Prospecting: Braden Tullis

2009 PROFILE: (see another writeup here). Having a breakout 2009 after committing to baseball FT and moving into the rotation of a small JC program. Sinkerball guy who will probably profile as a Doug Mathis type and seems way over-hyped. If you can make an argument why he will be better than Mathis with the stuff he has and his limited physical projection, then I'd like to hear it. So, he would profile as a #5 starter or a bullpen arm, right? Well by some accounts he is already the "steal of the draft": expect Tullis to be MJH's new man crush for the next 3 years, replacing Michael Schlact and ZPhillips. By all accounts, his CU was his second best pitch in his JC season, but he has had a lot of success with his CB so that appears to have progressed rapidly. He throws it for strikes and is has also become a swing and miss pitch, as long as the play by play guy isn't not mixing it up with his changeup on occasion ( I have yet to hear him call a changeup any any of the 3-4 outings that I have listened to). Has a filled out frame - adding about 10 pounds and zero inches since his HS days - so will only add velo via mechanical adjustments with one report suggesting that his velo is more strength than arm speed-driven. . At present, his velo rangers from 87-92, sitting at 88-91 but failing to maintain velo after the 4th inning (not a big deal given this is his "second" season and might be fatigued). I imagine that even if he improves his arm-speed, his velo will sit at nor more than 90- league average. GOOD COMP: Doug Mathis, reliever; Andrew Doyle/Scooter Feldman, starter. BAD COMP: Phillips, RP; Schlact, SP.

UPDATE: Tullis video (ht kinslerhomer):

http://www.keprtv.com/sports/50923812.html?video=YHI&t=a

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