Michael Megrew
| IP | 360 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 4.225 |
| WHIP | 1.389 |
| BB/9 | 4.35 |
| SO/9 | 10.15 |
- Full name Michael Ross Megrew
- Born 01/29/1984 in Westerly, RI
- Profile Ht.: 6'6" / Wt.: 225 / Bats: L / Throws: L
- School Chariho Regional
- Drafted in the 5th round (151st overall) by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2002.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Greg Miller, Megrew and Eric Stults were three projectable lefthanders the Dodgers nabbed in the 2002 draft, and while only Stults has made it to the majors, all three remain prospects. Megrew's ascent was interrupted when recurring arm trouble eventually required Tommy John surgery following the 2004 season. The Marlins took a shot at Megrew in the 2005 major league Rule 5 draft based on his performance in instructional league that fall, then stashed him on the disabled list last March. But when his arm trouble persisted, they returned him to the Dodgers in April. Megrew made it back to the mound in June and eventually rejoined the Vero Beach rotation. His fastball typically sat between 87-89 mph, touching 91. He showed feel for two potentially plus secondary offerings in a circle changeup and a high-70s slider. His changeup has occasional plus sink and fade, and rivals lefty Carlos Alvarez' among the best in the system. Megrew's command has a long way to go, but his feel for pitching and control were assets before he had surgery, and he showed signs of both during instructional league. He was added to the 40-man roster after the season, and he will go to Double-A if he performs well during spring training in 2007. -
Megrew, who strained a ligament in his elbow late in his debut 2002 season, was making progress last summer before he tweaked his elbow in July, causing him to miss a start. Still, he finished the season by tossing seven no-hit innings in late August. Following the season, though, he had Tommy John surgery and probably won't get back on the mound in 2005. When healthy, Megrew relies on good command and a deceptive circle changeup, one of the best in the system. Megrew's changeup has good sink and fade, especially away from righthanded hitters. His fastball sits between 87-91 mph and he shows a feel for changing speeds and locating it. His 77-78 mph breaking ball is a hard slider with good life. The long, lanky Megrew had a clean arm stroke and repeatable mechanics, so if he returns to form injuries shouldn't be a long-term concern. Rehab will give him an opportunity to bulk up his frame, and the Dodgers hope he'll throw off a mound by instructional league in 2005. -
Dodgers scouting director Logan White calls Megrew a poster boy for projectable lefties. As with Greg Miller, Megrew's velocity steadily has increased since high school. Area scout Jon Kosciak did a tremendous job evaluating Megrew when he clocked him in the mid-80s as a senior. While Megrew hasn't reached Miller's mid-90s levels yet, he's topping out at 92 mph. At a lanky 6-foot-6 and 210 pounds, Megrew isn't done growing and the Dodgers project him to sit at 90-93 before long. He'll flash a plus curveball at times and changes speeds masterfully. He demonstrates excellent feel for throwing a power changeup, which is occasionally a plus-plus pitch and helps play his fastball up. The Dodgers were conservative with Megrew last year, but after finishing second in the Pioneer League in strikeouts, he won't be held back this season. He'll start 2004 in South Georgia. -
Logan White is developing a good track record of evaluating young, projectable lefties. As an area scout, he signed Kevin Walker for the Padres. As an Orioles crosschecker he was so confident he said he would have put his job on the line for Rommie Lewis. His first draft class as Dodgers scouting director yielded at least three southpaws with similar qualifications: Greg Miller, McGrew and 15th-round gem Eric Stults. McGrew's delivery and quick arm reminded White of Walker and Lewis, who both enjoyed rapid jumps in velocity from the mid-80s. Area scout John Kosciak clocked McGrew at 84-87 mph in the spring. After signing, Megrew reached 88-93, also spinning a good curveball and mixing in a deceptive changeup. He gave the Dodgers a scare when he strained a ligament in his elbow last August. All the ingredients--projectable velocity, feel for secondary stuff and repeatable delivery-- are in place for a rapid ascent. The Dodgers believe he'll be healthy for spring training and a potential trip to low Class A.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Megrew combined with Billingsley to give the Raptors one of the league's top starting pitching tandems. Megrew ranked second in strikeouts and eighth in ERA. Unlike most teenagers, Megrew features a changeup as his best pitch. He can throw it any time in the count. He also has a solid curveball and kept hitters honest with a high-80s fastball that touched 91 mph. At 6-foot-6 and 210 pounds, he has room for projection. "He has great height for a lefthander," Kotchman said. "He's very slender in the body, so I wouldn't be surprised if he adds some velocity to his fastball as he gains strength. But even now his fastball plays up due to his outstanding changeup."
