Article: Twins Draft Preview: Walker Buehler

[Parker Hageman]

Vanderbilt’s Walker Buehler doesn’t possess the prototypical pitcher's frame but he does have an above average four-pitch mix and an apprenticeship from what has become one of the NCAA’s biggest pitching factory. Would the Twins find themselves with a steal or is Buehler a massive reach?Who is this guy?

 

At 6-foot-1 and 175 pounds, Vanderbilt’s right-handed wiry starter Walker Buehler doesn’t have the projectable frame of the elite pitcher but he comes equipped with a strong assortment of pitches and clean mechanics to allow for some dirty pitches. Buehler can reach 96 comfortably with his fastball but sits 90-94. When he enrolled in college he had above average command of a big slow curve (72-73) and fading changeup (82-84) but he since added a hard slider (82) to his repertoire to complement the curve.

 

Buehler is said to be a strong athlete when it comes to fielding his position. His pick-off move is reputed to be one of the best and his ability to handle anything hit between the mound and the plate is above average.

 

A cog in the pitching-rich tradition of Vanderbilt, this past summer Baseball America rated Buehler as the top prospect in the prestigious Cape Cod summer league where he took home co-MVP honors after flashing a fastball that caused hitters to churn through the Massachusetts turf. Prior to the NCAA season started, many had Buehler going high in the first round. MLB.com’s Jim Callis and Jonathan Mayo both projected him going sixth to the Twins. However, a sore elbow combined with average performances in key matchups have made his stock slip a little bit.

 

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Why the Twins will pick him

 

Many evaluators believe that Buehler can be a fast mover in the system. Buehler who has an advanced repertoire, comes from Vanderbilt which has built quite the reputation for developing major league pitching.

 

Since David Price’s selection, they have also produced Oakland’s Sonny Gray as well as other first- and second-round pitchers in Mike Minor (2009, 1st), Sam Selman (2012, 2nd), Kevin Ziomek (2013, 2nd) and Tyler Beede (2014, 1st) not to mention Carson Fulmer who will be another pick selected this year ahead of Buehler. Credit goes to the school’s pitching lab, developed by coach Tim Corbin and former assistant Derek Johnson (now a Cubs minor league assistant), which has enticed numerous high-end high school pitching talents to choose Vanderbilt to hone their craft rather than accepting major league money out of high school (Buehler is one of them who chose to play at Vanderbilt in lieu of accepting 14th round money from the Pittsburgh Pirates out of high school). Because of this, guys like Buehler enter an organization and are ready to contribute quickly.

 

Why the Twins will not pick him

 

Being undersized as a pitcher is always a concern for long-term projectability and Buehler’s elbow soreness may cause him to fall some more on draft day. While his mechanics and training can help him through the light workload of a college season, scouts have to be asking themselves if his body will be able to stand up to the rigors of a full professional season.

 

In spite of the shutdown performance in the Cape Cod, Vanderbilt has used him mainly as a midweek and Sunday starter -- that’s college code for not the best pitcher on the staff. Friday nights are reserved for the team’s number one starter. Of course, it is not necessarily a bad thing when you have a pitcher like Fulmer who also projects as a high first-round pick competing ahead of you.

 

 

With the sixth overall pick, if the Twins do select Buehler they likely are not acquiring the best available player at that time.

 

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[diehardtwinsfan]

I think I'd rather the Twins go upside over fast riser.  They have enough decent pitchers in the high minors and too many guys under contract in the majors.

[Paul Pleiss]

BPA

 

Best Player Available.

 

That's what the Twins need to do. That being said, I'd like to see the Twins go for upside, for potential, and not for something safe. The Twins have the makings of a decade long run in their system right now, and likely will not smell a top-10 pick in the coming years. Taking a chance on a uber-high ceiling guy may be the best bet here, if they're trying to pick between apples and apples. Go big.

[Parker Hageman]

Best Player Available.

 

 

I believe that has been their strategy for a while. No reason to stop that practice now.

 

[Seth Stohs]

Yup, they'll certainly go Best Player Available. There just seems to be so little (ok No) consensus for who might be there at 6. 

[Parker Hageman]

Yup, they'll certainly go Best Player Available. There just seems to be so little (ok No) consensus for who might be there at 6.

 

 

That's the intriguing part of this year's draft class. By most accounts, it is a weaker class -- at least an in-between year from some strong classes. 

 

That said, Buehler probably isn't the best available in his rotation. 

 

[sane]

"It's alright, Grace, it's Walker Bueller the little twerp. I'm gonna set a trap and let him fall right in it"

[sane]

Don't draft Ferris Bueller! He takes days off.

[Seth Stohs]

Vandy just continues to be a hot bed for pitchers. It's remarkable!