- Full name Mike Mead
- Born
- Profile Throws: R
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Texas did a tremendous job restocking its system with its 1999 draft. Mead is the fourth player from that class on this list, and the Rangers also used sixth-rounder Aaron Harang in a trade with Oakland for second baseman Randy Velarde. Mead went 47th overall based on a projection by scout Dennis Meeks. While many teams saw Mead as a wild stringbean righthander, Meeks saw a budding power pitcher whose body and mind would mature. Mead has a legitimate plus fastball with good late movement. The Rangers believe he has enough power to succeed with average secondary pitches behind his fastball. He has averaged more than a strikeout per inning as a pro, and he also has done a pretty good job of throwing strikes. Mead's secondary pitches are far from average at this point, which is why he has yet to progress past Rookie ball. His breaking pitch has shown improvement, though his changeup is very much a work in progress. He needs to get stronger, which could add more velocity to his fastball. Minor league meal money could stand between Mead and rapid advancement. He'll get his first shot at full-season ball in 2001, most likely at Savannah. If he can't fill out his repertoire of pitches, the bullpen is an option down the road.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Mead has nice size and strength, and he throws the low-90s fastball you'd expect to see out of him. But what you might not expect is the solid changeup he mixes in. He also throws a slider. Mead can be wild at times, but in his final start of the season he struck out 13 and walked none, so he's around the plate when he's on. "He's very young, very raw," Pulaski manager Bruce Crabbe said. "His potential is unlimited."
Scouting Reports
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Mead has nice size and strength, and he throws the low-90s fastball you'd expect to see out of him. But what you might not expect is the solid changeup he mixes in. He also throws a slider. Mead can be wild at times, but in his final start of the season he struck out 13 and walked none, so he's around the plate when he's on. "He's very young, very raw," Pulaski manager Bruce Crabbe said. "His potential is unlimited."