Mark Romanczuk ?

[lovehate]

The team USA lhp does not seem to be rated as an elite prospect for 05, where does he project to go in June ?

any ideas Colby ?

[colbyjack]

Romanczuk probably rates at this point as a 2nd rounder, but is one of many players that could be poised to be taken much higher with a good season. He likely will be especially attractive to a team like the A's or Blue Jays that always show interest in polished college arms, particularly lefties.

 

I think he would be rated higher if it weren't for somewhat of a down sophomore season. He actually pitched better as a freshman. For a guy labelled as a control pitcher, he walks too many batters, and last year he gave up a lot of hits, including home runs. He doesn't have the most blazing of fastballs either, otherwise he probably would have gone higher coming out of high school. He is a very cerebral pitcher, which is a huge plus in my book.

 

He could be one of those pitchers like Barry Zito that actually pitches better in professional ball. Playing in an extremely tough conference against batters using aluminum bats could jump up his stats, although it's hard to believe that entirely since MLB hitters with wood bats are far better than the colleciton of hitters in the Pac-10. He has pitched well for Team USA the past 2 summers I believe, for what that's worth.

 

Right now I'd probably say he's a solid candidate to go early in the 2nd or in the sandwich round. Again, with a solid spring he could find himself in the middle of the first round. CarolinaTommy might have seen him pitch at some time, so maybe he'll pop in & chime in with his thoughts.

[CarolinaTommy]

I agree with colbyjack on his assessment of Romanczuk. That is just how I see him as a draft prospect right now, but I could even see him fall past the middle of the second round if he doesn't perform well this spring. He could be the type of guy that sticks around for his senior season, but that is an extremely premature assessment. That is dependent upon his personal aspirations and I am in no place to judge him on that.

 

I get a Denny Neagle-type vibe with Mark Romanczuk. I've seen him pitch at 86-89 MPH. I most recently saw him pitch this summer on Team USA. He stays on top of his pitches well. A bit of a wide body, kind of similar to former Stanford pitcher Mike Gosling. His best pitch is a curveball, IMO. Mixes a slider in there, too. For a polished pitcher, I think he struggled with his change-up the last time I saw him. He does not have good arm speed with his change-up. He was telegraphing the pitch, which is something that I think keeps him out of the first round (at this point). If he can throw his slider, curve, fastball, AND change from the same arm slot with consistent arm speed (which he probably will someday) then he would be a better prospect. I think he needs some work and I personally do not think he is as polished as he is made out to be, but that's just my opinion!!