Rangers Top Prospects: #7 Cody Buckel

 

In a system heavy in position players, Buckel enters in as the first of only four pitchers on this list. The 19-year-old was drafted in the second round in 2010 out of Royal High School in Simi Valley, Calif.

Buckel pitched to an 8-3 record with a 2.61 ERA and 120 strikeouts to only 27 walks against a league with older competition. Scouts used the word “overwhelming” to describe his effect on hitters. His pitching mechanics are a bit quirky and quite similar to that of San Francisco right-hander Tim Lincecum. Buckel is not very big at 6-foot-1 and 170 lbs., but the results were there in his first season at Class-A Hickory.

His 2011 season with the Crawdads was one of the best performances in the entire system, but there are a few lingering worries about the small righty.  He does not project very high in a rotation due to his size. Also, he has four pitches that he can control consistently but none are thought to become above average. His body will have to fill out so he can add to his 90 mph fastball to stay effective as he moves higher in the system.

Buckel learned his curveball from Barry Zito, looks like Lincecum when he pitches and has the smaller body along the likes of Roy Oswalt. He will look to channel those three aces as he pitches in 2012, most likely in Class A-Advanced Myrtle Beach. Though a few years away from the majors, 2012 will be key in his development as he pitches against tougher and older competition.