Drafted in the 22nd round (682nd overall) by the Boston Red Sox in 2011.
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After leading NCAA Division II in strikeouts (152) and whiffs per nine innings (15.7) and then holding his own in the Cape Cod League in 2010, Joe Holtmeyer had early-round aspirations for the draft. But he changed his delivery in the Cape, going from a three-quarters arm slot to more over the top, and his stuff has suffered. Last year, the 6-foot-3, 240-pounder had a 91-93 mph fastball and a sharp curveball. Now he's pitching with more effort in his delivery, sitting mostly at 86-88 mph with his heater and using a slower curve. He's still racking up strikeouts, many of them with a changeup that has splitter action. He'll still get drafted, but it probably won't be in the first 10 rounds and he's not drawing Joe Blanton comparisons any longer
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