The Ones That Got Away

Baseball America recently published their College Preview for 2009. Three left-handed pitchers that the Rays drafted, but did not sign, are mentioned:

Michael Minor:
-- LHP, Vanderbilt, profile
-- Junior, 6'4", 210 lbs. (Vanderbilt lists him at 195 lbs.)
-- Rays drafted in 2006: 13th round, 379th overall, out of Forrest High School (TN)
-- BA projects him to be the 12th pick in the 1st round of the 2009 draft
-- BA's #8 prospect in the College Class of 2009
-- Named to BA's Second Team 2009 Preseason All-America
-- BA's #8 prospect in the Junior Class of 2009
-- 2008 stats: 7-3 with a 4.28 ERA. In 103 innings, struck out 101 and walked 28.
-- BA quote from the College Top 100, Best Secondary Pitch: "LHP Mike Minor and RHP A.J. Griffin have the best changeups."
-- BA quote from the College Top 100, Best Command: "Minor has repeatable yet deceptive mechanics, which allow him to hit his spots and generate swings and misses despite the fact that his changeup is his lone consistent plus pitch."
-- Named to BA's preseason All-Conference Team for the Southeastern Conference
-- Named BA's preseason Pitcher Of The Year for the Southeastern Conference
-- BA's #1 2009 Draft Prospect from the Southeastern Conference

Alex McRee:
-- LHP, Georgia, profile
-- Junior, 6'6", 230 lbs. (Georgia lists him at 236 lbs.)
-- Rays drafted in 2006: 48th round, 1421st overall, out of Chestatee High School (GA)
-- BA's #25 prospect in the College Class of 2009
-- Named to BA's Third Team 2009 Preseason All-America
-- BA's #23 prospect in the Junior Class of 2009
-- 2008 stats: 7-1 with a 3.98 ERA. In 61 innings, struck out 65 and walked 31.
-- BA quote from the College Top 100, Best Fastball: "Among lefties, Alex McRee has the best combination of velocity (low 90s), life and downward plane."
-- BA quote from the Georgia writeup: "McRee, a bullpen force in 2008, has the arm strength (he showed a 92-95 mph fastball in relief) and quality secondary stuff to vault into the first round if he proves he can sustain his stuff as a starter."
-- BA's #6 2009 Draft Prospect from the Southeastern Conference

Ryan Carpenter:
-- LHP, Gonzaga, profile
-- Freshman, 6'5", 207 lbs. (Gonzaga lists him at 215 lbs.)
-- Rays drafted in 2008: 21st round, 623rd overall, out of Cactus High School (AZ)
-- BA's #45 prospect in the Freshmen Class of 2009
-- BA's #3 Top Newcomer in the West Coast Conference


Assuming BA is correct that Minor will be gone before we pick, keep an eye on McRee when we pick 30th overall.