Round 9 Selection: Ryan Berry, RHP, Rice

[Moose Milligan]

Ugggggh, Rice...

http://mlb.mlb.com/mlb/events/draft/y2009/reports.jsp?content=berry

Comments

Fastball: Berry's fastball was solid average, in the 88-92 mph range. He touched 93 in the ninth inning.

Fastball movement: Using a quick delivery, it has a sneaky quality to it.

Curve: Was a plus pitch, thrown 80-84 mph. It had late break and he buried it for a true out pitch. He throws it with two grips -- a knuckle grip and a spiked grip.

Changeup: He didn't use it much, but it was 83-84 mph when he did throw it.

Control: He had solid command of all his pitches.

Poise: In a big-league park, he had very good mound presence and it resulted in one of his best outings in a long time.

Physical Description: Berry has a lean build, kind of like Rich Harden. He was sporting long hair and glasses, sort of a Mark Fydrich look.

Medical Update: Healthy.

Strengths: When he's going right, he has two or three average or above pitches with command of all of them.

Weaknesses: He hasn't been consistent. He'll have to show he can do it repeatedly to make people believers.

Summary: Berry is somewhat of an enigma. He was one of the top freshman in his class, then regressed last year. He began his Draft season on a rocky note, but bounced back with a terrific start in the Houston Classic. When he's locked in, he's got good stuff and command. For him to rise up Draft boards come June, he'll have to show he can maintain it over the course of the season.

[alev]

2.42 era, 7-2 2 shutouts, 81.2 innings, 68/19 k/bb

[THELTSHOW]

He had some shoulder issues this year and looked pretty bad in his start in the Super Regionals against LSU, that being said, he did have a very good freshman campaign and hopefully now that Coach Graham can't run him into the ground any more, he can get healthy

[markpolis]

I like this pick a lot. (come on Moose you are slowing down... don't make me double post )

Berry doesn't have Stephen Strasburg's stuff, but he was the second-best pitcher in college baseball before he got hurt in mid-March. In consecutive complete-game wins over Texas A&M, Notre Dame and San Diego, he allowed just five hits, an unearned run and no walks while striking out 28. Then he strained a muscle beneath his pitching shoulder in his next start, which sidelined him for five weeks. The Owls eased him back slowly into the rotation and he looked like his early-season self in the Conference USA tournament, firing a two-hitter against Alabama-Birmingham. Two days later, he pitched the ninth inning to save the championship game. In the NCAA Division I regionals, he threw 126 pitches in a loss to Kansas State's A.J. Morris—his teammate at Humble (Texas) High—and pitched the final two innings of the clincher against the Wildcats on one day's rest. Berry's lone plus pitch is his knuckle-curve, yet he took a step forward this spring when he stopped relying on it so much. He has done a better job of throwing his 88-91 mph fastball to both sides of the plate to set up his curve, and he also mixes in a slider and changeup. His fastball has good life and touches 93 at times. He's not physical at 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, but he does a good job of repeating his delivery and throwing strikes. His mechanics bother some scouts, as he lands stiff and upright, putting stress on his arm. While Berry's resurgence has him moving back up draft boards, it remains to be seen whether a club will take him high enough (top two rounds) to sign him. Before he was sidelined, teams already were leery of the health of Rice pitchers. Six of the eight Owls pitchers drafted in the first or supplemental first round this decade (Kenny Baugh, Jon Skaggs, Philip Humber, Jeff Niemann, Wade Townsend, Joe Savery) have had elbow or shoulder surgery in college or early in their pro careers. This is scary!!!

[DocJJ]

I actually saw him pitch. He's got great talent. A bit inconsistent, but when he's on, he's unhittable.

[Moose Milligan]

I like this pick a lot. (come on Moose you are slowing down... don't make me double post )

Oh no sir, I beat you to the punch

[McLovin]

Seems like a nice pick, Rice notwithstanding. A similar pick to Berken I'd say.

[BringBackMagic]

Do we have our Arrietta circa 2009? By that meaning a guy that is "unhittable" when on but dropped for various reasons. He could be a bust, but this late in the draft, could pay great dividends.

[lovetoaster]

I actually saw him pitch. He's got great talent. A bit inconsistent, but when he's on, he's unhittable.

Agreed. This is a very good pick.

[markpolis]

Oh no sir, I beat you to the punch

I know because I was waiting for you to post. Thought you went to lunch or were on the can. :wedge:

[McLovin]

it remains to be seen whether a club will take him high enough (top two rounds) to sign him.

This is the part of the draft I hate most - waiting out the signings.

[Guest BrettMeister86]

Nailed it. Berry could be Arrieta 2009. I said something about it in another post. They will have to go well above slot but this is a very nice pick up in the 9th round.

[hoosiers]

Berry doesn't have Stephen Strasburg's stuff, but he was the second-best pitcher in college baseball before he got hurt in mid-March. In consecutive complete-game wins over Texas A&M, Notre Dame and San Diego, he allowed just five hits, an unearned run and no walks while striking out 28.

Sounds like some serious upside to this one! Wow.

[allstar1579]

I guess Kranitz sees something mechanical because I'd like to see an extra 3-4 mph from him. Risk/reward guy, but it's a good starting point with the sneaky fastball and nice curve.

[tywright]

http://www.baseballprospectus.com/rt/rt.php?rtId=18

Bryan Smith (10:11:03 AM PT): I've dogged the Orioles draft a lot, but Ryan Berry in the ninth round is a great value pick. It wasn't long ago he was getting supplemental first talk, but a midseason injury derailed his momentum. He's got the best knuckle-curve in the draft, and good fastball command. There's a chance, I think, he returns to Rice for his senior season, but that's a nice risk from an organization that's been leaning cheap.

Well here's our Arrieta pick.

And the "leaning cheap" comment is dead on. Maybe we're saving the $ for Sano??