Proper Name: Matthew Purke
Born: July, 17 1990
Ht.: 6-4. Wt.: 205
Bats: L. Throws: L
Overview: “He’s got the stuff to be a mid-rotation MLB starter. His walk-to-strikeout numbers are good in his two minor league seasons. If there are concerns about him, or reasons why he wouldn’t be considered a top-of-the-rotation guy just quite yet, it would be (that) he hasn’t missed a lot of bats early on. Guys that don’t walk a lot of hitters are typically going to give up more hits than guys who do, but he still has to get a few more swings-and-misses for me to be a front-line starter. … On the path to be in Double-A or Triple-A next summer and competing for a big league spot in 2015.”
FastballFuture Grade: 60
“He sat at 92-93 MPH (when I saw him) for five innings. I think he has the ability and delivery to repeat that. His fastball command was solid … he worked both sides of the plate. He did show some average arm-side run. It looked like his ball ran away better when he threw to the arm side. Not as much run and deception as you might think from a left-hander but did show some signs of fastball life.”
Breaking BallFuture Grade: 50
“His breaking ball is more of a ‘slurve.’ It had some 11 to 5 break and was 78-80 mph in velocity. It had some depth even from a little bit of a lower arm slot. It looked like he had confidence in it and average command of it, but it’s really his third pitch. It was effective against lefthanded hitters.”
ChangeupFuture Grade: 60
“This is where the similarity with Hamels comes into play. He’s got a plus changeup, a swing-and-miss changeup. His arm speed and deception with this pitch are good. He has a good feel for the speed difference between his change and fastball. Hitters at all levels with have trouble with this pitch. He has the confidence and command to throw it on any count.”
Therron Brockish, Baseball America
http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/scouts-view-washington-nationals-lhp-matt-purke/