Top 30 Prospects: #12 Mark Melancon

Age: 22
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 175 lbs
Drafted: 9th round, 2006, out of University of Arizona
Position: Relief Pitcher
Throws: Right

Stuff: Melancon has great stuff, owning a plus 94-96 MPH fastball, a plus 12-6 curveball, and was beginning to learn a 2-seamer and a changeup.

Control/Performance: Melancon has good control and command by all accounts. He signed late to play in 2006, but had a nice 6-game cameo at LoA Staten Island, pitching 6.2 innings and allowed 5 H, 2 BB, and struck out 7. He also saved 2 games before getting Tommy John surgery after the Hawaiian Winter Baseball League in 2006.

Outlook: Melancon is the leading in-house option to replace Mariano Rivera as the closer, and concerns over his elbow lowered his draft status from the 1st round to the 9th. David Robertson could gain on him if Melancon is not healthy. We need to see more of him to make a true judgment, but he has great stuff as is and it needs to be polished more. Again, he projects to be a closer.

Ceiling: A-, Health: C+, Comparison: too early to tell

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