28th Overall: Atlanta Braves Select LHP Sean Gilmartin

The Braves selected Sean Gilmartin with the 28th pick in the 2011 MLB First-Year Player Draft. The 21-year-old, right-handed pitcher attended Florida State University last season. He stands 6’2″ tall and weighs 192 pounds.

Baseball America, ranked Gilmartin 48th overall in the 2011 draft class. He was not featured as a first round pick by Wally Fish in the S2S Mock Draft.

NUMBERS:

Gilmartin spent the past two  years as the ‘Noles ace. Last season he was 12-1 with a 1.83 ERA. He recorded double-digit strikeout efforts on four occasions. Overall, Gilmartin racked up 122 strikeouts and issued just 20 free passes in 113 1/3 innings of work. Gilmartin also has College World Series and Team USA experience.

MECHANICS:

Gilmartin has the ideal pitcher’s frame. His mechanics, including arm action and delivery in general are clean. He features solid athleticism and was a decent hitter at FSU too.

REPERTOIRE:

Gilmartin features a high-80’s fastball that tops out around 92 MPH. His sweeping curveball sits between 73-77 MPH and is noted as a plus-pitch. Gilmartin offers a change-up that sits in the mid-70s and is also regarded as a plus-pitch. His arsenal is rounded out with a serviceable low-80s slider that is described as “work in progress”.

Gilmartin has received rave reviews for his ability to mix his pitches and limit walks.

WHAT THEY SAY:

ESPNs Keith Law

"Gilmartin’s a college performer with adequate stuff but who may need to find another gear to be more than a fourth or fifth starter in the big leagues."

Baseball America

"Gilmartin isn’t flashy, but his total package should take him off the board in the first 50 picks as one of the draft’s safest selections. Gilmartin knows how to use his stuff, particularly his changeup, how to set up hitters and how to keep them off-balance."

THOUGHTS:

Gilmartin eventually signed, receiving a reported slotish $1.134 million. Apparently Gilmartin is only the third first round college player selected by the Braves  since 1992. Like a lot of college lefties, Gilmartin might not have a high ceiling that typical first rounders posses. The majority of the Braves fan-base was unimpressed with the selection because of this. While much of the beef remains that the Braves reached, it simply is what it is. Gilmartin is as safe as safe can be which is exactly what the Braves wanted. With that in mind, he should move quickly through the farm system, much like 2009 selection Mike Minor has. The crafty southpaw is polished and has an easily obtainable floor of a solid innings eater at the back-end of the Braves rotation.

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