The Official 2011 MLB Draft Thread

[Lintyfresh85]

Nats have yet to select a high school player.

[Minty Fresh]

Nats have yet to select a high school player.

[sportsfan882]

Round 9, 277 - Dixon Anderson - RHP/SP

SR

Dixon Anderson - P
California, So.

    Birthdate: 7/2/1989
    Height: 6'5"
    Weight: 225 lbs.
    Bats: Right
    Throws: Right
    Scout's report filed: 5/2/10

Scouting Report

Fastball: Anderson can run his fastball up to 94 mph as a starter.

Fastball movement: He has plus movement with lots of sink.

Curve: He throws a downer-type curve with occasional depth to it.

Splitter: It's a below-average offering right now.

Control: He needs to improve his command.

Poise: He has good mound presence.

Physical Description: Anderson is an athletic, long and gangly right-hander.

Medical Update: Anderson redshirted his freshman year but has been healthy since.

Strengths: Above-average with the possibility of a plus fastball in shorter stints; decent breaking ball.

Weaknesses: His secondary stuff, especially the splitter, lags behind his fastball. His command needs to improve if he wants to start.

Summary: Anderson has been used primarily as a starter this season, and, though the redshirt sophomore has shown some good things -- a 94 mph fastball and decent curve -- he might be better suited to a relief role. He's had success in shorter stints in the past, both at Cal and in summer ball, where command problems are less of an issue and his fastball tends to gain a tick or two. A team who views him in that light may take a shot, thinking he could rise rapidly as a reliever.

[kirubel94]

Was drafted by the O's last year, found this on him

"For some reason, I have a strong intuitive feel about Dixon Anderson. To begin, Anderson has a strong, workhorse body that projects to be able to handle a pro workload at the highest levels. His arm action is fairly clean, and there aren’t any big warning signs for future breakdown. He has a plus fastball that sits in the low-90s, and he may have the best chance of any 2010 draft class players to be able to routinely sit anywhere from 92-94 as a pro. He uses both a slider and curve, and both project as average offerings. In bullpen use in the past, he dropped his curve in favor of the slider, but he has fairly good command of both pitches. His change-up is actually a splitter, and it works well. There aren’t many concerns about his splitter causing arm injuries like with Alex White last year, so he’ll probably stick with it in pro ball. As a draft-eligible sophomore, Anderson holds some bargaining power with clubs, and he might want over-slot money in the third round or below. However, he has first-day talent, and I don’t see him dropping out of the third round if he’s singable."

[NFA Brian]

BA

Righthander Dixon Anderson was a sixth-round pick by the Orioles last year as a draft-eligible sophomore but returned to school and did little this year to improve his stock. He touched 96 mph last year year and had been more in the 90-91 mph range this spring, topping out at 93. He has learned to be more of a pitcher this year, instead of just a thrower, because he couldn't rely on simply blowing it by guys. He uses a two- and four-seam fastball, and his two-seamer is his biggest weapon because, when it's on, it really moves. It's not consistent, but at its best the pitch has above-average life and dives to his arm side. Anderson makes the mistake of throwing harder when he gets in trouble, but is better when he lets off the gas and trusts his movement. His secondary pitches are a curveball that is occasionally a plus pitch and a splitter. He worked in a cutter this year that he can throw for strikes and helped him against righthanders. Anderson has a workhorse frame at 6-foot-6 and 224 pounds. He worked this year to get more rhythm and looseness to his delivery, but it's still segmented and mechanical.

[RD]

The short season affiliates this year and Hagerstown next year are going to be really bare.

[Lintyfresh85]

Dixon Anderson - P
California, So.

Weird, MLB has him as a senior.

[NFA Brian]

PGCC

DIXON ANDERSON, rhp, University of California (Jr.)
Not same guy who threw 96, had 4 quality pitches, went in 6th round in 2010; results (4-2, 4.28) tell it all.

[Lintyfresh85]

The short season affiliates this year and Hagerstown next year are going to be really bare.

Either that, or they'll dominate because everyone is a year or two too old for their level.

[sportsfan882]

Not enough young elite talent in the middle rounds. Did they not scout HS players?

[sportsfan882]

PGCC

DIXON ANDERSON, rhp, University of California (Jr.)
Not same guy who threw 96, had 4 quality pitches, went in 6th round in 2010; results (4-2, 4.28) tell it all.

Why didn't he sign last year wow. Big mistake

[NFA Brian]

Not enough young elite talent in the middle rounds. Did they not scout HS players?

I'm going to go out on a limb and say they scouted HS guys

[Lintyfresh85]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say they scouted HS guys

Never can be sure.

[sportsfan882]

I'm going to go out on a limb and say they scouted HS guys

Maybe but they must not have liked any of them. Instead taking low upside college arms that profile as middle relievers at best.

[NFA Brian]

Maybe but they must not have liked any of them. Instead taking low upside college arms that profile as middle relievers at best.

Quite possible. They have shown in the past couple of years that they'll go HS crazy in the late 20s. A whole bunch of guys that have no chance of signing

[Lintyfresh85]

Round 10, 307 - Manny Rodriguez - RHP

SR

[NFA Brian]

Manny Rodriguez Barry University (FL)

[kirubel94]

Seriously where's the HS talents at.

[sportsfan882]

Quite possible. They have shown in the past couple of years that they'll go HS crazy in the late 20s. A whole bunch of guys that have no chance of signing

Yeah that is true but they won't sign any of them in the 20s.

In the next few rounds there is a chance (see: JP Ramirez, Robbie Ray) but he seems hellbent on college pitchers.

[NFA Brian]

PGCC

MANNY RODRIGUEZ, rhp, Barry University (Jr.)
Ex-3B made big strides in second year on mound (5-3, 2.38, 95 IP/111 SO); FB in mid-90s, also has CU/CH.

(nothing from BA)

[sportsfan882]

FrankiePiliere Frankie Piliere
Dillon Maples and his $3 mil price tag still hanging out there looking for a taker

[RD]

Next year's going to have to be HS heavy to get some youth in the system.

Not a single HS talent but 4 college seniors? I know signability is factoring in now but at least spread it around a bit.

[Kevrock]

This is bizarre.

[sportsfan882]

Why the need for so many college pitchers? That is the one strength in our system. Back end rotation starters we are chock full of at all levels.

[houston-nat]

Back end rotation starters we are chock full of at all levels.

Ugh, I'm agreeing with sportsfan.