BaseballAmerica.com: Draft: Casey Weathers, rhp, Rockies

Casey Weathers, rhp, Rockies

June 7, 2007

B-T: R-R
Ht: 6-1. Wt.: 200.
Birthdate: 6/10/1985.
School: Vanderbilt
Class: Sr.
Previously Drafted: 2006, Tigers, 25th round

THROUGH THE YEARS IN BASEBALL AMERICA

2007

• We tagged Weathers as a potential first round pick and the third-best prospect in our Tennessee scouting report

.
• In a draft chat

, John Manuel said he could see the Giants being tempted to take Weathers in the first round.
• In an ESPN SportsNation chat

, Jim Callis called Weathers the best closer in the draft. In another chat

, Callis said that Weathers had considerably better stuff than does Chad Cordero of the Washington Nationals.
• Callis also called Weathers the best senior in the draft

and said that Weathers should be able to contribute quickly at the Major League level. Aaron Fitt concurred with those sentiments in a College Top 25 Chat.
• Weathers checked in at No. 21 on our midseason update of the draft's Top 30 Prospects

and at No. 11 on the Top 100 College Prospects

.
• Weathers pitched four hitless, scoreless innings against Kentucky in relief to help Vanderbilt hold on for the victory in a 12-inning game.
• Aaron Fitt mentioned Weathers as one of the top seniors in college baseball in the College Midseason Report

.
• Weathers struck out seven in 4 1/3 scoreless innings in a relief appearance.
• Aaron Fitt wrote a feature story on Weathers's adjustment from outfielder to full-time pitcher

.
• Weathers impressed scouts by showing a consistent 97 MPH fastball and an improved slider in two perfect innings against Arizona State.
• Weathers ranked second on our preseason list of the Top 50 College Senior Draft Prospects

.
• In our early draft preview, Weathers was No. 21 on our College Top 100 Prospects list

2006

• Weathers received our "The One Who Got Away" title

after the Detroit Tigers could not sign the 25th round draft pick.
• The hardest thrower in the Alaska League, we named Weathers the fourth-best prospect in our Alaska League Top 10 Prospects list

.
• Team USA added Weathers as a replacement for the team's trip to Havana, Cuba for the FISU World University Championship.
• Weathers ranked fifth on our list of prospects from Tennessee

SCOUTING REPORT

Weathers was a light-hitting junior-college outfielder when he and a teammate climbed atop a mound one day after practice to see how hard they could throw. Weathers hit 92 mph, and his days in the outfield were over. He transferred to Vanderbilt and has flourished in the back of the bullpen for college baseball's best team, routinely blowing 96-97 mph gas. He was summoned from the Alaska League last year and joined USA Baseball's college national team's bullpen. He establishes his fastball early in counts, will elevate it late in counts and pitches to both sides of the plate. His delivery is generally fine, though his arm action occasionally gets long, which prevents him from getting on top of his pitches and leads to erratic command and hanging sliders. His slider has touched 91, and when he stays through the pitch upon release, it has hard, three-quarter tilt with power. He's been durable in his brief pitching career, and his two-pitch mix (he also has a changeup) could allow him to close in the majors. As a senior, he should sign quickly and won't make it out of the first round.

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