Drafted in the 1st round (2nd overall) by the Seattle Mariners in 2011 (signed for $6,350,000).
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Hultzen was a late riser at St. Albans High in Washington, D.C., three years ago, but teams correctly figured they wouldn't be able to sign him away from his Virginia commitment. The Diamondbacks took a shot in the 10th round, but he headed to Charlottesville and immediately became the Friday starter. He was a Freshman All-American in 2009 as a two-way player, batting .327 and going 9-1, 2.17, and was a second team All-American in 2010, going 10-1, 2.83. Considered a first-round prospect coming into 2011, Hultzen has pitched himself into consideration for the No. 1 pick, going 9-3, 1.49 with 131 strikeouts and 15 walks in 90 innings as UVa spent much of the season at No. 1. Hultzen has a strong frame at 6-foot-3, 200 pounds and offers two plus pitches and above-average command. After working mostly at 88-91 mph his first two college seasons, Hultzen now sits around 93 and touches 96. His changeup is his best secondary pitch, and he commands it well and gets good fade thanks to a low three-quarters arm slot. His slider also shows flashes of being an above-average pitch. His arm slot can make it difficult to find consistency in the pitch, but scouts say he's now closer to the higher arm slot he showed in high school than the low three-quarters he had the last two years at UVa. A good athlete, Hultzen has seen time as a first baseman and DH in all three of his college seasons, though the Cavaliers have limited his at-bats in the last two years. He could be the safest bet among the top prospects in the country and isn't likely to make it past the first five picks.
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If Hultzen's career had developed as he and the Mariners envisioned, then he would be a part of Seattle's rotation by now. Instead Hultzen has missed most of 2013-14 with a shoulder injury that eventually required rotator-cuff surgery. Pre-injury, Hultzen's fastball sat 91-94 mph and touched 96 at his best, and he also threw an above-average changeup that had deception and late fade a well as a useable slider. Nowadays, the Mariners have to hope he can simply hold up to a starter's workload. Hultzen worked off the mound late in the 2014 season, but he never saw game action before shutting it down for the winter. He did face live hitters at the organization's Arizona complex, however. His velocity wasn't back to his pre-injury form, but he did show a fastball in the high 80s and his breaking balls and changeup were both sharp at times. Hultzen always will have a crossfire delivery--it's part of what makes him tough to hit-- but the Mariners have worked on ensuring he's more direct to the plate. Seattle also has been encouraged enough by his rehab to keep him on the 40-man roster, but they will have to be patient with him as he tries to work back into form after making just seven appearances in the past two seasons.
Hultzen's parents are both doctors--his father is a neonatologist and his mother a psychiatrist. He saw too much of doctors in 2013, however, after being shut down twice and eventually needing surgery in October to repair a torn rotator cuff in his left shoulder. His pre-surgery stuff played up because he had outstanding deception in his delivery. However, that deception was created by severely throwing across his body, a motion that many other teams felt could lead to injury eventually. It remains to be seen how much Hultzen will need to change his delivery once he recovers. His best pitch is an outstanding changeup that he throws with the same arm action as his fastball, which sat 90-92 mph and touched 95 when healthy. He also has a curveball and a slider, which he uses primarily against lefthanders. The Mariners didn't get a star with Dustin Ackley as the No. 2 overall pick in 2009, and Hultzen could be another No. 2 overall miss if he struggles to come back from his surgery. Seattle expects him to miss the 2014 season, and their lofty investment--including an $8.5 million major league contract and team-record $6.35 million signing bonus--could be in jeopardy.
Hultzen set Virginia records for career wins (32) and strikeouts (395) while leading the Cavaliers to their first two College World Series appearances. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2011 draft, he signed an $8.5 million big league contract that included a club-record $6.35 million bonus. He dominated Double-A in his pro debut, but his control disappeared following a promotion to Triple-A in June. Despite his reputation as a polished strike-thrower, Hultzen walked as many batters in his first pro season (75) as he totaled in three years at Virginia. When he got into jams, he tended to overthrow instead of backing off a little or pitching smarter. While his numbers aren't pretty, his stuff was consistent. Hultzen works at 90-92 mph, can touch 95 and gets good movement on his fastball. His changeup is an above-average offering, though he sometimes throws it too hard. He's getting more consistent with his 80-84 mph slider, staying on top of the pitch more often. He uses an extreme knee bend and throws across his body, which helps create deception. The Mariners love his maturity. Hultzen's control issues aren't a long-term concern. He still has the upside of a No. 2 starter. He'll return to Tacoma but should join Seattle's rotation during the season.
The Diamondbacks made seven-figure overtures to Hultzen after drafting him in the 10th round out of high school in 2008, but he opted to attend Virginia. A two-way player for the Cavaliers, he led them to their first two College World Series berths and set school records for career wins (32) and strikeouts (395). While most clubs expected the Mariners to take a hitter with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2011 draft, they opted for Hultzen and gave him an $8.5 million big league contract that included a club-record $6.35 million bonus. Hultzen combines quality stuff and lots of polish. His fastball sits at 91-93 mph and reaches 96. He has an outstanding changeup and a solid slider that he can spot on both sides of the plate. He commands all three of his offerings well. Hultzen entered pro ball with an extreme knee bend in his delivery. Seattle left his full windup alone but got him to stand taller out of the stretch to prevent his secondary pitches from flattening out. He also lands closed and throws across his body, but that doesn't bother the Mariners because it adds deception. As advanced as any player in the 2011 draft, Hultzen posted a 1.40 ERA in six Arizona Fall League starts. He has the upside of a No. 2 starter and will get a shot to make the big league rotation in spring training.
Minor League Top Prospects
The Mariners took Hultzen with the second pick of the 2011 part, in part because he was an extremely polished college lefthander. He lived up to that billing when he dominated Double-A hitters at the beginning of 2012, but he walked five in three innings in his first Triple-A start and never found his command. He totaled just 16 innings in his final five starts, walking 19 during that span. While Hultzen battled the strike zone, there was nothing wrong with his stuff. He pitched at 90-92 mph with his fastball and touched 94 while mixing in a plus changeup and solid slider. If he can regroup quickly at the outset of 2013, he may not need much more time in the minors.
Selected second overall and just ahead of Bauer, Hultzen was touted as the most advanced pitcher in the 2011 draft. He easily handled a Double-A assignment when he began his pro career in April, though he found the going rougher when promoted to Triple-A in late June. Hultzen's fastball sits at 90-93 mph with sinking and tailing action. His best pitch is tumbling changeup, and he also owns a solid low-80s slider. Standing on the extreme third-base side of the rubber, he throws with a crossfire delivery that creates tough angles to the plate. At his best, Hultzen can locate his pitches to both sides of the plate. But his command was an issue all season long, as he averaged 3.8 walks per nine innings in the SL and 8.0 in the Triple-A. That was an unexpected development considering his reputation for being polished.
The Mariners drafted Hultzen No. 2 overall in June out of the University of Virginia, and he made his pro debut in the AFL after signing a major league contract that included a $6.35 million signing bonus. Hultzen impressed in all six of his outings, ranking third in the league in ERA at 1.40 in 19 innings, and added a strong two innings in the Rising Stars game. He had plus command of three pitches and showed that he knows how to pitch. Hultzen was very consistent, never giving up more than one run in any game. Scouts agree that he doesn't have the power repertoire of a true No. 1 starter but is almost certain to become a quality major league pitcher, perhaps as early as next season.
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Best Tools List
Rated Best Changeup in the Seattle Mariners in 2013
Rated Best Pitching Prospect in the Southern League in 2012
Rated Best Changeup in the Southern League in 2012
Rated Best Control in the Seattle Mariners in 2012
Rated Best Changeup in the Seattle Mariners in 2012
Scouting Reports
Background: Hultzen set Virginia records for career wins (32) and strikeouts (395) while leading the Cavaliers to their first two College World Series appearances. The No. 2 overall pick in the 2011 draft, he signed an $8.5 million big league contract that included a club-record $6.35 million bonus. He dominated Double-A in his pro debut, but his control disappeared following a promotion to Triple-A in June.
Scouting Report: Despite his reputation as a polished strike-thrower, Hultzen walked as many batters in his first pro season (75) as he totaled in three years at Virginia. When he got into jams, he tended to overthrow instead of backing off a little or pitching smarter. While his numbers aren't pretty, his stuff was consistent. Hultzen works at 90-92 mph, can touch 95 and gets good movement on his fastball. His changeup is an above-average offering, though he sometimes throws it too hard. He's getting more consistent with his 80-84 mph slider, staying on top of the pitch more often. He uses an extreme knee bend and throws across his body, which helps create deception. The Mariners love his maturity.
The Future: Hultzen's control issues aren't a long-term concern. He still has the upside of a No. 2 starter. He'll return to Tacoma but should join Seattle's rotation during the season.
Background: The Diamondbacks made seven-figure overtures to Hultzen after taking him in the 10th round out of high school in 2008, but he opted to attend Virginia. A two-way player for the Cavaliers, he led them to their first two College World Series berths and set school records for career wins (32) and strikeouts (395). While most clubs expected the Mariners to take a hitter with the No. 2 pick in the draft, they opted for Hultzen and gave him an $8.5 million big league contract that included a club-record $6.35 million bonus.Scouting Report: Hultzen combines quality stuff and lots of polish. His fastball sits at 91-93 mph and reaches 96. He has an outstanding changeup and a solid slide that he can spot on both sides of the plate. He commands all three of his offerings well. Hultzen entered pro ball with an extreme knee bend in his delivery. Seattle left his full windup alone but got him to stand taller out of the stretch to prevent his secondary pitches from flattening out. He also lands closed and throws across his body, but that doesn't bother the Mariners because it adds deception.The Future: As advanced as any player in the 2011 draft, Hultzen posted a 1.40 ERA in six Arizona Fall League starts. He has the upside of a No. 2 starter and will get a legitimate shot to make the big league rotation in spring training.
The Mariners drafted Hultzen No. 2 overall in June out of the University of Virginia, and he made his pro debut in the AFL after signing a major league contract that included a $6.35 million signing bonus. Hultzen impressed in all six of his outings, ranking third in the league in ERA at 1.40 in 19 innings, and added a strong two innings in the Rising Stars game. He had plus command of three pitches and showed that he knows how to pitch. Hultzen was very consistent, never giving up more than one run in any game. Scouts agree that he doesn't have the power repertoire of a true No. 1 starter but is almost certain to become a quality major league pitcher, perhaps as early as next season.
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