Prospect #20 Matt Bashore

Starting LHP
Drafted: Supplemental 1st Rd 2009 (46th overall), Indiana University
Levels Played in 2009: Elizabethton Twins, Rookie Appalachian League
Opening Day Age: 22

Going into the 2009 college season, Matt Bashore was seen as one of the more polished college lefties among the 2009 MLB draft class. Bashore just finished up a Sophmore campaign where he went 7-3 with a 3.59 ERA and struck out 86 batters in 82.2 innings. Bashore's breakout season earned him First Team all Big Ten honors and projections to go mid to late first round in the draft.

2009 did not go as planned. Although Bashore was a horse for the Hoosiers he finished with a 7-5 record and a 4.08 ERA. Bashore struck out 108 batters which was one back of the single season record at Indiana. Heading into the draft, Bashore's regression in ERA and allowed teammate Eric Arnett to jump ahead of him on draft boards. Arnett was the 26th pick by the Brewers when he came out of nowhere in 2009 showing off a mid 90's fastball to go along with his 6'6", 220 pound build.

The reason why Bashore was so highly regarded was because he flashed a low to mid 90's fastball from the left side as a sophomore. In 2009 he took a major step back, usually working in the high 80's ti low 90's. It was not until late in the 2009 season where his fastball began to show life again. Bashore is not a big kid, standing 6 feet 2 at around 200 pounds resembling another Big Ten pitching star in the Twins system (Glen Perkins).

After signing for slot money, Bashore pitched just 2 inning in the Appalachian League before being shut down with arm troubles. There has been no news yet whether Bashore will be ready to pitch in 2010. Their is reason to believe that surgery could be the best long term solution for him to prolong his professional career and make him the most effective pitcher possible. If he comes into camp healthy, signs point to him being held back in extended spring training to build his arm strength back up and then send him to low A Beloit. If everything works out Matt Bashore could be the best left hander in the entire Twins system and could move fast. If not he could miss all of 2010 trying to recover from TJ.

ETA: Late 2012 to early 2013
Projection: A solid #3 type left handed pitcher with solid to above average stuff.
MLB Comparisons: Best Case Scenario- John Danks
Worst Case Scenario- Glen Perkins