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Kevin Gelinas, whose contract was originally purchased by the New York Yankees, is now a member of the Miami Marlins organization, according to OurSports Central.
Gelinas, who was recently rated the No.1 Independent Prospect under 25 by Baseball America, started turning some eyes with his mid-90s fastball and 6’5" frame.
After being drafted twice out of college, first by the Pittsburgh Pirates and second by the New York Mets, Gelinas didn’t begin his professional career until after completing his senior season with University of California, Santa Barbara.
Playing in only 22 games for the San Angelo Colts of the North American League, he was limited to one or two innings per appearance. After reviewing his college numbers, that was probably best until he solidifies himself in the role given to him. In 23 innings with the Colts, Gelinas walked five, struck out 29, recorded two saves, and compiled a 3.13 ERA.
This is another great coup for the Independent game. The Indy leagues don’t get a lot of press or accolades thrown their way, but this is another example proving that if you have talent, someone will find you.
Gelinas, who was recently rated the No.1 Independent Prospect under 25 by Baseball America, started turning some eyes with his mid-90s fastball and 6’5" frame.
After being drafted twice out of college, first by the Pittsburgh Pirates and second by the New York Mets, Gelinas didn’t begin his professional career until after completing his senior season with University of California, Santa Barbara.
Playing in only 22 games for the San Angelo Colts of the North American League, he was limited to one or two innings per appearance. After reviewing his college numbers, that was probably best until he solidifies himself in the role given to him. In 23 innings with the Colts, Gelinas walked five, struck out 29, recorded two saves, and compiled a 3.13 ERA.
This is another great coup for the Independent game. The Indy leagues don’t get a lot of press or accolades thrown their way, but this is another example proving that if you have talent, someone will find you.
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this is from 2009:
Kevin Gelinas described himself as a guy who “didn’t think I was going to fall off the radar because I wasn’t really on the radar in the first place.”
You’ve got to like the guy’s humility.
A product of Thousand Oaks (Calif.) High School, the left-hander with the French Canadian name pitched 12 innings at Pepperdine as a freshman, and while pitching summer ball, was spotted by a Central Arizona Junior College assistant keeping his eyes open in Santa Maria. A strong season at Central Arizona got Gelinas drafted in the 45th round by the Detroit Tigers in 2009. This summer, he continued his progression for Conejo Oaks. It just goes to show you that not every prospect can be found on the Cape. We here at Baseball Beginnings are very thankful for that.
Baseball Beginnings caught up with Gelinas after he pitched seven innings on a wickedly hot day in late July. He pitched at 88-92 with a slider at 77-80. We’ll have video and a scouting report in the future.
In the meantime, Gelinas explains where he has been and where he hopes he is going.
Baseball Beginnings: Let’s start with after you left Pepperdine. What was your next move?
Gelinas: I started working with Tim Leary after I left Pepperdine. He’s a family friend, the same guy who pitched for the Dodgers. He changed my mechanics around 180. At first I was like, ‘What’s going on?’ I’m open-minded and I didn’t shut him down, but I didn’t understand what was happening at first. I pitched for Oaks last summer and had a good year based on what he had me start to think about. I knew I wanted to go back to Division I baseball but I had to sit out the year because I transferred. I ran into a guy from the Santa Maria Indians, Ryan Ruiz, who lead me to Central Arizona.
Baseball Beginnings: What was the 180?
Gelinas: Basically, I was an upright and stand up guy. (Leary) had me crouch down a little bit. He got me a little more compact and got me to use my legs a lot more to create more power. I got to the point with it last summer where I was 91-94. At Central this year, I started working on off-speed. I was just a big, raw left-handed body who was kind of uncoordinated. Leary got me a little more coordinated. I got more innings on the Oaks. Things started rolling from there.
Baseball Beginnings: Based on what I saw today, you do get downhill with both pitches. You do tend to fall out of it sometimes but you’re aware on the mound to make that correction. You aim sometimes, but that can be corrected. You give the impression of someone who is trying to become a durable left-handed innings eater.
Gelinas: I see myself as a fastball-slider guy. Today for example I started throwing a change-up in the game a lot more today, just to take it out of the bullpen and see how it worked in a game. I started throwing it more at Central Arizona. I think my slider improved tremendously this year in terms of keeping it consistent and using it as an out pitch.
Baseball Beginnings: Were you expecting to be drafted in the 45th round or were you disappointed with where you went?
Gelinas: I was asking for a lot of money. They had me in the top 10 rounds. I said to myself, that if I’m going to leave school, it’s going to have to be for enough money. My Dad and I had a mutual number to sign for. I didn’t end up going as high as I wanted to, but I still thought it was a very cool accomplishment even though it was really late. You know how the draft works.
Baseball Beginnings: As of this interview the draft deadline is still a few weeks away. By the time we publish this on Baseball Beginnings, the deadline will have passed. Should we expect to see you pitching this spring at UC Santa Barbara?
Gelinas: Yes. I think a lot can improve from now until the (2010) draft in terms of throwing any pitch in any count.
Baseball Beginnings: Do you still feel like you’re new to pitching?
Gelinas: Yes. I think I have a long road ahead of me. It won’t be easy, but I have the work ethic.
Baseball Beginnings: What kind of pitcher do you see yourself becoming? Five years from now, you are what?
Gelinas: It kind of depends. I think I was blessed with a pretty good arm. I need more work on stamina and strength and I need to watch the body, but I think I can be a guy who goes out and you can depend on to take the ball and get good stuff from. I think it’s up to myself. No one is going to grab my hand. They can lead me, but I have to do all the work.
You’ve got to like the guy’s humility.
A product of Thousand Oaks (Calif.) High School, the left-hander with the French Canadian name pitched 12 innings at Pepperdine as a freshman, and while pitching summer ball, was spotted by a Central Arizona Junior College assistant keeping his eyes open in Santa Maria. A strong season at Central Arizona got Gelinas drafted in the 45th round by the Detroit Tigers in 2009. This summer, he continued his progression for Conejo Oaks. It just goes to show you that not every prospect can be found on the Cape. We here at Baseball Beginnings are very thankful for that.
Baseball Beginnings caught up with Gelinas after he pitched seven innings on a wickedly hot day in late July. He pitched at 88-92 with a slider at 77-80. We’ll have video and a scouting report in the future.
In the meantime, Gelinas explains where he has been and where he hopes he is going.
Baseball Beginnings: Let’s start with after you left Pepperdine. What was your next move?
Gelinas: I started working with Tim Leary after I left Pepperdine. He’s a family friend, the same guy who pitched for the Dodgers. He changed my mechanics around 180. At first I was like, ‘What’s going on?’ I’m open-minded and I didn’t shut him down, but I didn’t understand what was happening at first. I pitched for Oaks last summer and had a good year based on what he had me start to think about. I knew I wanted to go back to Division I baseball but I had to sit out the year because I transferred. I ran into a guy from the Santa Maria Indians, Ryan Ruiz, who lead me to Central Arizona.
Baseball Beginnings: What was the 180?
Gelinas: Basically, I was an upright and stand up guy. (Leary) had me crouch down a little bit. He got me a little more compact and got me to use my legs a lot more to create more power. I got to the point with it last summer where I was 91-94. At Central this year, I started working on off-speed. I was just a big, raw left-handed body who was kind of uncoordinated. Leary got me a little more coordinated. I got more innings on the Oaks. Things started rolling from there.
Baseball Beginnings: Based on what I saw today, you do get downhill with both pitches. You do tend to fall out of it sometimes but you’re aware on the mound to make that correction. You aim sometimes, but that can be corrected. You give the impression of someone who is trying to become a durable left-handed innings eater.
Gelinas: I see myself as a fastball-slider guy. Today for example I started throwing a change-up in the game a lot more today, just to take it out of the bullpen and see how it worked in a game. I started throwing it more at Central Arizona. I think my slider improved tremendously this year in terms of keeping it consistent and using it as an out pitch.
Baseball Beginnings: Were you expecting to be drafted in the 45th round or were you disappointed with where you went?
Gelinas: I was asking for a lot of money. They had me in the top 10 rounds. I said to myself, that if I’m going to leave school, it’s going to have to be for enough money. My Dad and I had a mutual number to sign for. I didn’t end up going as high as I wanted to, but I still thought it was a very cool accomplishment even though it was really late. You know how the draft works.
Baseball Beginnings: As of this interview the draft deadline is still a few weeks away. By the time we publish this on Baseball Beginnings, the deadline will have passed. Should we expect to see you pitching this spring at UC Santa Barbara?
Gelinas: Yes. I think a lot can improve from now until the (2010) draft in terms of throwing any pitch in any count.
Baseball Beginnings: Do you still feel like you’re new to pitching?
Gelinas: Yes. I think I have a long road ahead of me. It won’t be easy, but I have the work ethic.
Baseball Beginnings: What kind of pitcher do you see yourself becoming? Five years from now, you are what?
Gelinas: It kind of depends. I think I was blessed with a pretty good arm. I need more work on stamina and strength and I need to watch the body, but I think I can be a guy who goes out and you can depend on to take the ball and get good stuff from. I think it’s up to myself. No one is going to grab my hand. They can lead me, but I have to do all the work.
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and from 2 weeks ago:
The North American League has gone through some drastic changes this year.
Since last year, it has seen a drastic 40 percent drop in attendance, and its reigning champion, the Edmonton Capitals, did not even return for the 2012 season.
On a positive note, pitcher Kevin Gelinas of the NAL is the No. 1-rated player on Baseball America's list of Top 10 Independent League prospects under the age of 25.
Gelinas stands 6’5" and weighs 250 pounds, throws in the mid-90s and is left-handed. He was drafted in the 45th round of the 2009 amateur draft out of Central Arizona College and also in the 44th round of the 2010 draft by the New York Mets out of the University of Southern California, Santa Barbara.
After completing his senior year, this former Gaucho joined the Abilene Prairie Dogs and put up some very good numbers.
He was limited mostly one inning per appearance. In 22 games, he pitched 23 innings, struck out 29, walked five, recorded two saves and compiled a 3.13 ERA.
According to the San Angelo Colts, his velocity caught the eye of the New York Yankees, who subsequently purchased his contract. Unfortunately, an injury shortened his stay in the Yankees system. Shortly thereafter, they sent him back to the Prairie Dogs.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1...seball-america
Whether Gelinas continues in a future closer role, the ranking provided by Baseball America can do nothing but bring more attention him and the independent game.
What more could a player ask for?
Since last year, it has seen a drastic 40 percent drop in attendance, and its reigning champion, the Edmonton Capitals, did not even return for the 2012 season.
On a positive note, pitcher Kevin Gelinas of the NAL is the No. 1-rated player on Baseball America's list of Top 10 Independent League prospects under the age of 25.
Gelinas stands 6’5" and weighs 250 pounds, throws in the mid-90s and is left-handed. He was drafted in the 45th round of the 2009 amateur draft out of Central Arizona College and also in the 44th round of the 2010 draft by the New York Mets out of the University of Southern California, Santa Barbara.
After completing his senior year, this former Gaucho joined the Abilene Prairie Dogs and put up some very good numbers.
He was limited mostly one inning per appearance. In 22 games, he pitched 23 innings, struck out 29, walked five, recorded two saves and compiled a 3.13 ERA.
According to the San Angelo Colts, his velocity caught the eye of the New York Yankees, who subsequently purchased his contract. Unfortunately, an injury shortened his stay in the Yankees system. Shortly thereafter, they sent him back to the Prairie Dogs.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1...seball-america
Whether Gelinas continues in a future closer role, the ranking provided by Baseball America can do nothing but bring more attention him and the independent game.
What more could a player ask for?
and here's a link from when the Mets drafted him with tons of resources and great quotes from BA and the like: http://macksmets.blogspot.com/2010/0...n-gelinas.html
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