Today I added a new draft tracker to the site, University of San Francisco pitcher Kyle Zimmer.
Zimmer emerged as a top of the rotation starter at San Francisco in 2011, leading his team to a win over Gerrit Cole and UCLA in the regionals with an 11 strikeout performance. He entered the 2012 season as a late first round draft candidate, although he’s moved up the draft boards in the early part of the season.
Zimmer has a plus fastball which has topped out at 98 MPH this year, and usually sits 92-97. The pitch has good movement, and he maintains his velocity deep in to the game. His second best pitch is a hammer curve, which also profiles as a plus pitch when he’s on his game. He has a tendency to leave the pitch up in the zone at times. Zimmer also throws a change-up, although he hasn’t used the pitch much in college.
He got off to a great start in his first three outings, allowing one run in 15 innings, with a 15:0 K/BB ratio. He was hit hard last week against Fresno State, although he did have a blister injury bothering him, according to Keith Law. Law has a good write up of Zimmer’s draft stock and his rise this year.
Notes From the Past Week
-Deven Marrero went 2-for-3 with a homer in game one of a two game series against Utah Valley. He went 0-for-4 in game two.
-Trey Williams went 1-for-2 with three walks on Wednesday.
-Mike Zunino went 1-for-2 with two walks and a stolen base in his one game this week against Florida State.
The schedule for the top draft prospects this weekend:
FRIDAY
6:00 PM EST – Georgia Southern (Chris Beck) vs UNC Greensboro
6:15 PM EST – Valencia HS (Trey Williams) vs West Ranch
7:00 PM EST – Florida (Mike Zunino) vs Vanderbilt
8:00 PM EST – LSU (Kevin Gausman) vs Mississippi State
9:00 PM EST – Arizona State (Deven Marrero) at UCLA
12:35 AM EST – San Francisco (Kyle Zimmer) at Hawaii
SATURDAY
1:00 PM EST – Florida (Zunino) vs Vanderbilt
5:00 PM EST – Arizona State (Marrero) at UCLA
SUNDAY
1:00 PM EST – Florida (Zunino) vs Vanderbilt
4:00 PM EST – Arizona State (Marrero) at UCLA
