SAMMY SOLIS, lhp / SCOUTING REPORT

CAPE COD LEAGUE, 2008

The similarities between Solis and Brian Matusz, his former college teammate, are striking. Like Matusz, a fourth-round pick out of an Arizona high school who went on to become the fourth overall pick in this year’s draft after a stellar three-year career at USD, Solis is a big, fluid lefthander from Arizona. He passed up an offer to sign with his home-state Arizona Diamondbacks after striking out 398, the second-best total in state 4-A history, in his high school career and pitching the Arizona Firebirds to the 2006 Connie Mack World Series title by spinning a four-hit shutout in the championship game. Solis couldn’t crack a Matusz-led rotation as a freshman at USD, but went an acceptable 3-1, 3.83 with 12 walks and 42 strikeouts in 49 innings in a swing role. He worked solely as a starter this summer in the Cape Cod League and went 3-2, 2.41 with seven walks and 32 strikeouts in 37 innings. What impressed scouts most was Solis’ excellent command for a big lefthander, and the ease with which the ball came out of his hand. His fastball was a consistent 89-91 mph, and yet he grabbed a 93 when he needed it. He created good sinking action on the pitch, and his ball jumped on hitters from his tall, clean, angular release point. He also threw consistent strikes with his curve and his changeup was a solid third pitch. Solis has two years to get bigger and stronger, and may be throwing 94-95 mph with ease by the time he’s eligible for the draft again in 2010. He easily projects as a possible top-10 pick. Solis is so advanced as a pitcher at this stage in his development that all he really needs to improve on are some of the little things, like holding runners better.

--ALLAN SIMPSON