Will Lamb
| IP | 492 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 4.372 |
| WHIP | 1.506 |
| BB/9 | 5.122 |
| SO/9 | 8.195 |
- Full name William Bradley Lamb
- Born 09/09/1990 in Newport News, VA
- Profile Ht.: 6'6" / Wt.: 180 / Bats: L / Throws: L
- School Clemson
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Drafted in the 2nd round (83rd overall) by the Texas Rangers in 2011 (signed for $430,200).
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Will Lamb will be a tough call, as he has a pro body that scouts are eager to see in pro ball. He's tall and lean at 6-foot-6, 175 pounds, and has good athletic ability. He's the center fielder for the Tigers and had a better offensive season in 2011 (hitting .344 though with limited power) than in 2010 (.289, four homers), despite this year's lesser bats. Lamb's a fine defender as well and is an above-average runner (he hadn't hit into a double play all year), and scouts who believe in his power could send him out as a center or right fielder. He has told scouts he prefers to hit. More likely, he'll go out as a pitcher, where he has flashed two plus pitches. In shorter stints, Lamb uses his long levers and athleticism to flash 94-95 mph fastballs and a slider with bite and power. As a starter, though, he sits average or fringe-average with his velocity and babies his slider. His arm works and his delivery is sound, leaving scouts to believe Lamb could take off if he concentrates on pitching. Questions about his competitiveness and consistency make him more of an unknown than many of his peers. He could go out as soon as the fourth round.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Lamb was a two-way player at Clemson, hitting .348/.389/.471 and posting a 1-1, 5.11 line (mostly in relief ) as a junior in 2011. While some scouts thought he could stick in center field because of his above-average speed and defensive chops, Texas thought he could utilize his long levers and athleticism on the mound. Chris Kemp, who had coached at nearby Spartanburg Methodist (S.C.) JC before becoming a Rangers area scout, had seen Lamb pitch as much as anyone and liked him. Texas popped him in the second round and signed him for $430,200. Lamb has a live, loose arm that generates fastballs that sit at 92-95 mph and touch 98. He also shows a low-80s slider with bite and power that's an above-average pitch at its best. He didn't use his changeup much at Clemson, but it could be a solid offering with time. Lamb uses his size to his advantage and gets good downward plane on the ball. He has a tall, skinny frame and needs to bulk up. He also throws significantly across his body, and once he tones that down, it should help the consistency of his secondary stuff. The Rangers like Lamb's makeup and competitiveness, and they'll develop him as a starter. He'll begin his first full pro season in high Class A.
Minor League Top Prospects
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A two-way player at Clemson, Lamb spent more time in the outfield as an amateur but became a full-time pitcher as a pro. While he still needs plenty of polish on the mound, his upside is evident as a big lefthander who can reach 95 mph with his fastball. Lamb usually pitches at 91-92 mph. He mixes in a sharp curveball that he can throw to both sides of the plate, shows feel for a solid changeup and knows how to set up hitters. He's need to work on throwing more strikes, holding runners and maintaining his stuff deeper into games.
