LHSP Mark Pawelek - Peoria APosition: P Full Name: Mark W. Pawelek
Born: August 18, 1986 Springville,Utah
Height: 6-3 Weight: 190 Bats: L Throws: L
High School: Springville (Springville,UT)
Drafted - Selected by Chicago Cubs in 1st Round (20th overall) of 2005 amateur entry draft (June-Reg)
I'd rate Pawelek no higher than #4 in terms of Cubs pitching prospects. That's not to slight the kid, but Gallagher, Veal, and Samardzija have better arms, in my opinion. Personally, I think Gallagher is the best pitcher of the lot right now, and possibly has the best outlook as a major league starter, but considering he's already on the big league roster, there's no need to go into much more detail on him.
After watching scouting video of him in 2005, I felt that he was pretty easy to pick up. He appeared to have a pretty effortless, smooth delivery, and didn't do much to hide the ball. He doesn't look to throw the ball as hard as the gun says, anywhere from 90-94 mph on his four-seamer.
Upon entering the draft, he already boasted a solid slider (84-85), excellent change up (76-77), and a 12-6 curve (67-73). His breaking ball was widely considered to be at the professional level while still in high school. His curve would be best described as a Zito type, a slow curveball with plenty of break.
His mental make-up has drawn much praise, he won't be rattled easily on the mound.
He suffered a break to his non-pitching arm last season, which funnily enough happened when he tripped over his playstation, holding him back from what should have been a promotion to AA. 2008 will be the year that he's expected to make the leap to AA, and possibly beyond. I wouldn't count on seeing him in Chicago this season, but mid 2009 seems like a possible time frame for a big league call-up. The arm break was a freak injury, and he recovered extremely quickly from it.
Unlike Ceda, he still definitely projects as a starter. Right now I'd project him as a #3-4 starter.
Performance
Career: 124.2 IP / 3.41 ERA / 126 K / 60 BB / 1.30 WHIP / 102 H / 9.13 K/9 / 4.35 K/BB
Pawelek has a pretty impressive 9.13 K/9, but he has never pitched above A ball. He does not project as a high strikeout pitcher, and will probably be closer to a 7 K/9 pitcher at higher levels.
His walk totals have been unusually high for a pitcher with his makeup. I'd expect this to be an area of improvement as he develops further, as he is generally regarded as a pitcher with a good feel for pitching.
He gets more than his fair share of ground balls, doesn't give up many deep fly balls, a good thing for any pitcher hoping to pitch at Wrigley Field.
Delivery and mechanics
Brings the glove high in front of body as he comes set, lowers glove as he goes into his windup, brings glove up by head, leg kick relatively high, extends non pitching arm straight in front of body, arm slot high 3/4. Tilts head back as he rears back on the delivery, tends to drive forward in delivery, a lot of elbow action on the curveball.
Appearance
Wears high socks, black glove with team color lacing.
ScoutingStuff: 65
Movement: 65
Control: 50
Location: 60
Mound presence: 65
Best pitch: 12-6 curveball
Repertoire
Four-seam fastball: 90-94 mph
Curveball: 67-73 mph, plenty of slow break.
Slider: 84-85 mph
Change up: 76-77 mph
Locating pitches has seemed to be a problem for Pawelek, but as a lefty, will get plenty of chances to show he was worth such a high draft selection.
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