The Scouting Skinny: Kyle Wright

Is Steven Strasburg without the 80 fastball really Steven Strasburg, or just some guy that physically looks like Steven Strasburg? Not snark, honest question.

I wouldn't be overly disappointed if they take him, it might be the right move. But, it's really hard to not to like the kid with the 80 fastball as a 17 year old, especially if we're throwing potential arm issues out the window. If we're not throwing arm issues out the window, it's even tougher to turn down a plus bat at a middle infield spot as a plan B.

The more I read about Wright the more I like him. I know people are enamored with Greene and his high 90 to 100 heat. But I still keep reading inconsistent reports here and there about his secondary stuff. I also like McKay. He's ON, which is nice, throws consistently in the low to mid 90's and is proven. He seems to have a solid floor and a decent ceiling.

But Wright throws harder, probably has the higher ceiling, and would probably be every bit as close to the majors as McKay. A possible 4 pitch mix right out of college with that frame and potential? I think I'm starting to lean a bit the "Wright" way.

McKay as a pitcher, Greene as a pitcher, Wright, Greene as a MI, and McKay as a 1B. In that order. The thing is we are desperately in need of SP. This team still has one proven starter, and is an injury away from having a terrible SP staff. McKay as a 1B? I think we have that market cornered already. Greene is the shiny new object, and would make for Buxton like interest in MiLB again. As for Wright? I hope we have the opprtunity to find out if a 1-1 can be really special. I don't think he will give us that satisfaction.

I'd still draft Greene as a SS.  He is still a phenom fielding talent and with that cannon, he'd certainly make it at SS.  There is NO WAY he doesn't blow out his arm at some point and the success rate of high end prep pitchers is appalling.  

Whats Falvine's track record on drafting 1st round pitchers?    None of the first round pitchers for Texas or Cleveland from the last couple years jumped out at me. 

Was throwing 87-90 (touching 91, 92)... Of course, that doesn't mean he can't become the next Bumgarner or Buehle of Cliff Lee, velocity isn't mandatory, but I prefer the harder throwers at 1-1.

Exactly. If he's doing that on 7 days rest, then I'm not sure what 5 days rest would do to him. Not many successful pitchers throwing less than 90 mph at the big league level.

Was throwing 87-90 (touching 91, 92)... Of course, that doesn't mean he can't become the next Bumgarner or Buehle of Cliff Lee, velocity isn't mandatory, but I prefer the harder throwers at 1-1. 

If someone told you McKay as a 1B would mash HR's and also hit for avg would you still go pitcher at 1-1, Seth? It's true, corner infielders rarely get picked at #1 and pitching is super important. 

I hope Twins don't decide this on a single weekend low radar reading at an underfunded southern university. 

Don't these scouts have their own velocity guns?

And if the argument is that McKay is simply relying on "pitchability", and not raw stuff, I will ask how the James Hooey thing worked out for us.

I've not read anything suggesting McKay has mid-90s velo. 90-94 was/is the book on him. But there's been no mention of a cutter until recently.

From BA:

He excels at locating his 89-93 mph fastball to his glove side, pitching inside to righthanded hitters with aplomb and pitching on the black of the plate with angle consistently. His advanced fastball command—his best attribute as a pitcher. McKay’s curveball, like his fastball, earns above-average grades. He commands it, lands it and buries it for strikeouts, and scouts believe both pitches could improve to true plusses if McKay gave up hitting and focused on pitching, particularly in terms of a consistent starter’s routine. His changeup is a third pitch that he uses rarely and will have to improve as a pro. He could be a middle-of-the-order hitter or No. 3 starter, the latter in short order. His baseball athleticism was evident in his quick pickup of a cut fastball in late April, which helped him add a fourth pitch to his repertoire.

This turned from a Wright thread to a McKay thread pretty quickly.