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Atlanta Braves Scouting Report on RHP Patrick Weigel

By Benjamin Chase

May 14, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a Atlanta Braves cap and glove on the field prior to a game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
May 14, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a Atlanta Braves cap and glove on the field prior to a game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 14, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a Atlanta Braves cap and glove on the field prior to a game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports
May 14, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; A general view of a Atlanta Braves cap and glove on the field prior to a game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Peter G. Aiken-USA TODAY Sports /

The Atlanta Braves selected Patrick Weigel as their organizational pitcher of the year. What happened with Weigel this season?

Who Is He?

Patrick Weigel was originally drafted by the Milwaukee Brewers in the 2014 draft out of Oxnard College in California before transferring to the University of Houston, where the Braves drafted him from in 2015 in the 7th round. Baseball America’s draft report on Weigel mentioned his 99 MPH fastball, but also reported that he had an average slider, below average curve, and a change up that was unusable along with bad control. To quote their report, “…you have to worry that a pitcher who couldn’t earn the closer job at Houson will struggle to earn a significant role in pro ball either.”

The Braves bucked that trend, something they did with a host of hard-throwing college pitchers they drafted in the 4th through 10th rounds in 2015, by making Weigel a starter in pro ball. He went to advanced rookie Danville, and while the numbers weren’t amazing, he definitely turned some heads with his fastball and much better secondary stuff than expected as he made 14 starts, going 51 2/3 innings with a 4.53 ERA, 1.53 WHIP, and a 26/49 BB/K ratio, so the walk rate was not good, but there was room for growth. Weigel went to fall instructs and got rave reviews for the work he put in there, and the word coming in this spring was all about how great he looked.

The Braves took note, sending him to their loaded rotation in Rome, where he unexpectedly became the staff ace. With Rome this season, he threw 129 innings in 22 appearances with a 2.51 ERA and 1.08 WHIP with a 47/135 BB/K ratio. The Braves felt so strongly about his performance that they skipped him straight over high-A Carolina to AA Mississippi in the heat of a playoff chase, and he simply improved his performance, hurling 20 2/3 innings with a 2.18 ERA and 0.82 WHIP, posting an 8/17 BB/K ratio. Weigel also just hurled one of the best pitching performances of the season in his playoff start for Mississippi, going 7 shutout innings, allowing 3 hits and 2 walks, striking out 8 hitters.

Next: Weigel's scouting report

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