Drafted in the 21st round (641st overall) by the Oakland Athletics in 2005.
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RHP Mike Madsen had a 1.31 ERA and started the all-star game in the Cape Cod League last summer, but he never has been drafted because he's not very physical. At 6 feet and 155 pounds, he has a fringe-average 88-91 mph fastball and a decent curveball he can throw for strikes.
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Madden had a successful four-year career at Ohio State, going 24-9 overall and starting the 2004 Cape Cod League all-star game. But his small frame turned many scouts off and he wasn't drafted until 2005, when the A's took him in the 21st-round as a bargain-basement senior sign. He won the short-season Northwest League ERA title in his pro debut, allowing two or fewer earned runs in all but one start. While he gets by mostly on command and moxie, Oakland scouting director Eric Kubota describes Madsen's stuff as "anything but late-round pickish." Madsen has an average fastball, sitting at 89-92 mph, as well as a good curveball he throws for strikes at any point in the count. He shows good feel for a changeup that should become an average pitch. Because of his size and age, Madsen offers little in the way of projection. His fastball comes in a little too straight, which could be a problem at higher levels. Because the A's want to get their highly regarded teenage pitchers from the 2005 draft started in the full-season leagues, Madsen most likely will skip a level and begin the season in high Class A.
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