Middleton on the rise since switch to relief

[Chuck]

http://m.angels.mlb.com/news/article/217154802/keynan-middleton-impressing-at-angels-camp/

[AngelStew43]

Saw his inning yesterday, I assume many of you did, as well.  I was sitting there thinking, WOW! He made it look very easy.  Top end heat on the fastball.  Lets see more of this kid in the next couple of weeks against Major League hitters.

[Angel Oracle]

If he ever harnesses the slider, look out!

[Second Base]

That took a ton of foresight on the Angels part to draft him in the 3rd round. Most impressive JC players go in rounds 5-12, and that's for elite ones with exposure. Lane Community College is anything but. So the third round was quite a reach for him.

And even then, Middleton was throwing 92-93 and needed some work on his slider, change up, mechanics, control.... Basically he was an old but prjectable prep prospect. But they knew his athleticism would lead to gains. He started hitting 94 consistently, and that was cool but the results still weren't there.

I'd figured as a reliever he'd sit 94-95, but after some more growth and adjustments, he was hitting 96-97 pretty consistently. I wouldn't get caught up on clocking him at 102. Hot gun. At sea level with an accurate gun, Middleton should probably sit 96-98. Still freakin' hard.

[SlappyUtilityMIF]

Velo with any kind of movement and a tick to average or above on any kind of breaking ball will give you a solid 4-8 seasons of securing a paycheck in the bigs!

 

I missed his outing yesterday while we were at lunch! I would have liked to see him hump it up!

[Angel Oracle]

Does his heat have enough movement?

[Docwaukee]

was going to comment that the fastballs I saw looked pretty heavy but were down in the zone.  I have to wonder if his fastball flattens out a bit when it's up.  

[SlappyUtilityMIF]

3 hours ago, Dochalo said:

was going to comment that the fastballs I saw looked pretty heavy but were down in the zone.  I have to wonder if his fastball flattens out a bit when it's up.  

Most do when they try to over throw it..... I'd rather him be mid 90's with some movement by adding finger pressure to the ball and seeing what happens....I'd rather see some dipping and darting!

 

[Docwaukee]

7 minutes ago, SlappyUtilityMIF said:

Most do when they try to over throw it..... I'd rather him be mid 90's with some movement by adding finger pressure to the ball and seeing what happens....I'd rather see some dipping and darting!

 

I meant that as a good thing.  down and in motion to Rhers when the ball was down.