MLB Draft Names to Know: Injured College Pitchers

Names to Know – MLB Draft

This will be the first of a new series I’ll be doing each week exploring players who may be less publicized or lesser known that could be of importance. Now, not all these guys will be completely under the radar as each one of these posts will have a theme to them. But even then, if I’m mentioning them in one of these pieces, it’s because even though the player is known, the publicity around them isn’t quite what I feel it should be for their talent level.

Today’s focus is on the MLB Draft on June 9th. Specifically, I’m going to focus on injured college pitchers. In the last few years, we’ve seen injured pitchers become a sort of undervalued asset in the draft, as we’ve seen the Washington Nationals grab Lucas Giolito with the #16 overall selection in the 2012 draft despite being considered the top talent in the draft that season before having Tommy John surgery.

In 2013, Sean Manaea was considered in competition with Mark Appel and Jon Gray for the #1 overall pick coming out of Indiana State, but after surgery the Kansas City Royals nabbed him with the 34th overall selection. In 2014, the Toronto Blue Jays selected Jeff Hoffman from East Carolina at #9 and the Nationals again selected an injured pitcher, grabbing UNLV’s Erick Fedde with the #18 pick in spite of Hoffman and Fedde each being considered top 5 talents before their respective injuries.

Last year’s draft saw Duke starter Mike Matuella, considered a top 10 pick, fall all the way to the third round, pick #78 to the Texas Rangers.

In the next few pages, we’ll take a look at a few pitchers who have either been injured this season or are coming off of injury and could end up being drafted at a lower position than their talent would indicate. This is by no means a comprehensive list, but just a number of guys that I wanted to highlight.

Next: An MLB Pitcher's Son

Cal Quantrill, RHP, Stanford University

Who Is He?

Quantrill is a lean 6’3 righty that probably sits around 195-205 pounds. He’s the son of former major league pitcher Paul Quantrill. As a freshman, he had such stature with the Stanford team that he was given the ball in the Super Regional game against Vanderbilt. Last season, as a sophomore, he made three starts before needing Tommy John surgery. He hasn’t thrown a pitch for Stanford this season yet, but he is projected to return in late May to possibly pitch out of the bullpen down the stretch (or maybe even start on Sunday) to close the season.

Quantrill has a heavy, sinking fastball that sits in the 89-94 range when he’s healthy. He also has a changeup that is considered his best pitch with the same sinking, heavy action. His curveball and slider have both received mixed reviews depending on which scout saw him when, but both are considered at least average, so they’d certainly be workable third and fourth pitches.

Where May He Be Picked?

The main thing for Quantrill’s draft position will be when he gets back on the mound. If he can pitch for Stanford in games before the end of the season, it’s conceivable that Quantrill could work his way into the first 20 selections of the first round. If he’s only able to do some showcases for teams before the draft, you’ll possibly see Quantrill fall akin to Matuella in 2015.

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Daulton Jefferies, RHP, University of California

Who Is He?

Jefferies is a smaller-built righty that stands just 6′ tall and is listed generously at 180 pounds. His motion generates tremendous movement, however, as Jefferies has a fastball that runs in the low 90s and can touch the mid-90s. His change is his best pitch, getting scouting grades of 70 thrown on it at times. It shows the same arm speed, angle, release and torque as his fastball, but has a solid 12-15 MPH difference at its best with wicked movement both sinking and fading. His slider is average at worst, but when it’s on, it’s a near dominant pitch in its own right.

Jefferies had started his spring with dominance on the mound, but he then missed starts, first reported as due to a hamstring injury, and then later verified as a shoulder injury. He’s not pitched since.

Where May He Be Picked?

Jefferies was a no-doubt top half of the first round pitcher in a fairly weak college pitching class before his injury. If he can get back on the mound and establish his health, he’s got a good shot at ending up in that same area again. Otherwise, he could be a guy that falls into the compensatory and competitive balance picks at the end of the first round to the beginning of the second round.

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Next: Vandy's Ace

Jordan Sheffield, RHP, Vanderbilt University

Who Is He?

Sheffield was an incredibly elite prospect coming out of high school, drafted in the 13th round by the Boston Red Sox in spite of having Tommy John surgery after his senior season. He’s returned to the mound slowly, but this season he’s been very, very good with his stuff back to its old self and control back as well, perhaps even better than before surgery.

Sheffield is 6′ and roughly 190ish pounds. His fastball sits in the mid-90s and can touch 98. He has a curveball that has a sinking effect to the pitch, generating a lot of ground balls. His changeup is also quite solid, albeit definitely the third pitch of the mix.

Where May He Be Picked?

Sheffield is the one guy who is recovered from his surgery and back to full strength on this list. He has pitched well, and he could be seen around the top 12-19 picks.

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Matt Krook, LHP, University of Oregon

Who Is He?

Krook was a 35th overall selection in the 2013 draft out of high school, but he chose instead to go to college. After eight very good starts in his freshman year, he went under the knife for Tommy John surgery. He’s returned to the mound this year, but he’s had the typical inconsistency issues that most TJS survivors have in their first season back. Adam Wainwright once said that the first year post-TJS your velocity comes back, and the second year your control returns.

Krook is an ideally-built lefty at 6’4, 200 with a fastball that sits in the low 90s and can run up to 95-96. He also works with a slider and a curveball. His changeup is considered his fourth pitch, but it has good arm movement and emulates the fastball well.

Where May He Be Picked?

Krook’s inconsistency really put his draft stock into question. I could see him going anywhere from about pick 35 all the way to the third or fourth round.

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