Drew Cisco Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Andrew Davis Cisco
Born 07/29/1991 in Mount Pleasant, SC
Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School Wando
Drafted in the 6th round (187th overall) by the Cincinnati Reds in 2010 (signed for $975,000).

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Cisco signed with Georgia, and the Bulldogs--with a staff ERA close to 9.00 despite a raft of power arms--could have used his feel for pitching this season. Cisco is so polished that it's almost unfair to lump him in with other high school pitchers. His grandfather Galen was a big league pitcher and pitching coach, while his older, shorter brother Mike pitched at South Carolina and is now in Double-A with the Phillies organization. Drew Cisco has good size at 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, the best command in the prep class and a knack for pitching beyond his years. Scouts believe Cisco will carve up wood bats with his ability to pitch inside and confidently work off his fastball, even if it has just average velocity at 88-91, touching 92. It stands out more for its life and command than for velocity. Cisco has a mid-70s curveball he can throw for strikes or bury that grades out as average, and a changeup with sink that he also commands. Cisco sets up hitters like a pro and will move faster than many college pitchers, but any loss in fastball velocity would reduce his margin for error significantly.

Top Rankings

When the Reds worked out major league deal with 2010 first-round pick Yasmani Grandal that kept his initial bonus relatively low, it freed up money in the draft budget to work out deals with Cisco and outfielder Kyle Waldrop. Cisco passed on a commitment to Georgia to sign for $975,000. Even though he's a high school pitcher, Cisco already is regarded as one of the more polished arms in the system. His grandfather Galen was a major league pitching coach, and his brother Mike is a pitcher in the Phillies system, so pitching runs in the family. Cisco has a solid, mature body. He works with an 89-91 mph fastball that has good life, and he has an ability to manipulate the ball to make it run or cut. He also has an advanced curveball for his age and an effective changeup. All three pitches project as at least average. Cisco should move quickly for a high school pitcher, but he's pitching on a razor's edge. Because his frame is so mature, he is not expected to gain velocity, and if his stuff takes a step back once he gets into the routine of working every fifth day, he'll be trying to succeed with average stuff. Cisco signed too late to pitch in 2010 and will start his pro career in low Class A. He could be in Double-A before long thanks to his polish.