David Price, lhp, Devil Rays

June 7, 2007

B-T: L-L.
Ht: 6-5. Wt.: 215.
Birthdate: 8/26/85.
School: Vanderbilt
Class: Jr.
Previously Drafted: Dodgers, 19th round, 2004
Jim Callis' Mock Draft Devil Rays Pick: Price

What the Devil Rays Are Getting: Only the third lefthander to ever go No. 1, Price was the consensus No. 1 prospect from the first time any team started putting together a 2007 draft list in 2006. He is considered either a future No. 2, or possibly No. 1 starter, and was also ranked as the draft prospect closest to the majors.

THROUGH THE YEARS IN BASEBALL AMERICA
2007
• When our Draft Preview arrived, Price was still the No. 1 prospect . • Price was the pick for pitcher of the year  at the midpoint of this season. • And he continued to be the No. 1 pick in our midseason draft preview . • Aaron Fitt broke down his season-opening start against Rice. • As you would expect, the lefthander was a focus of our preseason draft overview . • He also was discussed as having the best fastball in our preseason best tools rundown . • Price was on our 2007 preseason College All-America team . • Thanks in part to Price, Vanderbilt was picked as a program on the rise .
2006
• Going through the summer with a 0.20 ERA will help win the Summer Player Of The Year Award. • And as you would expect he was also Team USA's No. 1 Prospect . • Price led off our list of the Top 50 Sophomore prospects in 2006 . • He was also on our 2006 preseason College All-America team.
2005
• Price was a second-team BA Freshman All-America in 2005. • He also was a second-team Summer League All-America in 2005.
2004
• On the 2004 draft blog, Price was listed as one of the top talents who fell because he was expected to go to college. • By the time of the draft, Price had moved up to No. 69 on our draft preview Top 100 . • Pitching at Murfreesboro (Tenn.) High, Price was considered a second to fifth round talent heading into the 2004 draft. The scouting report notes he also was an outstanding basketball player . • Price ranked No. 81  on a list of the Top 100 high school prospects in February, two spots ahead of Andrew Brackman.
2003
• Price's first appearance on the BaseballAmerica.com came in November, when he was listed as the No. 59 best high school prospect in an early 2004 draft list.

SCOUTING REPORT

Price entered his junior season as the best amateur player in the country and reinforced his reputation with a third dominant season. He has the complete portfolio of athleticism, stuff, makeup and a proven track record. He posted a 0.43 ERA with 151 strikeouts in 65 innings as a high school senior and would have been a high-round pick if it hadn't for signability questions. The Dodgers made a run at signing him after drafting him in the 19th round in 2004, but Price stuck to his Vanderbilt commitment and stepped into the rotation right away, earning Freshman All-America honors. Price attends Vanderbilt on a financial scholarship, rather than a baseball ride, and he is lauded for his positive, team-first attitude. He took two tours with USA Baseball's college national team, including a 5-1, 0.20 stint in 2006 when he led Team USA to a gold medal in the World University Games in Cuba and was named Summer Player of the Year. His fastball/slider/changeup repertoire is unmatched among amateurs. He pitches at 90-91 mph, but the late life, arm-side run and finish of his fastball make it a weapon. He can dial it up to 95, seemingly whenever he needs to. His slider touches 87 with hard, late, sharp bite, grading as a 70 pitch on the 20-80 scale. His changeup is deceptive, and a third plus pitch. He spots all three of his pitches to all four quadrants of the strike zone, adds and subtracts and carves up hitters with efficiency and ease. His arm action and delivery are excellent. Price was an honorable mention all-Tennessee selection in basketball in high school, an indication of his athletic ability, which helps him field his position well and repeat his delivery. He profiles, conservatively, as a No. 2 starter, while some scouts see him as a true No. 1. The Devil Rays are expected to make him the top pick.