[球探報告] Andrew Wolcott
Round Overall Player Position
17 516 Andrew Wolcott RHP
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scout.com:
History: Andrew Wolcott allowed nearly two baserunners per inning in each of
his first two seasons at Duke University. Being a sinkerball pitcher,
Wolcott puts the ball in play quite a bit. If you're facing aluminum bats
and the defense behind you isn't outstanding, you're going to allow a lot of
hits, and that's going to make you try to avoid contact and lead to walks.
Fortunately for Wolcott, the defense behind him improved dramatically for his
junior and senior seasons, and he credits much of his success with that
improvement.
"I just built off last year," Wolcott said of his step forward in 2009.
"It's just a confidence thing. I finally had a good year my junior year,
and after that, I knew that I could pitch well in this league. So I think I
built off of it. I may have gained like a mile per hour or two on my
fastball. Other than that, I just tried to execute pitches and it worked out
for me."
"I had a great defense behind me too. We led the country in defense the year
before and I think we were top five this year. Those guys helped out a lot."
Ever humble, Wolcott also credits the Duke program itself for much of his
success.
"Just look at our win-loss record (35-24). Every year since coach Boggs has
been here, it's been a step in the right direction," Wolcott explained. "I
think I'm a product of that."
For the Arizona Diamondbacks, Wolcott was a product that didn't need much
marketing. They have a well-known fetish for sinkerballs, for pitchers who
attack the strike zone, and for polished college arms. Throw in Wolcott's
size and intelligence, and they have the makings of a mid-round steal. The
Diamondbacks didn't know that he would fall that far, and Wolcott had no idea
where he might get drafted, but it is looking like a great match for the both
of them.
"From everything I'd heard, I was going to get drafted, I just didn't know by
where or by whom," revealed Wolcott. "I was online watching with my family
and was just really excited once my name got called."
The excitement escalated the next day when fellow Blue Devil Tim Sherlock got
drafted by the Diamondbacks in the 40th round. Sherlock's time at Duke was
split between the outfield and the pitcher's mound. Even though he
accumulated better numbers as a pitcher, the D-backs signed him as an
outfielder. They should have a good idea of what they're getting in Tim
Sherlock, as his father, Glen, is bench coach for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The two Duke boys drafted by the Diamondbacks may not be Bo and Luke, but
they are quite close friends indeed.
"We lived next to each other junior year, and we had a small senior class, so
it's a pretty tight-knit group," Wolcott said.
Sherlock and Wolcott figure to become even tighter the next few years as they
advance through the Diamondbacks organization.
Makeup: Andrew Wolcott is humble, intelligent, and well-spoken. Character
is an important aspect to scouting director Tom Allison's draft strategy as
well as to the D-backs' overall organizational philosophy.
I'm heady, I'm hard working. I like to hit my spots and locate my pitches,"
listed Wolcott. "I don't really have overpowering stuff. I just try to
throw everything for strikes and keep hitters off-balance."
Physically, Wolcott has the size and strength to work deep into games, as
evidenced by the two complete games he has thrown this year. He is
well-proportioned and appears to be strong enough throughout his body to be
able to repeat his mechanics consistently.
Pitches: Two-Seam Fastball, Slider, Changeup
While Wolcott has been known to register in the 90s from time to time, he's
at his best when his sinker is thrown in the high-80s. That's both because
he can locate it more consistently at that speed and because it generally has
a little more bite at that velocity.
Wolcott compliments his sinker with a slide-piece. He's not as consistent
throwing it for strikes as he is with his fastball, and may not get
professional hitters to chase it the way he did with his ACC opponents.
"I would say that my slider is my out-pitch," confirmed Wolcott. "If I go
0-2, I like to go to my slider, then paint an inside-fastball."
Wolcott also has a changeup that he will sometimes use to left-handed
batters, but this is a pitch that will need considerable refinement in the
coming years.
Prediction: Wolcott will be groomed as a starter, as he has had the most
success in that role and the body of a workhorse. He may be limited to
relief duty this year, however, to prevent a huge jump in innings pitched
form his 2008 season. In order to make it to the major leagues, Wolcott will
need to develop a solid third pitch - whether that's the straight change he
has now or something else that he tries - and improve command of his slider.
These are very doable goals, especially if Wolcott keeps in mind the biggest
lessons he's learned from his time in college.
"Work hard and have confidence in your stuff and your ability," recited
Wolcott. "You may not have a 95-mile-per-hour fastball or be able to hit the
ball 500 feet, but you can get it done with what you have."
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