Draft Prep: Georgia Southern Eagles Matter Why Edition

by timh815 on Feb 16, 2012 4:34 PM CST

While the pitchers and catchers report tomorrow, there will be baseball games that matter tomorrow. College teams start tomorrow. Pretty much all of them. While we will be constantly be asking about the latest from Florida (Mike Zunino), Stanford (Mark Appel), LSU (Kevin Gausman), high schools (Luc Giolito, Byron Buxton), as well as our own personal faves, one team of moderate interest to all of us should be the vaunted Eagles of Georgia Southern.

But, you sound as enthused as Al is when RoLo is named the day's SP. Georgia Southern has two guys just outside the cusp of our sixth pick. In fact, I've seen mocks with both coming to Chicago. Neither would have me jumping for joy (at least, for now). But things can change between now and June. Nobody thought Trevor Bauer would go above ten a year ago.

Who are these two guys, then?

Victor Roache. OF/1B. 6-1 235. JR.

The dude flat out hits. He hit 30 homers last year with bats created to limit homers. Not much of a threat defensively. I'm not sure if his glove would play in RF. Or even LF. But he can sure hit.

Chris Beck. RHSP. 6-3 235. JR.

While Roache penciled in as the Cape Cod League's 6th best prospect, Beck was the 2nd best. His fastball sits generally 93-95, though it can bump a bit higher. His slider projects higher than his change, and could be a good pitch after college. If he improves from last fall and over the summer in The Cape, we might look forward to drafting him with the sixth pick.

My goal is to have thumbnails of all 4 of our picks before they happen. 2 guys down. About 70 to go.

Poll

Georgia Southern looks to have their games on radio. What would be required for you to listen online to the Georgia Southern versus UT Martin game on Friday?

Required as Theo compensation.

3 votes

Ten listeners get Alfonso Soriano traded for a prospect with the opponent picking up the contract.

13 votes

Listening to Beck pitch is enough motivation.

3 votes

Only channel not playing Adele music.

3 votes

I'll just follow it onD1Baseball dot com

1 votes

No. Just no.

2 votes

25 votes | Poll has closed

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of SB Nation or Al Yellon, managing editor (unless it's a FanPost posted by Al). FanPost opinions are valued expressions of opinion by passionate and knowledgeable baseball fans.

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Comments

Very interested in following Beck this year

If his secondary stuff has come along as much as others have suggested, he could very well be worth the #6 pick. He was pretty beastly in the Cape last year.

by RynoRooter on Feb 17, 2012 12:35 PM CST reply actions

A girl I know goes to GA Southern

by JOVE23 on Feb 17, 2012 6:07 PM CST reply actions

Looks like they both started out the weekend with a bang

by AzCubfan24 on Feb 20, 2012 5:13 PM CST reply actions

First week results for possible 1st rounders:

Victor Roache (GSU) – 4 for 10, 2 HRs, 3 BB, 1 HBP, 1 K (weak competition)
Chris Beck (GSU) – 6 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 8 K, 1 HR allowed, 1:1 GO/FO ratio,79 pitches (weak competition)
Kevin Gausman (LSU) – 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 1 HR allowed, 6:5 GO/FO ratio, 68 pitches (moderate competition)
Mark Appel (Stanford) – 7 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 5 K, 7:10 GO/FO ratio, unknown pitch count (elite competiton/Vandy)
Deven Marrero (Arizona State) – 3 for 11 (all singles), 2 BB, 1 K, 1 for 1 SB, 2 errors (weak, maybe moderate competition)
Michael Roth (South Carolina) – 6 IP, 4 H, 1 ER, 0 BB, 6 K, 2:1 GO/FO ratio, 89 pitches (weak, maybe moderate competition)
Brandon Kline (Virginia) – 4 IP, 7 H, 1 ER (5 Runs allowed), 2 BB, 3 K, 1 HR allowed, unknown GB ratio and pitch count (decent competition)
Mike Zunino (Florida) – 7 for 15, 2 HR, 3 BB, 4 K, 1 for 1 SB, threw out 2 of 4 would be basestealers (elite competition / Bethune Cookman and Cal State-Fullerton, both top 10 teams)
Michael Wacha (Texas A&M) – 5.2 IP, 1 H, 0 ER, 3 BB, 8 K, 4:5 FO/GO ratio, 100 pitches (weak competition)

I think that is about all the college guys that realistically have a shot at going as high as 6. The only report I heard on any of them was Appel. KLaw said he hit 97, but sat 90-95 and his secondary stuff wasn’t outstanding.

Also of note, “the one that got away”, Ricky Jacquez, made his collegiate debut against a fairly solid Duke team last weekend and put up a line of 5 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 2 BB, 4 Ks, 1 HBP on 73 pitches. Very nice debut for the kid.

by RynoRooter on Feb 22, 2012 10:20 AM CST reply actions