Wade Miley

Miley was part of a banner 2005 class of Louisiana prep lefties that also included Beau Jones and Sean West, who went in the sandwich round of that draft, and Jeremy Bleich, who headed to Stanford. Miley may turn out to be the best of the group, as he owns three pitches that grade as plus when at their best. His top offering is an 80-84 mph slider that he can bury down and in against righthanders. He sits at 89-92 mph with his fastball and can reach 94-95 mph, though his heater flattens out at high-end velocity. His changeup is his third pitch, and his 75-77 mph curveball shows some potential. Miley has a sound delivery and a strong 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame. His command is no better than average, which is why he hasn't dominated mid-major Southland Conference competition and why some clubs project him as a reliever. But talented and proven college lefthanders are in short supply in this draft, so Miley could sneak into the first round with a club that has seen him at his best.