The Phillies kept things on the mound in round two of last night's Major League Baseball First Year Player Draft by selecting 6-foot-5 left-hander, Matt Imhof with the 47th pick. Imhof, known for his deceptive delivery, went 10-4 with a 2.45 ERA over 15 starts this season with Cal Poly-San Luis Obispo.
“Pitches downhill with natural cutting movement on his fastball. His short, sharp slider is an out pitch at times. He has solid feel for a changeup, though it’s still a work in progress. Imhof is generally around the plate with all of his pitches and has been one of the nation’s top strikeout pitchers. There’s still some upside to Imhof as he continues to fill out, giving him the chance to be in a big league rotation in the future.” (via MLB.com Draft Profile)
In 99 1/3 innings last season Imhof struck out 124, which was good for sixth best in Division I. He held opposing teams to a mere .195 average against. In 2013, he got All-Big West honorable mention after going 7-3, posting 95 strikeouts. While we have seen towering righty and former top prospect, Phillippe Aumont, unable to perfect his delivery, Jimm Callis of MLB.com explains why Imhof's height and delivery makes him nearly untouchable.
"He's really deceptive," a national crosschecker said. "He throws from a high slot, and that fastball has got really good angle on it. I think that's where a lot of the sneakiness of his fastball comes from. His 90 looks like 94 and he's got a lot of life on it as well. He misses a lot of bats with 90."
Obviously, Imhof is not on the fast track to the majors like first rounder, Aaron Nola, but Phillies assistant general manager of amateur scouting, Marti Wolever, stated that it doesn't mean he won't move through the system quickly. (via Phillies.com)
"We've seen a lot of him. From USA team last summer and again this spring. And certainly a rotation guy we think. We think middle to the back of the rotation."
"He's got a chance to go through [the farm system] a little quicker," Wolever said. "Not as quickly as [first-round pick Aaron] Nola, but he throws strikes and he commands the strike zone so that certainly works to his advantage."
Unlike most pitchers out of college, Imhof is considered a late bloomer, as he was not drafted out of high school.
The Major League Baseball draft continues today at 1pm on MLB.com. Expect the Phillies to take a position player once their name is called at pick 81.
Brandon Apter, Publishing Editor for Philliedelphia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ApterShock
