Name: Garett Claypool
Position: RHP
Bats: RH
Throws: RH
DOB: 8/21/88 (22 as of April 1, 2011)
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 170 lbs
Drafted: 11th round, 2010 (undisclosed bonus)
Pre Draft Report: Garett Claypool pitched collegiately at UCLA. He was a 2nd team Freshman All-American in 2007. He pitched in the Northwoods League that summer, then resumed his role as a midweek starter for UCLA as a sophomore. Following that season, Claypool pitched in the Cape Cod League. In 2009, he was again a midweek starter/weekend reliever for the Bruins, then was drafted in the 32nd round of the 2009 draft by the A’s. Prior to that draft, BA ranked Claypool as the 131st best player in California. Claypool didn’t sign and returned for his senior season, which turned out to be quite successful. All told in his UCLA career, Claypool pitched in 74 games (including 33 midweek starts), pitching 207.2 innings with 181 Ks and 80 BBs. Heading into the 2010 draft, Claypool was rated as the 108th best player in California. His scouting report from Baseball America called Claypool “one of the best midweek starters in the nation” with improved command and noted that he had bumped his velocity into the low-90s.
The Phillies signed Claypool in early July and he began his professional career in Williamsport.
Career Synopsis: Claypool began his time at Williamsport in the bullpen, but mixed in four starts before the season was done. He pitched as well as a college senior from a Top5 program should pitch, throwing 34 innings with a 45/16 K/BB ratio, a .231 opponents batting average, and a 3.18 ERA. The only negative to his performance was a tendency to throw fly balls, as his GO/FO ratio was 0.56. Following the season, Claypool participated in the Florida Instructional League.
Scouting Report: Below is an assessment of Claypool’s raw tools, rated on the traditional 20-80 scouting scale. The grades are my estimation based on what I’ve read and those I’ve talked to. The second number is a future projection, the first number is the current assessment
Arm Strength:45
Fastball:50
Control:45/55
Command:45/55
Mechanics:40
Durability:50
Secondary Pitches:45
Summary: Claypool is your standard college starter transitioning to MLB reliever. His fastball is only average in velocity, sitting in the high 80s touching 91/92, but he hides the ball well, which adds a bit of deception and makes his fastball grade up to average. He showed average command and control in college, but it didn’t play up quite as well in his debut. I suspect that he will settle in as average in both when hes MLB ready. His curveball and changeup are both average to a tick below.
Upside: Claypool was pitching at 88-91 in the College World Series, but was up to 93 at Williamsport. His performance at Williamsport was encouraging, if not overpowering. As a college senior, Claypool is going to need to move quickly. It’s tough to see him developing as a starter, but with another good season, you can envision him following the trajectory of other recent college pitching draftees and working himself into a useful middle reliever.
Videos:
His delivery is fairly compact, with a slight stab in the back and a highish three quarters delivery. The one thing I don’t really like is that his delivery is mostly arms and he seems to under-utilize the lower half of his body. This could put a bit of extra stress on his arm going forward.
Articles:
Profile Updated: 5 February 2011
