Former Logger left-hander Chris Sale was recently profiled at www.baseballamerica.com …
Strike Three: Golden Spikes Spotlight on Chris Sale
Florida Gulf Coast junior lefthander Chris Sale can run his fastball into the mid-90s, baffle hitters with an excellent changeup and put away lefties with an improving slider. He ranked among the national leaders in ERA and strikeouts as a sophomore last spring, then earned pitcher of the year honors in the Cape Cod League last summer, ranking as the prestigious league’s No. 1 prospect.
Imagine how good he can be when he fills out his 6-foot-6 frame.
“He’s still skinny,” Florida Gulf Coast coach Dave Tollett said. “He’s 180 (pounds) now—what’s he going to be when he’s 205 or 210? He’s that good now, but the projectability of him, I’m like, ‘Holy smokes, this kid’s off the chart.’ “
Friday against Mercer, Sale did what he’s done all season: He dominated. Sale tied his season and career highs with 14 strikeouts over eight innings, allowing one unearned run on four hits and a walk in FGCU’s 9-1 win. He threw just 112 pitches—impressive efficiency considering he struck out 14 over eight innings.
“He had pretty good stuff (Friday),” Tollett said. “His changeup and breaking ball were real good. It seems that teams are looking to hit the fastballs, so he’s having to pitch. Teams are gearing up to hit the fastballs. Without question, I think his slider has become a plus pitch also, along with the changeup. It’s anywhere between 80-83, so I would call it a power slider. The changeup is still the putaway pitch, but the slider has become so effective against lefthanded hitters—it’s been pretty good.”
The development of Sale’s slider is significant, as his lack of a standout breaking ball was the primary knock against him last summer. He generates excellent life on his low-90s fastball from a low arm slot, and Tollett said he was still touching 94 mph in the eighth inning Friday. But Tollett also said scouts have told him Sale’s velocity has been higher on the road; the video board at Wichita State even said he touched 98-99.
On Friday, injuries forced the Eagles to start their third-string catcher, Tim Roberson. That was no problem for Sale. He simply pounds the strike zone no matter who’s behind the plate. In 42 innings this year, Sale has 61 strikeouts and five walks. He is 4-0, 1.29 in seven starts.
“He’s around the plate,” Tollett said. “The great thing about it is we had an injury with two catchers, so he was throwing to a new catcher for the first time on Friday. I told the scouts, ‘Hey, you might need to be a little patient because he’s throwing to a catcher who’s never caught him before.’ One of them said, ‘He’s going to make that catcher look pretty good because he’s going to be right around the plate.’ “
A first-team preseason All-American and a potential top-five overall pick in the draft this June, Sale has pitched in front of swarms of scouts all season, but he is unfazed by all the attention.
“He is pretty special. He’s handled it better than anyone I’ve been associated with that’s had this kind of exposure, with scouts around constantly,” Tollett said. “He’s a unique kid, a great kid, plus what he does on the field is just outstanding. He’s just been a great player for us, but he’s been the face of the program, and he has done a wonderful, wonderful job of doing that and handling all the publicity, and still being the same guy he was in the locker room last year and the year before. It’s amazing.”
phomore third basemen currently leads the Bruins with a .440 average and has clubbed three home runs and knocked in 12. Espy’s emergence, along with a staunch pitching staff, have the Bruins off to a perfect 10-0 start.
Detroit Tigers last June out of high school but elected to attend Wichita State. Here’s the evaluation from Baseball America at draft time:
