Round 5 | Ryan Lillie | RHP | UC Riverside

[tjfla]

Discuss

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No surprise college pitcher in Rd 5. We have to save cash for some reason??

6'0 190 Was closer before became a SP this year

http://www.thebaseballcube.com/playe...=ryan-lillie-1

http://www.pe.com/2017/05/17/alexand...eated-a-draft/

[tjfla]

MLB.com


Lillie started his UC Riverside career as a catcher/reliever, but he gave up being a backstop after his freshman year. He closed games as a sophomore and then began this year in the bullpen as well, but a transition into Riverside's rotation has positively impacted his Draft stock. Lillie took over the team's Friday night rotation spot and showed he might have what it takes to stay in a rotation. He'll throw his fastball in the 91-94 mph range and holds his velo deep into his starts. Both of his secondary offerings are average and flash above-average, with perhaps more improvement to come if he gets the chance to develop as a starter. While he does not have the typical starting-pitcher build at 6-foot-1 and 210 pounds, he's strong and maintains his stuff. His control has taken a big step forward this spring as well. It's possible Lillie might be best-suited for the bullpen, where his fastball-curve combination could play up, though a team taking him in the top six rounds might want to send him out as a starter. Either way, he could be the best catcher-turned-pitcher to come out of Riverside since Troy Percival, who moved from behind the plate to the mound at the pro level.

[Nick]

Anteater Pride!

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Fuck, that's Irvine.

[tjfla]

SIGNED per MLB.com

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