“Still looks the same as he did in college.”
It’s an opinion I keep hearing from folks, as Matt Purke was battered for his third loss in four starts in an 8-2 loss to Lynchburg. The problem is that this isn’t TCU and the next start isn’t next Friday, but next Wednesday (weather permitting, of course).
Even in this loss, which I’m sure folks are champing at the bit to pin on the defense (especially if you believe you can explain away extra-base hits to the gaps), the potential that got the southpaw drafted is evident. The velocity, which is good but not great, is there. The fastball has good movement. The curve can drop like a hammer.
But the command is not yet good enough for this level, which really shouldn’t surprise anyone when factoring out age, bonus, or draft position. He’s spent less than 50 innings over two seasons in Low-A, and just 18 in High-A. He’s coming off shoulder surgery, which some believe was put off for far too long.
I’ll leave it to the experts to analyze the mechanics, but Purke thus far looks like pitcher that hasn’t spent enough time refining his stuff at the lower levels.