Drafted in the 11th round (339th overall) by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2017 (signed for $125,000).
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Wake Forest recruited the High Point, N.C., native as an outfielder, but when Sellers broke his wrist in his freshman fall and couldn't hit, the Demon Deacons decided to take advantage of his arm strength and use him out of the bullpen. Sellers spent his freshman and sophomore years in that role, developing into an effective late-inning option his sophomore year. This spring, Wake Forest plugged Sellers into the weekend rotation, where he got off to a strong start before running into inconsistency. Sellers has gone 3-5 with a 4.34 ERA in his first full year of starting, showing flashes of dominance at times. Sellers can touch as high as 96 mph with plus running movement, but his fastball lives more comfortably at 90-92. He added a low-80s changeup to his repertoire coming into the spring to prepare for multiple trips through batting orders, and the pitch has average potential. Though inconsistent, Seller's slider can show hard and tight break and be a swing-and-miss pitch when it's on. A true athlete, Sellers has appeared in the outfield for Wake Forest when needed. He has a slight crouch to his delivery--much like the pitchers at Virginia generally use--and uses his legs well. Sellers has learned to pitch this year as opposed to just throwing, but his stuff still does play up in shorter stints. To maximize his effectiveness, Sellers best projects as a reliever at the next level.
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Draft Prospects
Wake Forest recruited the High Point, N.C., native as an outfielder, but when Sellers broke his wrist in his freshman fall and couldn't hit, the Demon Deacons decided to take advantage of his arm strength and use him out of the bullpen. Sellers spent his freshman and sophomore years in that role, developing into an effective late-inning option his sophomore year. This spring, Wake Forest plugged Sellers into the weekend rotation, where he got off to a strong start before running into inconsistency. Sellers has gone 3-5 with a 4.34 ERA in his first full year of starting, showing flashes of dominance at times. Sellers can touch as high as 96 mph with plus running movement, but his fastball lives more comfortably at 90-92. He added a low-80s changeup to his repertoire coming into the spring to prepare for multiple trips through batting orders, and the pitch has average potential. Though inconsistent, Seller's slider can show hard and tight break and be a swing-and-miss pitch when it's on. A true athlete, Sellers has appeared in the outfield for Wake Forest when needed. He has a slight crouch to his delivery--much like the pitchers at Virginia generally use--and uses his legs well. Sellers has learned to pitch this year as opposed to just throwing, but his stuff still does play up in shorter stints. To maximize his effectiveness, Sellers best projects as a reliever at the next level.
Sellers has some leverage as an eligible sophomore. He's been an inconsistent college performer, going 5-5, 5.65 with five saves, 25 strikeouts and 21 walks in 43 innings this spring. But he's an athletic righthander with arm strength, who has touched the mid-90s out of the bullpen. It's not the same velocity every outing for Sellers. Sometimes he sits more 89-92 mph. His breaking ball flashes above-average, but is fringy at other times. Undersized at a listed 6-feet, 185 pounds, Sellers seems likely to return as a junior, as he could improve his stock with more consistency in stuff and results. But a team could bite on the projectability of his arm strength and athleticism.
Career Transactions
RHP Donnie Sellers retired.
Vancouver Canadians placed RHP Donnie Sellers on the 60-day injured list.
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