Chris Lambert

A New Hampshire high school shortstop who seemed to have a brighter future as a hockey defenseman, Lambert has pitched for just three years. After going undrafted out of high school, he opened eyes at a Perfect Game showcase in Wareham, Mass., in mid-August of 2001 when he ran his fastball into the 91-94 mph range. He received scholarship offers from Louisiana State and Clemson, before he settled on Boston College. He was the Big East Conference rookie of the year and pitcher of the year as a freshman after he went 9-3, 2.76, marking the first time that the same player won both awards in one season, and followed with a similar sophomore season. After posting a 2.12 ERA in the Cape Cod League last summer, he was considered a potential early first-round pick coming into the spring. But inconsistent performance and some bad luck may drop him into the second. He was 5-4, 3.53 this season, though his peripheral numbers are just as strong as past years, including a .203 opponent average. Lambert has a strong frame and quick arm action that enables him to produce fastballs in the 90-96 mph range. His fastball has good tailing action and bores when up in the zone. He does a good job of pitching to the inner and outer parts of the zone. Lambert has a sharp curveball with 11-to-5 break and good rotation. It buckles hitters' knees when he throws it for strikes, which is only sporadically. Command of all his pitches has been an issue, and he had 44 walks in 71 innings this spring. His changeup is a fair pitch, but he slows his delivery when he throws it and drops his arm angle. Lambert has a full-effort delivery and needs to develop a consistent arm angle and smooth out his mechanics.