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Mychal Givens


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#1 JeffLong

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Posted 30 August 2012 - 09:27 PM

Mychal Givens a shortstop in our system will be giving the mound a shot next season according to Dan Connolly:

http://www.baltimore...0,7255762.story

Here's a brief writeup from Klaw about Givens prior to the 2009 draft:

http://insider.espn....raft&id=3996143
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#2 SportsGuy

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Posted 30 August 2012 - 09:26 PM

At least a year late but at least they are doing it.

#3 JeremyStrain

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Posted 30 August 2012 - 09:45 PM

At least a year late but at least they are doing it.


Heard whispers of an elbow problem. Something to watch throwing that hard and going to the mound.
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#4 BSLChrisStoner

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Posted 30 August 2012 - 09:51 PM

From before the '09 Draft:


MLBDraft.blogspot.com
http://2009mlbdraft....-prospects.html

“Givens is like the Aaron Hicks of this draft. A lot of teams might want to draft the kid as a pitcher but he might just work out better in the field. He’s a pretty good defender with plus range, good actions and as you probably guessed a plus arm. At the plate, Givens is raw. Not Matt Bush raw but more like Justin Jackson raw. Given time, Givens could become a tremendous, exciting prospect at shortstop. On the hill, he needs to improve his offspeed offerings a little. His fastball is a plus pitch already as it can touch 97-98 MPH*MLB comparison: Rafael Furcal”

Minor League Ball.com
http://www.minorleag...asburg-then-who

Baseball Draft Report.com
http://baseballdraft...-100-big-board/

MLB.com Scouting Report
http://mlb.mlb.com/m...?content=givens

Summary:
Givens is one of the better all-around athletes in the Draft class who will get looks both at shortstop and on the mound on Draft day. He’s a good defender with a plus arm who uses his athleticism well. A plus runner, he’s got the kind of frame that should allow him to get stronger … which could lead to more power. The key to unlocking that will be a better overall hitting approach. There is some risk with his bat, but if a team feels he’ll hit, he’ll go early.

Saber Scouting.com (1 of 2)
http://www.saberscou...hot30/#more-285

“Givens is a bit of a conundrum to scouts at this admittedly very early juncture of the draft process. You can take a look at some video I took of Givens and what I thought of him from my first two looks. I originally compared him to current Jays prospect and former prep shortstop Justin Jackson. He’s an athletic and heady leader, a very good defender, and has a solid stroke with a little pop. I just didn’t see enough size/projection (looks in person like 5′10, 175), power, or consistent hitability to project him as a first round pick, but realized that his track record, makeup, and performance give him upward mobility on draft boards.
What I saw at the end of his junior season still seems to be the rap on Givens for most scouts, as he’s got all the makings of a top pick, but lacks a standout bat. Don’t get me wrong, that could still be a seven figure package in the sandwich round, like Jackson was, but others feel Givens is all projection at the plate and more of a third round pick as a shortstop and prefer him on the mound.
I discounted Givens’ long-term mound prospects in my earlier look, but it turns out he was fatigued when I saw him and has raised him arm angle a bit as well. At the PG National showcase, he was up to 94 while flashing an above-average slider and changeup from a low 3/4 arm angle; similar to what I saw, but showing improvement across the board. As it stands now, there’s a slight lean from the people I’ve talked to for Givens to stay on the mound, but his progess on the mound and at the plate should be an interesting draft storyline to monitor.”


Saber Scouting.com (2 of 2)
http://www.saberscou...ast-week-part2/

“Givens is a junior and top 2009 draft prospect that some sources say is the top high school junior in the country (others say second-best). I got a chance to see Givens play two games this week, the second one being his team’s surprise loss to Dunedin High in the second round of the state playoffs in front of a rowdy crowd of a few thousand at the Blue Jays complex in Dunedin.
Givens has all the makings of a first-round prep shortstop with a body that won’t outgrow the position, true shortstop actions with above-average defensive tools, and a quick release from a good arm that sits in the low 90s on the mound. He’s also an excellent athlete and basketball standout that made an amazing play at pitcher versus Dunedin as he charged a swinging bunt to field and flip to the catcher in one motion while he was running past home plate. He’s a vocal leader, good student, and likable personality with great makeup. While he’s clearly a shortstop prospect, he pitches at 90-92 with some run and flashes an above-average sweeping curveball and an average changeup with lade fade.
His speed is deceptive: he looks more quick than fast and somewhat labored once underway, but I got him at 3.87 to first from the right side on a bunt (confirmed on video) and he’s a 55 to 60 runner.
So there’s all the reasons to like Givens, but there are some things I saw that I didn’t like from these two games. Givens certainly has more upside as a shortstop as he lacked feel on the mound and throws from a true sidearm angle, which is very effective in the 90s versus high school competition, but would project him as a set-up man at best in pro ball.
As far as his swing goes, the elements are there and he has shown the ability to hit with wood against top competition, but the mechanics break down too often for me, and with his smallish frame (I’d estimate 5′10, 170) and lack of leverage, he projects to have average power at best. He struggled to square the ball up against average to good pitching when I saw him and showed bad habits in lunging at the ball, being flat-footed, out on his front foot, and an intricate toe-touch I’m not crazy about. Still, those are things that don’t become problems until professional ball, so he was still clearly the best player on the field.
I think Givens compares favorably to past hyped shortstop prospects like Jays’ SS prospect Justin Jackson or Padres SS prospect Drew Cumberland. Both were late-first to supplemental round prospects with limited ceiling or warts at the plate, a long track record of success, great defense, and the makeup to succeed with all eyes on them. Givens will also definitely be in our upcoming 2009 draft prospects list.”


#5 BSLChrisStoner

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Posted 30 August 2012 - 09:53 PM

Heard whispers of an elbow problem. Something to watch throwing that hard and going to the mound.


Yeah, it is mentioned in The Sun article he has elbow soreness.

I would hope they make him a reliever.

#6 JeremyStrain

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Posted 30 August 2012 - 10:02 PM

Yeah, it is mentioned in The Sun article he has elbow soreness.

I would hope they make him a reliever.


It was given to me as an answer when I asked earlier this year why he wasn't pitching yet. Gotta keep an eye on that one.
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#7 BobPhelan

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Posted 31 August 2012 - 07:04 AM

This was inevitable. Hope it works out.

#8 Mike B

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Posted 31 August 2012 - 08:08 AM

Maybe Givens becomes the next Pedro Strop.
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#9 BSLChrisStoner

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Posted 06 February 2013 - 08:18 AM

MASN: Givens to the mound
http://www.masnsport...er-anymore.html

Don't think anyone is surprised that Givens is going to give pitching a try. Will be interested to see if he is used as a starter or in relief. If I were him, I would want to be used out of the pen. Here is hoping things click for him.

#10 Can_of_corn

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Posted 06 February 2013 - 10:00 AM

I disagreed with the decision in 2009 and I think they waited a year to late to convert him. Lets hope he still has his velocity. He throws from an odd angle so I will be rooting for him to make it.

Well I hear Linda Ronstadt is looking for a guitar player.


#11 RichardZ

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Posted 06 February 2013 - 07:56 PM

I disagreed with the decision in 2009 and I think they waited a year to late to convert him. Lets hope he still has his velocity. He throws from an odd angle so I will be rooting for him to make it.



Any reason he should have lost velocity? I mean a lot of other guys have converted at a much older age than Givens. I remember his scouting report said he touched 97 in short stints. I'm not sure where he sat velocity wise. Suffice it to say, if he isn't at least low 90's it won't be good unless this low arm angle is confusing to hitters.

#12 Can_of_corn

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Posted 06 February 2013 - 08:07 PM

Any reason he should have lost velocity? I mean a lot of other guys have converted at a much older age than Givens. I remember his scouting report said he touched 97 in short stints. I'm not sure where he sat velocity wise. Suffice it to say, if he isn't at least low 90's it won't be good unless this low arm angle is confusing to hitters.


No reason I can think of. I have not heard of any trouble outside of a bout of tendinitis.

I just don't like assuming things will go smoothy.

Well I hear Linda Ronstadt is looking for a guitar player.


#13 Stotle

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Posted 07 February 2013 - 10:58 AM

Any reason he should have lost velocity? I mean a lot of other guys have converted at a much older age than Givens. I remember his scouting report said he touched 97 in short stints. I'm not sure where he sat velocity wise. Suffice it to say, if he isn't at least low 90's it won't be good unless this low arm angle is confusing to hitters.


He has never been a full time pitcher and no one really knows what he'll look like working off the mound full time. He'll need to learn to execute his pitches (which he didn't do regularly in his limited role as closer on his HS team) and he's never come close to throwing even 50 IP in a season, so there is no telling what kind of durability is actually in the arm.
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#14 BSLChrisStoner

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Posted 27 January 2015 - 08:51 AM

CSN Baltimore: Conversion complete, Givens hopes to move up

http://www.csnbaltim...vens-hopes-move



#15 BSLChrisStoner

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Posted 10 April 2015 - 09:59 AM

4/9 AA: 1.2 ip, 1 hit, 0 er, 0 bb's, 3 k's



#16 BSLChrisStoner

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Posted 13 April 2015 - 08:22 AM

4/12: 1 ip, 1 hit, 0 er, 0 bb's, 3 k's... 2nd save



#17 BSLChrisStoner

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Posted 16 April 2015 - 07:54 AM

4/15: 2ip, 2 hits, 0 er, 1 bb, 2 k's



#18 BSLChrisStoner

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Posted 24 April 2015 - 07:48 AM

Season: 2-0, 0.93 era, 2 saves, 9.2 ip, 6 hits, 1 er, 3 bb's, 13 k's



#19 BSLChrisStoner

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Posted 06 May 2015 - 10:01 AM

Season:

 

2-0, 1.08 era, 4 saves, 16.2 ip, 10 hits, 2 er, 5 bb's, 24 k's



#20 BSLChrisStoner

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Posted 08 May 2015 - 06:29 AM

Carroll County Times / Balt Sun: Synced-up delivery leads to early success for Givens

http://www.carrollco...0,4155069.story






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