bad. Any other pitchers making moves into the top 10? Right now, if Appel's gone, I'm not sure there would be a good pitcher to take at #4. Obviously, there is a lot of season left.

Food for thought: Kyle Zimmer was listed as a late 20+ pick in the first round during most February 2012 Mock Drafts. He eventually went #5 overall by Royals. Somebody is going to make a late push for an early pick selection. I'm feeling Chris Anderson right now as my possible big leap selection. Plenty of season left however.

That's too bad. Any other pitchers making moves into the top 10? Right now, if Appel's gone, I'm not sure there would be a good pitcher to take at #4. Obviously, there is a lot of season left.

 

I've been watching Bobby Wahl, Mississippi, for a while. He hasn't missed the bats that I wanted him to, but he's a guy I think could enter the discussion.

 

Would the Twins pop a prep pitcher that high? I doubt it... but I don't think the Twins would rule it out. Trey Ball and Kohl Stewart are the two highest-rated prep pitchers (but both have questions - Ball is a two-way player, Stewart is a stud QB). I like Jordan Sheffield, a hard-thrower, but he's not without questions either (signability).

I've been watching Bobby Wahl, Mississippi, for a while. He hasn't missed the bats that I wanted him to, but he's a guy I think could enter the discussion.

 

Would the Twins pop a prep pitcher that high? I doubt it... but I don't think the Twins would rule it out. Trey Ball and Kohl Stewart are the two highest-rated prep pitchers (but both have questions - Ball is a two-way player, Stewart is a stud QB). I like Jordan Sheffield, a hard-thrower, but he's not without questions either (signability).

 

Thanks, I wonder if they might grab the college third baseman, if he has a strong year? Fits a need and college bat might be quick through the system.

Jonathan Gray, Oklahoma, is another name to remember.

Stanek looked better, though his stats didn't show it. Sunday's - yes, Sunday's - game log added.

Not getting past the 4th inning except once. Yikes. People were comparing him to Gausman last year and had him in the same category as Appel and Manaea to start the year. Hopefully he figures it out because I really liked him before the season started

yeah, no way I'd spend number 4 on him unless things change soon.

This is disappointing, I was really hoping for 4 obvious starting pitchers at the top.....

An encouraging sign for those in need of pitching - Stanek had "Top 5 stuff" in his win over #6 South Carolina. In what was easily his best game of the year, Stanek went the distance allowing zero earned runs against a solid lineup.

Hopefully he finally got himself right. More top end guys in the draft the better.

Full stats not available yet, but Stanek had a bounce-back performance tonight. He struck out five - allowing four hits - in eight innings.

I love this gem from Chris Slade over at minorleagueball:

Ryne Stanek - RHP - Arkansas - Last week: 4 IP, 3 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 6 K, 92 Pitches! This week: 8 IP, 5 H, O ER, 0 BB, 5 K, 97 Pitches. He's consistently inconsistent.

 

Link for the rest of his college baseball round up below:

http://www.minorleagueball.com/2013/4/8/4196898/weekend-college-baseball-recap-april-5-7

From callis' April 10th chat

How far is Ryan Stanek falling?

Jim Callis: He’s starting to turn it back around and I see him going in the teens, with the possibility of moving up further in the next two months.

 

Reading the rest of his chat you can clearly tell callis doesn't have stanek as an option for the Twins at 4 currently. Hopefully he can find some consistency and pitch his way back into the picture.

From ESPN insider today: (I think this is short enough to include, if not, apologies):

 

said an AL scout. "He's not the same guy I saw this summer, but today was a step in the right direction. He commanded all four pitches pretty well and I still see a No. 2 starter.

While it is great to see Stanek, or any other draftee for that matter, improving their stock he still has a long ways to go to get back into the top 5 discussion.

Keith law has Stanek at 10, dropping from 4, on his updated draft list. When BA did their updated list a few weeks ago they had Stanek at 18, was 5, but since then he has had 2 good outings. Hopefully he keeps it up and gets back into the top 5 discussion.

• From Jim Callis chat today:
   
  Jim, Ryne Stanek was in the conversation for 1st overall pick by scouts/writers prior to the season. He struggled early with command and slid but his last 5 starts have been nothing short of excellent (0.54 ERA, 0.80 WHIP, 32 K/8 BB, 33.2 IP). I know Gray and Appel have raised the bar for the #1 overall pick but shouldn't Stanek be somewhere right after those 2? Seems like writers are still not showing him a lot of love
  

Jim Callis: Stanek could go in the 7-15 range, he's definitely back on track.