Some updates on Sebastian Vader and Hector Veloz, along with my first impression on 13th round selection Jimmy Yacabonis:

(Discuss this article on the BSL Message Board here)

Sebastian Vader – RHPSebastian-Vader

Tall and lanky frame at 6’04”, 175. Definitely has room for some growth into this frame. Smooth delivery, with a good and clean arm slot. Long stride on delivery, which might hinder his ability to hold runners. Good athlete, quick reflexes on the mound.

FB: 89-92 mph with good deception, a little late life on it.
CH: 78-83 mph average pitch that sometimes is easy to pick up on out of the hand. Slows down his delivery too much at times.
CU: 74-78 mph with average tilt, also easy to pick up at times. Improved from last season.

Delivery Times Clocked: 1.43, 1.51, 1.51, 1.53, 1.57

Hector Veloz – 3B

Hector-VelozSigned out of the Dominican Republic for $300,000, was regarded as the Orioles largest international signing at the time. Big bodied player, with broad shouldered frame. Not highly athletic.

Defensively, below-average range, very stiff and looks skittish as times on charging the ball. Would be beneficial moving him to first base, as I am confident that he will not stick at third base unless some serious changes are made.

Offensively, has legitimate raw power and could be described as a “thunder bat”. Easy pop and ball jumps off the bat. Approach and disciplince is sub-par, and hinders his overall game at the plate. Swings early and often and struggles against any power-curve or slider. Drops his back shoulder and elbow on outside pitches at times, causing him to weakly fly out. Does display solid extension at the plate, and is able to drive the ball to all parts of the field. Swing is a little long at times with a slight loop. Bat speed is average.

Jimmy Yacabonis – RHP

Big, sturdy player at 6’03” 205. Has a violent yet compact delivery that really gets the most out of his pitches. Looks to be a solid one-inning guy at this point, could see him moving quickly in that role. Orioles appeared to have him working on command of his fastball, as he threw them 95% of the time.

FB: 91-93 mph with great life and explosiveness. Fell to 88-90 in 2nd inning of work, hitters were able to make some contact on it then.
CH: 82, 84 mph. Only threw two of them, both low in the zone. 84 mph change was lazily hit out to RF.

Tucker Blair
Tucker Blair

Tucker Blair was born and raised in the Baltimore area and currently lives in Elkridge, Maryland. He graduated from York College of Pennsylvania with a B.S in Entrepreneurial Studies and is currently a Project Analyst for a Management Consulting Firm in Federal Hill, Baltimore. Tucker was previously the Managing Editor at Orioles Nation, where he worked on prospect lists, reports, and analysis on the Orioles minor league system. He also previously wrote his personal blog, The EntreprenOriole.

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