2015 3rd (102) - Garrett Cleavinger - LHP - University of Oregon

Fastball Mid-Nineties Left Handed Setup Man. 96 MPH with a wipeout slider.

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http://www.oregonlive.com/ducks/index.ssf/2015/06/mlb_draft_2015_garrett_cleavin.html

2015 recap:

Cleavinger disposed of most of the wildness that plagued his sophomore year to become one of the most feared closers in the Pac-12. Taking the mantle from Jake Reed and Jimmy Sherfy before him, Cleavinger teamed with eighth-inning man Stephen Nogosek to turn the back-end of Oregon's bullpen into its biggest strength. While Cleavinger showed some of his control issues at times, his 66 strikeouts in 40 innings are proof of the explosiveness he has when he's on.

Scout's take:

"He's got late-inning power type stuff. He's left-handed, obviously. On a good day he pitches in the mid 90s. There's been some inconsistencies, which could concern some teams. His velocity didn't show up every outing. More times than you wanted to see he was 91/92 compared to his good days when he's going 94/96. Then there were some inconsistencies with his command. He ironed that out a bit in the spring, but his walk numbers were high, which could potentially concern some teams. But he strikes a lot of guys out and, like I said, he has late-inning power major league potential."

6'1" 220lbs DOB: 04/23/94

Exiti here.

MLB.com doesn't have much on this guy but he's got helium and he's toolsy.

Announcers on stream said he's very inconsistent.. But if he puts it altogether could be a very solid bullpen piece.. I need more hitters

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Fastball - Flashed a FB up to 96 last summer. But typically sat 92-94 with average movement. Solid average grade on his FB. Generally, pretty flat and found himself getting destroyed when he left his FB up in the zone. However, if he gets in a groove with his FB, he can strikeout a lot of guys.

Slider - For his secondary stuff, he throws a SL that is more slurvey with some spin and works on a 10-4 plane. The pitch usually sits 78-82 and sometimes has plus movement, but would give it a solid average grade.

http://battingleadoff.com/2015/01/30/2015-draft-prospect-lhp-garrett-cleavinger-university-oregon/

After two seasons at Oregon, ranks fourth in program history in appearances (72), seventh in saves (4), eighth in games finished (17) and 10th in wins (12) … Thirty-five appearances in 2014 are good for fourth in Oregon single-season history, while .214 batting average against ranks ninth … Finished the season 3-2 with a 3.34 ERA and two saves while striking out 49 and holding opponents to a .214 batting average over 32.1 innings … Threw 12.2 consecutive scoreless innings spanning 14 appearances from March 14 to April 19, allowing just seven hits and striking out 16 over that time … Struck out the side four different times … Picked up first win of the year in the season-opening 3-2 win over Hawaii, throwing one scoreless inning while allowing just one walk and striking out the side … Longest outing of the season came against California in the final regular season game, throwing 2.1 scoreless innings while allowing just one hit and striking out two … Did not allow an earned run over final 10 regular season appearances, striking out 16 batters and giving up just seven hits over 10 innings … Named third-team preseason Louisville Slugger All-American by Collegiate Baseball

Fastball Mid-Nineties Left Handed Setup Man. 96 MPH with a wipeout slider.

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Relief guy all the way but could project as a dominant setup man according to Callis and Mayo.

We've had a lot of luck with third rounders over the years. 19 of them have made the majors, topped by Eddie Murray. Of more recent vintage, Zach Britton, Chris Ray, and Mike Wright. And, of course, Jeff Fiorentino.

http://www.baseball-reference.com/draft/?query_type=franch_round&team_ID=BAL&draft_round=3&draft_type=junreg&

These guys were pretty high on him:

School: Oregon; Class: Junior

Position: LHP; B/T: L/L

Height: 6-0; Weight: 220

Previously Drafted: N/A

Background: After pitching in the shadows of 2014 fifth round pick Jake Reed, Cleavinger has become a shutdown closer for the Ducks this season. Cleavinger, a Louisville Slugger Freshman All-American and a NCBWA Second-Team Freshman All-American, has fanned an incredible 63 batters in just 36.0 innings this season. For his career, Cleavinger has posted a 169-to-57 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 112 innings.

The 6-foot, 220-pound lefty has also appeared in the Cape Cod League on back-to-back summers, tallying a staggering 51-to-13 strikeout-to-walk ratio in just 25.1 innings of work.

Projection: As ridiculously dominant as he?s been in his career ? he?s averaged 14.42 punch outs since he left high school ? one has to wonder how he?d perform in the rotation. The Cincinnati Reds have transitioned several former collegiate hurlers ? Tony Cingrani, Nick Howard, and Michael Lorenzen ? so Cleavinger could be on the franchise?s radar.

Cleavinger owns a high floor ? he?s a potentially fast-moving backend reliever ? with a potentially high ceiling as a starter.

Ceiling: 3.0-win player

Floor: 1.0- to 1.5-win player

Risk: Moderate

Grade: Late First/Early Second Round

http://www.prospectdigest.com/2015/05/27/2015-draft-profile-garrett-cleavinger/

Cleavinger's numbers as Oregon closer this year: 1.58 ERA in 40 IP, 20 H, 17 BB, 66 K, .158 AVG, 9 saves

Cleavinger's numbers as Oregon closer this year: 1.58 ERA in 40 IP, 20 H, 17 BB, 66 K, .158 AVG, 9 saves

Outstanding.

These guys were pretty high on him:

http://www.prospectdigest.com/2015/05/27/2015-draft-profile-garrett-cleavinger/

Interesting, could be someone we possibly fast track the major league bullpen as soon as this September if he dominates like that in the minors.

Interesting, could be someone we possibly fast track the major league bullpen as soon as this September if he dominates like that in the minors.

Yeah, that's what I figured once I started reading about him.

I wish we would stop reaching with our picks. I have little to on confidence in our team to draft competent players anyways, so reaching doesn't help.

That is just me and my lack of confidence talking. That Hobgood draft really ruined me.

This guy has to make it. A Cleavinger-Clevenger battery must happen.

My type of pick.

I am happy with a high floor relief pitcher in this spot.