Brooks Pinckard

Pinckard is one of the fastest runners in college baseball and has used his plus-plus speed to steal 60 bases in 66 attempts over three seasons. He ended the 2011 regular season tied for sixth in NCAA Division I with 31 swipes in 33 tries. He also plays a solid center field, though scouts see him as a slap hitter and are much more interested in what he can do on the mound. Pinckard has a consistent 92-96 mph fastball with life, and he didn't lose velocity when he moved into the rotation in the last month of the season. After relying on his heater as a reliever, he has made strides with his slider and now throws it at 82-84 mph, though it lacks consistency. He also has a changeup but hasn't used it often. A quality athlete at 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds, Pinckard could take off once he focuses on pitching. He redshirted in 2008 because he wasn't ready for Big 12 Conference competition and has pitched just 106 innings in three seasons, so he's still raw as a pitcher. He doesn't have much feel, so he struggles with walks and doesn't miss as many bats as someone with a mid-90s fastball should. His delivery doesn't help his command, as he has a short arm angle and slings the body from a low slot, and his future likely will be back in the bullpen. He declined to sign with the Cubs as a draft-eligible sophomore taken in the 18th round last year, and he should get picked about 15 rounds higher this June.