Reds' Mike Leake Making a Name for Himself This Spring

One of the reasons I believe the Cincinnati Reds will be World Series contenders in 2012 is because of their young talent. Players like Todd Frazier, Yonder Alonso, Chris Heisey, Joey Votto, Edinson Volquez, and Johnny Cueto should all be ready to take the Reds back to the promise land by then.

The Reds have done a really good job of drafting recently and it looks like they did well again in 2009. Last year the Reds drafted Arizona State right-handed pitcher Mike Leake with the eighth pick in the draft.

I really liked that pick because of Leake’s ASU pedigree. A successful pitcher in the PAC 10 goes a lot further with me than a pitcher who did well in high school or the MEAC.

I had a chance to watch Leake pitch in the Arizona Fall League and what impressed me was his ability to go to the mound, mix his pitches, and “pitch.” Leake doesn’t have overpowering stuff, so his mental approach to each batter is more important than just going out there and trying to blow everyone away.

Leake is in spring training with the Reds and is off to a pretty good start. Yesterday he threw two scoreless against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and has allowed just one hit in three Cactus League innings.

I know three measly innings in spring training is nothing to get overly excited about, but if Leake continues to impress in camp, then there is a good chance he could be in a Reds’ uniform at some point this season.

Here are some other facts about Leake:

Age: 22

Throws: Right

College: Arizona State University

Drafted: Eighth pick in the first round of the 2009 draft

Minor League Stats:

2009 Arizona Fall League: 1.37 ERA with 15 K’s and three walks in 19.2 IP

Keith Law Ranking and Analysis

Ranking: No. 72 out of 100 best prospects in baseball in 2010

Analysis: “Leake was one of the most polished pitchers in the 2009 draft, and between that and his lack of projection, he should reach the majors fairly soon. Leake pitched at 88-92 mph in college but will probably be more 87-90 working every fifth day.

"But that two-seamer has a hard, late tailing action that should get ground balls and even break some bats. He has a standard assortment of off-speed pitches, including a short two-planer curveball with a break that appears to accelerate as it approaches the batter, a hard changeup around 80-81 mph with some tail, and a slider with good tilt just below that velocity.

"He’s a serious strike-thrower who commands his fastball and works fast, which may give hitters less time to adjust to the way he’s changing speeds and locations on them. At Arizona State, Leake also played some outfield and could swing the bat a little, so he’s a good athlete and fields well on the mound, and his arm works well.

"With four pitches that move, plus command and control, plus his being a good athlete, he’s a top-100 guy — and even if he tops out as a No. 3 starter, the fact that he’ll be in the majors this summer makes him a valuable asset.”

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