Each week leading up to the MLB draft in June, Perfect Game provides a scouting report on a notable draft-eligible prospect. This week they singled out our own Zech Lemond. It's premium content, but I'll cut & paste the content...

http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View...ticle=9555

Quote:Zech Lemond Perfect Game profile

Position: RHP
Height: 6-4
Weight: 195
Bats/Throws: R-R
Birthdate: Oct. 9, 1992
College: Rice
Hometown: Houston, Texas
Previously Drafted: Pirates '11 (50)
Projected Draft Round: 1S-2

Some pitchers become stars at the high school level, and others achieve that status at a major university. Zech Lemond is in the latter of those two categories. A former 50th round draft selection by the Pittsburgh Pirates back in 2011, Lemond was by no means a slouch as he came out of Waltrip High School in Texas, but you could still say he’s been a late bloomer.

The last time we saw Lemond at a Perfect Game event he attended the 2010 17u BCS Finals with the Houston Slam. He topped out at 86 mph with his fastball and flashed a 73 mph breaking ball. Fast forward to present day and Lemond is a far bigger, stronger, more durable righthander armed with a mid-90s fastball and a plus slider. He has truly blossomed at Rice, and has also come to be known as one of the most valuable players in college baseball today in the process.

There has really never been so much as a hiccup in the college career of Zech Lemond, beginning with his outstanding freshman season in 2012. In 35 2/3 mostly relief innings, Lemond posted a 2.52 ERA and allowed only 27 hits. He also struck out 32 and walked 15 in that span.

The 2013 season was a year of ascension for Lemond, as he took a stranglehold on the closer’s job for the Owls and became one of the more unhittable pitchers in the nation. He held opponents to a .207 batting average in his 75 innings of work and he racked up 14 saves along the way.

And, through his first six appearances in 2014, Lemond simply continues to improve and be the anchor for the Owls. He has a 1.02 ERA in that span and has struck out 22 batters in 17 2/3 innings of work, while walking seven and surrendering only nine hits.

Looking back at the summer that led into Lemond’s junior season and it's easy to note that it wasn’t an overly active one, but important nonetheless. Lemond threw just seven innings for the Falmouth Commodores in the Cape Cod League in 2013, seemingly in an intentional attempt to keep his innings total down, but most of those innings were highly impressive ones at the end of ballgames. He pitched at 92-94 mph with his fastball, registering 95 very routinely. His breaking ball showed late biting downward action, and scouts would come away impressed with his solid feel and command for these two above average offerings. And, after seeing him work effectively out of the bullpen, there was a belief among many that Lemond might be a candidate to start for Rice in the spring. He has the delivery and strong 6-foot-4 frame for the role, and it seemed like it would be very interesting to see how he adapted to it.

As it turns out, we have gotten that look at Lemond in a starting role and the results have thus far been superb. We’ve seen tastes of Lemond in the rotation before, posting strong results in big games like the Eugene Regional last June. The problem with Lemond, however, is how valuable he is out of the bullpen for Rice. So, it was mostly out of necessity when they elected him to move him into the rotation on March 7. Their much relied upon Friday starter, Jordan Stephens, now appears to be lost for the season, but Lemond was able to slide seamlessly in that role for the Owls.

Lemond tossed 6 2/3 innings of two hit baseball, striking out 10 batters and walking three. Perhaps more importantly, from a scouting standpoint, Lemond’s stuff stood up well in the longer outing. And, likely in the blink of an eye, an outing like that changes the perception of Zech Lemond. It still remains to be seen what role he fits in best long term, but it certainly seems fair to say that starting is very much on the table for him.

We’ve learned some new things about Lemond this spring as well. Last spring he went to a spike curveball as his primary off-speed weapon, and for Falmouth last summer we saw him turn to an 81-84 mph slider with shape and downward bite. This spring, we still recognize that slider, but he’s also mixing a curveball around the same velocity. It’s a small difference but one to note. If he’s going to start at the next level, however, the further development of a changeup will of course be a major key.

If Lemond continues to prove that he can carry what has been a 92-95 mph fastball this spring deep into outings, and that he can successfully turn over lineups, it dramatically impacts his draft stock. We knew he had a power arm and a plus, swing-and-miss secondary pitch, but until now had only seen a large enough sample size out of the bullpen. It looks like we’ll get that sample size now in a starting role. Lemond belonged in the top two round picture to begin with, but could work his way into the picture in the first 40 picks if he finds continued success in his new role.

Thanks!

Thanks. Nice writeup of Zech.