Tuesday, June 8, 2010

Rays 6th Round Pick - 191st Overall: Jesse Hahn

BaseballAmerica:(rated #31 overall)
Three years ago, one of Hahn's high school teammates and rotation partners was getting tons of draft attention. The teammate was righthander Matt Harvey, who ended up dropping to the third round and honoring his commitment to North Carolina. Now, both Fitch (Conn.) High alums could be drafted in the first round. Hahn has an ideal pitcher's frame at 6-foot-5, 200 pounds, but he missed three weeks of action this spring. He had an MRI on his right elbow that revealed no structural damage. When healthy, Hahn has an electric arsenal. He has a plus fastball that sits 92-94 mph with some armside run. He has been able to run his fastball up to 96-97, especially when he pitched out of the bullpen in the Cape Cod League last summer, but has learned that he's better when he dials it back. He has two average to plus secondary offerings in a slider and curveball, as well as a potentially average changeup. His curveball has 12-to-6 action, but he raises his arm slot on the pitch, which could give it away to hitters. He mixes in an 80-82 mph slider that occasionally gets big on him but is also an average or better offering. His changeup has some fade and really works well when he locates down and to his arm side. His command isn't exceptional, but scouts don't see it as a problem moving forward. Working against Hahn are a spotty medical history and limited track record of performance. As a freshman he went 3-7, 4.64 in 64 innings with 36 strikeouts and 25 walks. He saw significantly less time as a sophomore, going 1-2, 6.00 in 24 innings. Only two of his 17 appearances were starts. Hahn has seen a big turnaround this season, going 5-2, 2.81 with 64 strikeouts and 14 walks through 58 innings.

Andy Seiler:
Jesse Hahn is an elite right-handed starting pitcher from Virginia Tech. Hahn came to Virginia Tech from Fitch High School in Groton, Connecticut, a small town about 15 miles south of Norwich and close to the Rhode Island border. Hahn was teammates with the better-known Matt Harvey in high school, but until going down with an injury late in the year, Hahn was the better prospect for this draft class. As it stands, Hahn went undrafted out of high school, and got his college scholarship largely as the result of the attention that tagged along with Harvey in high school. However, Hahn has shown his natural talent with the Hokies, and he’s a solid bet to become a number two starter if healthy and developed properly. After a pair of unsuccessful years both as a starter and reliever, he came into this spring hoping to put together a string of successful starts to show scouts what he has in the tank. He’s done more than that, and until he tweaked his elbow in April, he was a candidate for the first half of the first round. His arsenal has a pair of plus pitches, and it’s the development of his changeup that will be the key to how successful he comes. His fastball is a 92-94 mph pitch with plus movement, and he’s showed surprising command of it this spring. He throws a pair of breaking balls in a potential plus curveball and an aboveaverage slider, and his changeup has the potential to be average, as well. With a big frame, big arm, and plus current stuff, he should still go in the first round despite his injury late in the year, and he’ll likely sign for slot money or close to it.

Fell due to injury concerns(forearm).

13 comments:

  1. Man If the sign him, I really do love this pick!

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  2. If he is alright physically this could be a real steal this late in the draft. I wonder what kind of $$ it will take to get him signed?

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  3. He won't sign, too much potential to raise his stock i think.

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  4. how much do you think he asks for? I really hope the Rays sign this guy, he could become a great pitcher either as a reliver or starter.

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  5. He's definitely the wildcard in our top 10 picks.

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  6. Follow up question, In your own opinion, do you think we sign him or does he choose another year of college?

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  7. Man, what a good pick. we got to sign this guy this is a guy whom i've seen pitch in person and can run it up to 100mph with great stuff and plenty of upside he has room to put on another 20 to 30 pounds.

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  8. I'm an orthopedic surgeon from New England and was in Columbia S.C. at a medical seminar, what a stroke of luck that V.Tech was there for their regional games because I go to all the Chatham A's games and I'm a big fan thats why Im a Rays fan Evan Longoria played there.Jesse Hahn played there last summer and I became a big fan of him. What a great draft pick.I Went to the hokies regional game when Jesse Hahn pitched 3 innings and left with a sore arm. Jesse was throwing 96 mph all three innings and I can tell you that there is no structual damage if he can throw that hard for that period of time. We got a top 10 pick in the 6th round we got to sign this kid. alot of teams are going to be kicking themselves for passing on him

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  9. I saw Harvey start and Hahn close on the 4th of july at Chatham. What a show that was.9 shutout innings.Harvey pitched a great 7 innings and Hahn came in and threw gas for 3 innings topping out at 99 never going under 97. They seemed to feed off of each other. I could imagine them when they pitched together in high school. We have to sign Jesse Hahn he's the best pick we got in the draft he was a legit first rounder.

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  10. I have watched Jesse pitch for many years and besides coming from a great family he is a terrific kid who is the real deal. Tampa Bay just got the steal of the draft. Don`t be surprised if you see him pitching for the Big Club mid to late 2011. Oh yea he can throw 96-99 with great movement all day!!!!!

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  11. When will he play? Will he miss 2011?

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  12. After TJS he isn't scheduled to start throwing until next summer. No idea if he'll pitch in any games yet.

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  13. If everything goes well, which is a big if, does he have the second best stuff among the Rays propsects. Moore obviously has the best, but is there anyone else? Thompson (I have big expectations in him)? Colome? Barnese?

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