Hey folks,
Got tipped off on this stuff, but I thought you might like to see what the "experts" are saying about Josh Phegley and Matt Bashore, probably the Hoosiers' two best prospects since the Mike Smith era. I wouldn't expect either to be around for a senior season, at least in the way they're talked about here.
First off, Keith Law of ESPN has Phegley 22nd on his 2009 draft board, and though Baseball America has yet to reveal their counterpart board, I doubt Phegley will be much farther back in the draft class than that.
As for Bashore, BA ranked him the 28th-best prospect in a top 30 list of talent in this summer's Cape Cod League. Here's what they had to say:
28. Matt Bashore, lhp, Wareham (Jr., Indiana)
Bashore had a tender arm when he arrived in Wareham, so he spent the first half of the season in the bullpen and was kept on a tight leash all summer. His best outing was his last, when he worked from 88-92 mph with his fastball and showed a solid curveball and changeup as well. His arm works well and he hit 94 mph when he was at full strength during the spring, though his control and command aren't as impressive as his stuff.The thing I find most interesting in that short breakdown is the mention of Bashore's changeup, which Ty Neal told me the left-hander doesn't throw too often, simply because he doesn't need it and isn't all that comfortable with it.
He told me that in May. It's now September. If in fact Matt Bashore has a fourth pitch that he can go to with confidence and command, he may well be the best pitcher in the Big Ten.
