http://www.perfectgame.org/Articles/View.aspx?article=697
"So far this spring, Paxton is 3-0, 3.86 in four starts, with 37 strikeouts and only 3 walks in 23 innings pitched. Included in that was a March 14 start against Louisiana State where Paxton matched up against the Tigers 2010 ace RHPAnthony Ranaudo. Both pitchers left after six innings in a game that LSU would eventually win 5-3, but not before Paxton struck out 14 against perhaps the top offensive unit in college baseball.
According to a scout who was at the game, Paxton pitched at 92-97 mph on his fastball with serious sinking life (“like he was throwing bricks up there”) from a low ¾’s release point reminiscent of Randy Johnson’s. His breaking ball was a nasty plus/plus 80-83 mph slurve with a big, sweeping break.
“Paxton was just an animal,” the scout related. “He’s a big, big kid and very physical on the mound. He was throwing just power, power stuff up there for six innings. I saw Matthew Purke (the top ranked HS prospect, also a LHP) earlier in the year and Kyle Gibson (the Missouri RHP, a projected top 10 pick) at the top of his game earlier in the week and neither compared to Paxton as far as raw stuff is concerned.”
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You're favorite word for him Doc - physical. ;) Now, the HS guys obviously had a chance to grow into better stuff...but Paxton was 20 at the time, no old soul himself. He's only 22 NOW. He's a year and a half older than Purke, but with only a handful more innings. Purke will have thrown more innings than Paxton did in college by next month, most likely - and he's a sophomore.
And Purke threw more in HS than Paxton.
Paxtons' arm is the Real Deal. I hope he can hold up (had a minor back issue in his sophomore year in college) but I don't doubt the arm at all. I think he's back to his college totals with that nasty, heavy ball.
I look forward to seeing it.
~G
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