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Bats/Throws: R/R
Height/Weight: 6’11”, 235 lbs
Acquired: 2nd Rd ‘07
Born: Lakewood, OH
Why Ranked Here: Moviel combines height, athletic genes and potential into an intriguing package for a pitching prospect. Height first: he’s somewhere close to 6’10”. That allows him to get good downward plane on pitches and keep them down in the zone. When he releases his fastball, he’s just a little closer to home plate than the average pitcher, so it jumps on hitters. One of the points of emphasis for Moviel at the start of the ’08 campaign was to pitch tall and use his height. He’s quick to learn however, and in the course of the last year played with and modified the grips on most of his pitches to produce better results, learning both from teammates and his brothers who played professional baseball before him. In July, Moviel did not show a true plus pitch. Rather, he showed the potential to acquire them. Moviel worked from a fastball that was in the range of MLB average, sitting around 90, 91 mph. He located the pitch well for a pitcher his age. At other times he has thrown harder, but he was dialing the velocity down in favor of strikes. His second offering was a slurvy curveball that he had really excellent feel for. He could spin the below average offering for strikes. His touch for the pitch leaves hope that he will be able to tighten the offering up into a plus offering, by finishing out front better more consistently. His changeup was the least reliable of his offerings, but he felt as though he was making progress with it. Mets staff universally praise Moviel’s work ethic and preparation.
2008: Jumping from the GCL in 2007 to the SAL to begin 2008, Moviel allowed 21 runs in 17.2 IP in April, but improved dramatically after that rough start. After June 1, Moviel put together a 3.17 ERA while fanning 48 batters and walking just 16 in 71 IP while producing GB/FB ratios near two. That K/BB ratio of three is excellent. As he moves up, Moviel will need to produce not just grounders, but learn to miss more bats and drive his K rate up. In a nice move, the Mets promoted Moviel to the Florida State League for his final start on August 30th to prepare him for the challenge of Advanced-A in 2009. He responded with five shutout innings. Moviel also proved that he was durable, making 25 starts and throwing 125 innings in his first full professional season.
Dr. Pangloss Says: Moviel has the ability and drive to find himself in the middle of a big league rotation by the end of 2011.
On the Flipside: Moviel still has a long way to go with his changeup. In 2008, he did not yet have a plus pitch, so there is room for improvement in all of his offerings.
Projected 2009 Start: St. Lucie rotation
| ERA | G/GS | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO | BB/9 | SO/9 | SO/BB | GO/AO | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SAL | 4.43 | 24/24 | 120.0 | 128 | 75 | 59 | 9 | 36 | 82 | 2.70 | 6.15 | 2.28 | 1.71 |
| FSL | 0.00 | 1/1 | 5.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1.80 | 3.60 | 2.00 | 0.86 |
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FYI because it wasn’t listed and i was wondering what the “For his age” comments were referring to. Moviel was born May 7th, 1988.
Does he project to gain much velocity?
Interesting, considering his weight of 235 I’d be doubtful that he will ‘fill out’ more though at his age he could still have some physical maturing to do.
If his work ethic is as good as they say I would think he isn’t slacking in the workouts either.
That’s what I was thinking. I don’t know what a filled out 6′11″ man is supposed to weigh.
I liked the Moviel pick at the time. I thought he would throw a bit harder at this point given his frame, but, regardless, I still like this pick and had Moviel rated #10 on my personal list.
I don’t think he’ll gain too much velocity (i.e., go from 91 mph to 96-97 mph), but I think he could add 1-2 mph as he gets a bit stronger and/or improves his mechanics.
For some reason, he reminds me somewhat of Jeff Suppan – i.e., a pitcher that isn’t overpowering, but has 3-4 good pitches he can use to get hitter out.
I’m not sure he’ll be a middle of the rotation guy by 2011. He’ll probably end 2009 in AA, with 2010 looking like AAA. In 2011, I would say he’d more likely to be in the same position Jon Niese is right now – knocking on the door of a starting job, but more like a #5 spot for 2011.
The thing with his velocity is because of his size, 91 seems faster to the batter since he is releasing it later, and it travels in the air to the plate a shorter distance — if he manages to add on 1-2 mph on his fastball while maintaining the control he has worked hard to develop, I would imagine the velocity would appear to be pretty impressive to a batter
Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t get the fascination with Moviel. He’s a big guy, sure, but he doesn’t throw extremely hard like you would think, he doesn’t have overly impressive stats, he doesn’t have any real plus pitch to lean on. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of his game at this point is his command, which I’ll admit is unusual for a pitcher of his size.
He’s a decent organizational arm with some projectability, sure, I just don’t see how he has any business being a Top 10 prospect for the Mets over a half dozen prospects listed behind him, who either have more projectability, or have proven themselves at higher levels of the minors.
Maybe I’m missing something, or I’m wrong though, but it’s just my opinion.
I’m not huge on Moviel either, in that there are guys I’d have put ahead of him, but organizational arm might sell him a little short. I think the list of reasons for fascination with him basically go 1) ground balls 2) height 3) age 4) ground balls.
GB rate, the idea that he could sit at a higher velocity if he wasn’t pulling back for control, and the idea that his release point from that height makes for a shorter distance between hand and home probably makes his stuff as projectable as other guys.
IMO his height is a negitive. How many 6′-8″ and taller pitchers have pitched in MLB?
Take away the height and what do you have? an average fastball with decent command that one little hicup in the mechanics or body change can be lost and tough to find again.
How is the movement on Moviel’s fastball? I know he doesn’t throw a true sinker (I recall a previous post that had him throwing a four seemer) and you’ve got to figure that much of the reason for all those groundballs is the downward plane he’s getting. Still, anyone inducing that many grounders has to have some sink going on their ball, and a 91 MPH fastball with reasonable sink is a nice offering, especially if it’s being released later than the batter is accustomed to. It’s a shame we can’t get pitchfx info on these guys, though getting the tech installed in all these two bit minor league stadiums is obviously a pipe dream.