Just going to excerpt the scouting reports of the two players who may be Timber Rattlers in 2007 in this post.
#4 LHP Tony Butler -- Oak Creek, Wisconsin:
Background: Butler spent much of the spring pitching at 86-87 mph, and the consensus was that his projection wasn't enough to warrant buying him away from an Arkansas scholarship. But area scout Joe Bohringer and Midwest supervisor Ken Madeja stayed on Butler, who suddenly jumped to 94-95 right before the draft. Seattle stole him with a third-round pick and signed him for $445,000.
Strengths: Butler maintained his newfound velocity in his debut, working at 89-92 mph and touching 95. His fastball has late life and he uses his 6-foot-7 frame to leverage it down in the strike zone. He also can buckle knees with his 76-80 mph curveball, which already ranks as the best in the system. He has feel for a changeup with late fade and deception. Mature and intelligent, he showed no fear while blowing away hitters at two levels.
Weaknesses: While Butler has made some adjustments to his mechanics, becoming more fluid and reducing the stress on his shoulder, he still can improve the timing with his leg drive. His changeup and control need more consistency, as he walked 34 batters in 56 pro innings.
The Future: Butler will open his first pro season in his native Wisconsin, and if he pitches like he did last summer he won't stay long in low Class A. He has a ceiling as a No. 2 starter.
Emphasis mine. I'm not sure, but I think his duration in Wisconsin may be a bit longer that what Callis thinks. Remember this is all speculation on everybody's part.
#9 Chris Tillman -- Fountain Valley, California
Background: It's no coincidence that three of the Mariners' top four starting pitching prospects came from the 2006 draft. They targeted their biggest weakness by choosing Brandon Morrow, Tillman and Tony Butler with their first three picks. Tillman projected as an early first-rounder entering 2006, but an inconsistent senior season dropped him to the second round, where he signed for $680,000.
Strengths: Tillman owns two plus pitches in his lively 91-95 mph fastball and his slider. He generates velocity with little effort, as he has a loose arm and clean delivery, and he can add more once he fills out his lean 6-foot-5 frame. He showed some aptitude for throwing a changeup during instructional league.
Weaknesses: Tillman's velocity dipped in the spring when he fell in love with his splitter, and he'll need to recognize that his changeup is more vital to him as a starter than his split. He's not as mature as fellow high school draftee Butler, and some scouts questioned his mental toughness when Tillman struggled to live up to expectations as a senior.
The Future: Tillman will team with Butler at the front of Seattle's low Class A rotation in 2007. If they and Morrow develop as hoped, the Mariners will have landed three first-round talents at the top of their 2006 draft.
Again, emphasis mine. Speculation everyone.
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