Follow the Prospects: Blake Schwartz, RHP

[Lintyfresh85]

Height:  6'3
Weight:  200
DOB: 10/09/1989
Hometown:  Rosemount, MN.
School(s):  Oklahoma City Community College
Position:  Starting Pitcher
Drafted: 17th round in 2012 draft by the Washington Nationals
Nationals Prospect rank for 2013: NA - Baseball America, NA - Minor League Ball, NA - Baseball Prospectus, NA - WNFF

2013 stats (Hagerstown and Potomac) - 3-0, 20.1 IP, 5 G, 2 GS, 0.89 ERA, 0.54 WHIP, 26/3 K/BB
Career - 4-3, 74.2 IP, 17 G, 14 GS, 2.89 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 79/15 K/BB

[Lintyfresh85]

Been following him since last year. Not too sure on his velocity, but he's been able to fool hitters so far.

Edit:

http://www.baseballamerica.com/today/college/season-preview/2012/2612881.html

According to this report in 2012 by Baseball America, Schwartz is at 88-92. So, definitely enough velocity to get by.

RHP Blake Schwartz went 10-2, 2.20 at Division II Minnesota State-Mankato, and his good control of an 88-92 mph fastball should help him dominate NAIA competition.

[nobleisthyname]

Very impressive numbers. Can never have enough pitching.

[Lintyfresh85]

Another start, another scoreless result.

2013 - 4-0, 25.1 IP, 0.71 ERA, 0.59 WHIP, 11.36 K/9, 1.42 BB/9, 0.35 HR/9

[Squab]

Another few great starts and we may see him in Harrisburg. If he gets there he'll be in legit prospect territory in terms of his age.

[NJ Ave]

Confirmation on Twitter of an 87-92 range on his fastball and reports of a solid-average curveball.

If he sits around 90, that's really fringey for a RHSP unless you have a really good changeup/splitter so hitters can't sit on it.

If you look at SP with over 150 innings with slowest FBs first, you see a lot of guys with excellent offspeed pitches than break the same way as the fastball. Fastball/curveball won't get it done.

http://www.fangraphs.com/leaders.aspx?pos=all&stats=pit&lg=all&qual=150&type=4&season=2012&month=0&season1=2012&ind=0&team=0&rost=0&age=0&filter=&players=0&sort=4,a

However, if he can hit 92 consistently in shorter appearances, we could use more guys who can throw a friggin' strike.

[hammondsnats]

anyone seen him pitch yet?

[Lintyfresh85]

anyone seen him pitch yet?

I'm hoping he'll still be with Potomac the next time they hit Lynchburg so I can take a look.

[hammondsnats]

I'm hoping he'll still be with Potomac the next time they hit Lynchburg so I can take a look.

a friend of mine caught him (i think in carolina or somewhere) this year or last ... said he could be a #4/#5.

[sportsfan882]

Continues to pitch well.

6 IP 4 H 1 ER 1 BB 4 K tonight. Has a 0.96 ERA in Potomac.

[blue911]

Continues to pitch well.

6 IP 4 H 1 ER 1 BB 4 K tonight. Has a 0.96 ERA in Potomac.

Do you know that minorleaguecentral.com has real stats? And not just crap

[sportsfan882]

2.24 FIP, 9.66 K/9. Passes the test for me.

[sportsfan882]

Another great start

8 IP 2 H 1 ER 0 BB 3 K

[sportsfan882]

Another great start

7 IP 3 H 0 R 3 BB 5 K

5-1 with a 1.29 ERA in Potomac. Bump him up to Harrisburg to challenge him.

[Lintyfresh85]

Low 90's

[monkeyhit]

7 innings, 4H, OR, for his 10th win last night.

Travis Henke threw the last 2 innings for the complete shutout, (He is son of Tom Henke, the great Blue Jays closer, and is moving up pretty quickly through the system.) 

[Natsinpwc]

We have so many great pitching prospects that we should be able to package them and get some actual solid hitters

[TigerFan]

We have so many great pitching prospects that we should be able to package them and get some actual solid hitters

I was thinking the same thing last night.  There are a ton of solid+ pitching prospects if that's the route the Nats want to take.  There has to be teams that would like to restock their farm system for some big league bats. 

[imref]

9 innings. 5 hits 4ks. No walks tonight. Got a no decision.  He's having a great year at potomac. Maybe a 2014 sleeper?

[natasaurus]

9 innings. 5 hits 4ks. No walks tonight. Got a no decision.  He's having a great year at potomac. Maybe a 2014 sleeper?

He's making a case for Nats' minor league pitcher of the year. He's not exactly a sleeper right now.

[imref]

He's making a case for Nats' minor league pitcher of the year. He's not exactly a sleeper right now.

i meant sleeper to make the club at some point in 2014.  I'm guessing he starts next year in Harrisburg (maybe even goes to the AFL this year) and will be on the short list for a call-up for spot start/injury replacement in 2014.

Not too bad for a 17th round pick.

[natasaurus]

i meant sleeper to make the club at some point in 2014.  I'm guessing he starts next year in Harrisburg (maybe even goes to the AFL this year) and will be on the short list for a call-up for spot start/injury replacement in 2014.

Not too bad for a 17th round pick.

I thought you meant sleeper prospect.  He's been great this season, and is arguably having the best year out of Nats minor league pitchers. As long as nothing drastic happens in the next two weeks, he's probably the front runner for pitcher of the year.

He's been the most consistent pitcher this season, but he's not a strikeout guy or a ground ball guy, so I don't think there's any rush to get him to the big club.  Assuming he starts next season in Harrisburg and continues his success there, he would still be behind Nate Karns, AJ Cole, Robbie Ray, Sammy Solis and Taylor Hill on the "short list".

[sportsfan882]

Got rocked in his first two starts in AA but better tonight.

5 IP 4 H 1 ER 1 BB 7 K.

[Natsinpwc]

May the Schwartz continue to be with Blake!