Nick Petree: Prospect Profile for St. Louis Cardinals' 9th-Round Pick

Player: Nick Petree

Drafted by: St. Louis Cardinals (No. 275 overall)

Position: RHP

DOB: 7/26/1990 (Age: 22)

Height/Weight: 6'1"/195 lbs

Bats/Throws: R/R

School: Missouri State

Previously Drafted: Never drafted

Background

Hoping to follow in the footsteps of former Missouri State teammate Pierce Johnson, taken 43rd overall by the Chicago Cubs last year, Nick Petree has a lot of things stacked against him leading up to the draft. 

Petree's college career started on a down note, as he sat out the 2010 season due to Tommy John surgery. He has remained healthy the past three seasons, but losing a year also makes him one of the older pitchers in this class. It also hurts that he is a bit undersized and could be limited to a relief role in the future. 

Full Scouting Report

Note: Numerical scores are on the conventional 20-80 scouting scale, where 50 is average, with the current score first and projected score second.

Body/Mechanics:

Slight frame at 6'1", 195 pounds; won't overpower hitters; shows tremendous pitchability and sequencing; very smooth, natural delivery; makes good use of shorter lower half and quick arm action to get ball on hitters quickly; will have to rely on deception and command. 

Fastball: 45/45

Has never shown more than fringe-average velocity; body and delivery is filled out, won't add anything to fastball; pitch plays up thanks to natural cutting movement; also gets good action down in the zone; could play up thanks to late life, but lack of velocity leaves small margin of error. 

Slider: 45/45

Good feel for breaking ball; will challenge hitters with it in any count; solid tilt on the pitch, but hitters can pick up on it out of his hand; aggressive mentality and willingness to throw it at any point speaks to trust he has in pitch. 

Changeup: 45/50

Best pitch in arsenal; uses it to keep hitters off balance; some decent action down in the zone; will fall in love with it, allowing hitters to time it; if he learns to spot the fastball early in counts, can use the changeup as put-away pitch; lack of arm speed doesn't give it enough separation from heater.

Control: 50/50

Can throw all three pitches for strikes in any count; lack of stuff and projection means his knack for staying around the plate will get him in trouble; some deception in windup could help him carve out a career. 

Command: 45/50

Best tool is command; tends to pitch backward, only because he trusts off-speed stuff so much; ability to hide ball helps stuff play better than it is; will have to succeed by spotting the ball on the black. 

MLB Player Comparison: Bruce Chen

Projection: No. 5 starter in second-division starting rotation. 

MLB ETA: 2016

Chances of Signing: 100%

Yes, we are going with a perfect score here. Even though Petree isn't going to be taken before the second day, at the earliest, he is a senior at Missouri State and has very little leverage considering how low his ceiling is, and he is almost 23 years old.