Matthew Bywater - 7th round - LHP (Pepperdine)

[lovetoaster]

I like the college arms.

[weams]

Matt Bywater, SP, Pepperdine Baseball

Matt Bywater has been excellent all season long, but run support and wins have always seemed to escape him, even when he's been brilliant. On Friday night against No. 19 San Diego however, Bywater got the run support he needed and did his part to stop the Torerro bats by twirling a complete game shutout. The shutout was Bywater's fourth of the year and set a new single-season record in that category. Anytime you put your name above Randy Wolf's as a Pepperdine pitcher, you're doing pretty well for yourself.

http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/colleges/tag/_/name/matt-bywater

[JackO]

I like the college arms.

Doesn't look like a bad one. Lefty. Broke Pepperdine's single season record for shutouts this year with four.

And there is this:

Mike (Tucson): Where do you see Cole Cook and Matt Bywater from Pepperdine going in this years draft? My guess is that Bywater has really raised his stock following a strong season.

John Manuel: Bywater has, and he's helped by the shallow pool of LHP talent. Cook's breaking ball is an issue, and he's a redshirt sophomore. I haven't heard anything concrete on his signability, but he may not be an easy sign. Bywater didn't miss our Top 200 by much and should still fit in the top 3-to-5 rounds; Cook's talent puts him in that range, we'll see if he can sign there.

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/draft/chat/2010/2610115.html

[weams]

http://www.pepperdinesports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=18500&ATCLID=1401642

Alex Wimmers threw a complete game for Ohio State in a 7-1 win over Indiana while striking out 14. Matt Bywater from Pepperdine matched Wimmers performance going the distance while striking out 10.

[adamwolff11]

Went 6-5 with a 2.40 ERA in 13 GS. 97.2 innings, 83 K's, 30 BB's.

Seems like a solid pick.

[weams]

Six Two One Ninety

[hoosiers]

Bywater is the third California prospect outside the BA Top 200. CA had 41 prospects in the top 200 - so using that metric, Bywater would be around 215 or so.

Per BA, profiles as a back-end starter, poor man's Brian Matusz. Could end up in the bp.

[LookinUp]

Rick Zagone type of pitcher? Maybe?

[QBsILLEST1]

Rick Zagone type of pitcher? Maybe?

IMO a better version of Zagone......Zagone didn't have a very good college career...

[EL_Coyote]

More INFO HERE

[Tony-OH]

Signed for $195,000.

Supposedly will come into the system with the best changeup in the system. Fastball is 87-90 so he'll need great command.

[RVAbird]

Signed for $195,000.

Supposedly will come into the system with the best changeup in the system. Fastball is 87-90 so he'll need great command.

"Matusz-lite" has been thrown around a lot. Should be very interesting to watch. Like Matusz, the strength of his offspeed stuff will likely carry him through the minors quickly, but he'll have to be sharp with that fastball to properly set it up in the bigs. Could be a nice back of the rotation innings eater.

[Tony-OH]

"Matusz-lite" has been thrown around a lot. Should be very interesting to watch. Like Matusz, the strength of his offspeed stuff will likely carry him through the minors quickly, but he'll have to be sharp with that fastball to properly set it up in the bigs. Could be a nice back of the rotation innings eater.

Of course with Matusz throwing 89-90 right now he's Matusz-lite.

[QBsILLEST1]

Of course with Matusz throwing 89-90 right now he's Matusz-lite.

This is very true....

[allstar1579]

This is very true....

Don't forget that he doesn't have Matusz's CB either.