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With the 20th pick in the MLB draft of 2019, Seattle has chosen to consolidate one of its biggest needs: launching pitchers. Elon SP George Kirby will be a sore eye show for fans looking to savor the "C the Z" mantra. Having gone through only six (!) Hitters in 88 innings this season, Kirby is great at controlling damage and protecting himself from trouble.
Indeed, by choosing Kirby, the Mariners have effectively absorbed the power of some of their opponents: a good throw.
At 6 feet 4 inches, 205 pounds, Kirby is an imposing force on the mound. His fastball, strong in the mid 90s, but in development, allows him to attack after the batters with a variety of different terrains. His business, in the state, is good, not great. He hits the strike zone and allows the batter to continue to throw corners when he is ahead.
A National League scout who knows Dipoto well thinks the choice is in line with what the organization is trying to accomplish.
"Classic Jerry," he says. "George fits perfectly into the mentality. It's a guy from Jerry. "
He continued:
"I know a lot of teams who hoped he would fall a little further," he said. "There are not many safe bets in this class, but I think Kirby is one of them. It will move as fast as the development of the ball allows. "
The curveball and the slider, as well as the change, are still a work in progress. The three pitches have shown more potential flashes, but they are at best incoherent for the moment and will need to be tweaked – something that should come with time. The cursor is considered the most advanced pitch at the moment, but should not be considered as an exit note at this time.
Kirby is believed to have incredibly clean and repeatable delivery. Its mechanics are healthy and mitigates the risk of future injury.
Few throwers in this draft can compete with the college career that he has put together. In three years as the Elon Phoenix, Kirby has launched 240 innings, eliminating 258 hitters and making only 50 steps. 150 sleeves. Recipient of the CAA Year launcher award in 2019, Kirby is one of the most decorated pitchers in the history of Elon.
This season, Kirby has pushed his game to another level. His WHIP of 0.89 took the lead in the Colonial Athletic Association, while his 107 strikeouts came in second. His six marches, of course, also dominated the pitchers' conference, who pitched at least 50 innings.
So, what does the future look like for Kirby? What can sailor fans expect from their new perspective? A second scout whom I spoke to highly appreciated the Kirby ceiling.
"If you were to ask me today, I would say Mike Fiers," he said. "Mike Fiers or Kyle Hendricks would be my answer."
Regarding now? The new starting pitcher from Seattle is probably between 8 and 10 on the list of top prospects according to the people you ask. He will almost certainly go to Everett to begin his career, although it is not excluded to see an academic arm as advanced as it settles soon after in West Virginia.
We'll see what happens, but in a few years we may be referring to T-Mobile Park or Kirby's Dream Land, which is fine with me.
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