Paul Voelker
| IP | 312 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 3.462 |
| WHIP | 1.26 |
| BB/9 | 3.606 |
| SO/9 | 9.721 |
- Full name Paul Andrew Voelker
- Born 08/19/1992 in Plymouth, MN
- Profile Ht.: 5'10" / Wt.: 190 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Dallas Baptist
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Drafted in the 10th round (310th overall) by the Detroit Tigers in 2014 (signed for $137,600).
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Voelker shined as a closer for Des Moines Area CC in 2012 and in his first season at Dallas Baptist. At 5-foot-10, 182 pounds, he figures to return to a relief role in pro ball thanks to his 5-foot-10, 182-pound frame. He shifted to the rotation for the regional-bound Patriots in 2014 and performed, going 9-4, 3.16 in 91 innings entering regional play. His quick, clean arm produces premium velocity in shorter bursts, with a fastball up to 96-97 mph that usually sits 92-94, though it's quite straight when elevated. His hard slider lacks consistently but can be an average pitch with late action when he stays on top of it.
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Voelker was a college teammate at Dallas Baptist with righthander Drew Smith, who the Tigers drafted in the third round in 2015. The year before, the Tigers picked Voelker in the 10th round, signed him for $137,600, and he has moved quickly through the system, reaching Double-A Erie in 2015. Voelker has a small frame but an above-average fastball, sitting at 92-94 mph and reaching 97. He doesn't get much plane on his fastball, which leads to a lot of balls in the air and could make him prone to the long ball, though he's allowed just three home runs in his career. He throws an average slider as well, and with his ability to pound the strike zone, he's been able to rack up an impressive strikeout-to-walk ratio so far, though he did run into more trouble once he got to Double-A Erie. Voelker's ceiling is limited, but he should reach Triple-A Toledo at some point in 2016 and could even crack the big league roster by the end of the season.
Draft Prospects
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Voelker shined as a closer for Des Moines Area CC in 2012 and in his first season at Dallas Baptist. At 5-foot-10, 182 pounds, he figures to return to a relief role in pro ball thanks to his 5-foot-10, 182-pound frame. He shifted to the rotation for the regional-bound Patriots in 2014 and performed, going 9-4, 3.16 in 91 innings entering regional play. His quick, clean arm produces premium velocity in shorter bursts, with a fastball up to 96-97 mph that usually sits 92-94, though it's quite straight when elevated. His hard slider lacks consistently but can be an average pitch with late action when he stays on top of it.
