2017 2nd round Comp Balance pick (74): Zac Lowther - LHP - Xavier

[weams]

Video

Against host Vanderbilt University of the baseball-rich Southeastern Conference (SEC), Lowther spun seven innings of four-hit, one-run, eight-strikeout ball in a 15-1 win. He took the victory against the heavily-favored, 43-win Commodores in the June 4 tournament opener.

That outing, Xavier head coach Scott Googins said, was Lowther's coming out party.

But what came next vaulted Lowther to elite status, and into the sight lines of major league teams.

In the prestigious Cape Cod league, Lowther posted a 2.52 ERA – eighth-best in the league – over seven starts and 35.2 innings with the Whitecaps.

He also led the CCBL – a renowned breeding ground for major league talent – in strikeouts with 54.

"He pitched really well against Vandy and then he went out to the Cape and had a really good summer," Googins told The Enquirer Wednesday. "At that point in time, he really kind of blew up... It's been a little bit of a circus."

 SP, Zac Lowther, Jr. Xavier, 3.09, 102 IP, 84:30; LHP, low-90s FB, above avg. CB

Zac Lowther, LHP (Xavier) | No. 127

Lowther, a 6-foot-2 southpaw, lacks a plus pitch, but his track record of missing bats and barrels speaks for itself. This spring, he set an Xavier school record for strikeouts (115) and ranked third in NCAA Division I in whiff rate (13.4) entering the playoffs.

http://m.mlb.com/news/article/235756558/best-2017-draft-prospect-from-each-state/

Tony's Quick Take: Watching the video's he reminds me of Keegan Akin a but may have more armside run on his fastball and his curve is a little tighter. If he can develop a changeup to go with what he has he could really turn into something. 

[sportsfan8703]

"Lowther broke out as a sophomore in 2016, leading the Big East Conference in strikeouts (84 in 102 innings) and outpitching Dodgers supplemental first-rounder Jordan Sheffield to beat Vanderbilt in the NCAA regional playoffs. He continued to raise his profile in the Cape Cod League, which he led in strikeouts (54), whiffs per nine innings (13.6) and K/BB ratio (13.5). This spring, he set a Xavier school record for strikeouts (115) and ranked third in NCAA Division I in whiff rate (13.4) entering the playoffs. The amazing thing about Lowther's success is that his best pitch is a fastball that sits at 87-89 mph and tops out at 93. It plays well above its mediocre velocity because it features running life, he commands it well and the deception in his delivery leads to a lot of uncomfortable swings. He's unlikely to throw much harder because he's already physically mature at 6-foot-2 and 235 pounds. Lowther pitches off his fastball well, increasing the effectiveness of a curveball and changeup that range from fringy to average. His control hasn't been as sharp this spring as it was a year ago, though he has been more unhittable than ever. He'll have to prove that his modest arsenal will work in pro ball, though his track record suggests that it would be foolish to bet against him."-MLB.com

Seems like we went with a singable guy after taking two high schoolers.  Not saying he's going to sign for 20k but it looks like he would sign underslot.  

[Cumberbundy]

Money saver with a great feel for pitching, I like it after two big upside hs picks, one of whom has me partying with my dog, a delectable diet cherry Pepsi, a sick cranberries playlist and my Os onesie. 

 

Zombie zombie 

[Cumberbundy]

Absolutely filthy curve and incredible movement on that last fastball. We don't have anyone who throws a fb with movement like that. 

 

 

[Cumberbundy]

Looks like a screwball

[Cumberbundy]

 

[Cumberbundy]

Curve at the 23 second mark ?

 

 

[Cumberbundy]

9 strike out game, you'll notice every count is 1-2 or 0-2. Love it.

 

 

[Cumberbundy]

First pitch, filthy

 

[Cumberbundy]

Starting at 1:10 4 consecutive swinging Ks on his curve

 

 

[Camden_yardbird]

Can he teach Gausman how to throw a high fastball?  To back off and get more movement? And how to use your breaking pitch to get an out?

[Luke-OH]

He's going to destroy hitters at Aberdeen.  The real test will be whether he has the stuff to get more advanced hitters out.  The lack of velocity doesn't give him a whole lot of room for error, but the secondaries are promising.

[Can_of_corn]

1 minute ago, phillyOs119 said:

He's going to destroy hitters at Aberdeen.  The real test will be whether he has the stuff to get more advanced hitters out.  The lack of velocity doesn't give him a whole lot of room for error, but the secondaries are promising.

The days that a lefty didn't need to throw harder than 90 are pretty much gone.

[bpilktree]

24 minutes ago, Can_of_corn said:

The days that a lefty didn't need to throw harder than 90 are pretty much gone.

Except for the guy that one the Cy young two years ago and may win another. 

[Can_of_corn]

2 minutes ago, bpilktree said:

Except for the guy that one the Cy young two years ago and may win another. 

"Pretty much".