The Marlins went with a college lefty for their first-round pick, taking Oklahoma State southpaw Andrew Heaney with the 9th overall selection in the draft.
Here's what Baseball America has to say about Heaney:
"Scouts have raved about Heaney's quick arm and clean, effortless delivery since he was at Putnam City (Okla.) High. He beat Marlins first-rounder Chad James in a head-to-head matchup as a senior in 2009 and would have gone higher than the 24th round to the Rays had he not been intent on attending Oklahoma State. Heaney has led the Cowboys in wins in each of his three college seasons and has seen his stuff improve as a junior this spring. The 6-foot-2, 174-pounder has added 2-3 mph and touches 95 mph. He's not afraid to pitch inside with his heater and can spot it to both sides of the plate. Heaney's three-quarters breaking ball and his changeup are both solid pitches that play up because of his plus command. He not only throws strikes but also generates swings and misses, and in mid-May he trailed only projected Duke first-rounder Marcus Stroman in the NCAA Division I strikeout race. In a down year for left-handed pitching, Heaney is clearly the best college southpaw available and should go off the board in the middle of the first round."
And here's what ESPN.com talent evaluator Keith Law had to say about Heaney:
"Heaney established himself as the top college lefty in the draft this year largely through his performance, leading Division I in punchouts while showing average to above-average stuff across the board. He works from just under a three-quarters arm slot and sits 89-92, occasionally reaching 94 with some tailing action, and he's aggressive with the fastball to both sides of the plate. He throws a big, two-plane breaking ball at 78-81, like a hard slurve, and will throw several in a row to try to set up a fastball against left-handed batters. His changeup is solid average at 79-82, although he can slow his arm almost imperceptibly when throwing it, something major league hitters should pick up. Heaney's not a projection guy and there are concerns about his slight frame remaining durable in the long term, although his arm action is clean and fairly compact."
Check him out here:
