Chico Harlan has a post up this afternoon about Nats Acting GM Mike Rizzo among a contingent of Nats personnel in South Carolina last night. The suggestion is the Nats were scouting Vanderbilt LHP Mike Minor as a potential option for the #10 pick.
Minor is definitely in the team picture for the #10 pick on June. He does not possess eye-popping stuff, but is an accomplished left-handed pitcher with an above average fastball, solid slider and under-utilized but reportedly very good changeup. He throws in the 89-92 mph range so he seems to project out as a solid #3 starting pitcher. He is a Boras client, so that must be considered as well.
One thing to take into account regarding the Nats visit to South Carolina, it could also have something to do with the Gamecocks starting pitcher RHP Sam Dyson. Dyson is a draft eligible sophomore in the 2009 draft. Dyson was a 19th round draft pick out of high school by the Nationals in the 2006 draft. Most rankings have Dyson in the 30-40 range so there also could be a possibility the Nats are considering him as an option for their second round selection (#50 overall). As a draft eligible sophomore, he has the added leverage of returning to college for a junior season so he is not likely to come cheap.
#1 by pm - May 2nd, 2009 at 15:43
That scouting report sounds a lot like Detweiler, McGeary, and Van Allen.
#2 by Rocket1124 - May 3rd, 2009 at 09:31
Minor? Meh. Not top 10, IMO.
#3 by Pilchard - May 3rd, 2009 at 11:04
Will be disappointed if the Nats are giving preference to a Boras client with the #10 pick with thought that it will somehow help them in the Strasburg negotiations.
#4 by Brian Oliver - May 3rd, 2009 at 11:11
pilchard - The only thing I’d keep in mind is that Boras advises about eight or nine of the top twelve guys in the draft.
#5 by Ryan - May 4th, 2009 at 10:49
I think there is a better chance that they were scouting Dyson for #10 over Minor… Minor seems to have slipped a bunch this year and with Boras as the agent, he does not seem like an easy sign at #10. Plus the Nats have history with Dyson from a couple seasons ago. Just my 2 cents-