Matthew Neil, RHP

[MiamiHomer]

Discuss.

[Emperor]

http://www.themwc.com/sports/m-baseb...042711aaf.html

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - BYU senior righthander Matthew Neil has been named National Pitcher of the Week by CollegeBaseballInsider.com for his work on the mound in a pair of Cougar victories last week.

Neil posted a 2-0 record and 0.00 ERA in two appearances while leading the Cougars to one-run wins over Utah and New Mexico. In last Tuesday's non-league meeting with the Utes, Neil was on the hill for the final two frames of an 11-inning affair, striking out four of the six batters he faced to secure the 7-6 win. On Saturday, he worked all nine innings of the Cougars' 1-0 win over the Lobos to earn his first career complete-game shutout. The Mesa, Ariz., native fanned six batters while surrendering six hits and one walk, retiring the side in order in the fourth, fifth and seventh innings. With the 11 shutout innings, Neil lowered his season ERA from 2.13 to 1.75.

[emkayseven]

6'6 225
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SENIOR - (2011): Named national pitcher of the week by CollegeBaseballInsider.com and the Mountain West Pitcher of the Week for his 2-0 record, a 0.00 ERA in two appearances in one-run victories over Utah and New Mexico in 11 scoreless innings ... selected Second-Team All-Mountain West Conference ... All-Tourney in the Brooks Wallace Classic hosted by Texas Tech ... recorded victories at Washington, at UNLV, against Utah, New Mexico, at San Diego State and at Air Force ... struck out eight in a 9-3 victory at San Diego State ... had 10 games when he did not walk a batter ... had saves at Texas Tech, at Pepperdine and against Utah Valley ... had a 4-1 record with a 1.67 ERA in seven league games.

http://www.byucougars.com/Profile.jsp?ID=6821

[Chewford]

Joseph Smith was called a prophet!

[Fritz]

Mormons FTW

[Emperor]

He and John Buck can go out with the local missionary elders on splits.

[LocoMarlinFan]

Signed http://florida.marlins.mlb.com/team/...11&team_id=146

[LocoMarlinFan]

Even as a senior, Anton should be the first Utah college pitcher drafted this year. And to prove that age really never matters in Utah when it comes to college pitching prospects, Brigham Young righthanders Taylor Cole and Matt Neil could factor into that mix, too, even as Cole, a sophomore, is the same age as Anton, and Neil, a senior, is actually two years older.

Cole just resumed pitching again this spring as a returning two-year missionary, while Neil, a 2005 Arizona high-school graduate, continues to make strides as a pitcher after spending nearly four years away from the game before resurrecting his career two years ago.

The 6-foot-6, 225-pound Neil literally blossomed from out of nowhere for BYU, going 6-4, 2.42 with 10 walks and 73 strikeouts in 86 innings, while Cole (5-5, 2.99, 93 IP/37 BB/67 SO) showed flashes of his pre-missionary form.

Cole was a hot commodity as both a high-school senior in 2007 at Bishop Gorman High in Las Vegas, and junior-college freshman in 2008 at the College of Southern Nevada. Had he not made a decision to leave on his mission right before the 2008 draft, he might have been selected as early as the sandwich round of that year’s draft.

It has taken Cole most of the spring to regain his physical strength, if not his pitching touch, and his velocity was a steady 89-91 mph, occasionally touching 93-94. Back in the day, he would routinely touch 97.

Not only has Cole’s one-time velocity been slow to return, but he has lacked consistency with his command. His arm works well and he pretty much has mastered his slider, but Cole ideally may need another year in college to be in optimum position to take his game to the professional level. Age may no longer be in Cole’s favor, though, and he may elect to leave this year as a sophomore.

Such are the complexities of baseball in Utah.

PROSPECT ON THE RISE: Matt Neil, rhp, Brigham Young University. Neil took up pitching again at BYU in 2009, four years after he last pitched at an Arizona high school. It has taken the 6-foot-6, 225-pound righthander two years just to get his feel back, and he blossomed this year for BYU by going 6-4, 2.42 with 10 walks and 73 strikeouts in 86 innings. Even at his advanced age, teams have taken note of his big frame, 92-mph fastball and impressive credentials.

Ranked number 5 prospect in Utah by Allan Simpson and projected to go in first 4to10 rds (drafted 29th)

5. MATT NEIL, rhp, Brigham Young University (Sr.)
Age, long layoff from 2005-08 may work against him, but scouts impressed with size, + FB, ++ 2011 results.

http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/...x?article=5718