Zach Quate, rhp, Rays Born: Sept. 12, 1987. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 190. Drafted: Appalachian...

Zach Quate, rhp, Rays
Born: Sept. 12, 1987. B-T: R-R. Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 190. Drafted: Appalachian State, 2009 (14th round). Signed by: Brad Matthews.
In his first pro summer, Quate was one of the biggest surprises from the Rays' 2009 draft class. Undrafted as a junior at Appalachian State in 2008, he turned heads that summer by posting a 1.31 ERA for the Anchorage Glacier Pilots, earning team MVP honors and leading them to their first-ever Alaska Baseball League title. He built on by starring as a senior, when he converted all 11 of his save opportunities for the Mountaineers while fashioning a 1.09 ERA. After signing for $7,500 as a 14th-round pick, he made good on all 13 his save chances at short-season Hudson Valley. Quate throws an average fastball and a plus slider from a low three-quarters arm angle. He uses both sides of the plate with both pitches, with his slider breaking toward the back foot of lefthanders. He has an advanced feel for how to retire hitters, as well as the confidence and maturity to win most battles. Quate missed instructional league when he returned to school in the fall to finish work on his marketing degree. Nevertheless, he has a chance to move rapidly in 2010, just as Matt Gorgen did in the Tampa Bay system a year after going in the 16th round of the 2008 draft. He could jump to high Class A out of spring training.

Baseball America's "32nd Team"</a>

An interesting blurb about a lesser discussed prospect. Future closer?

about 2 years ago rglass44 4 comments 0 recs |

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Good job--i love these needle in the haystack stories

keep em coming

by sternfan1 on Jan 30, 2010 12:57 PM EST reply actions

The funny (kind of) part is he's a 14th round pick out of college.

And he’s on this list with Padres 1st round pick from 08 Allin Dykstra.

by rglass44 on Jan 30, 2010 1:05 PM EST reply actions

This is what Rays Prospects says about him after

putting him in their list of honorable mentions, just below their top 15 pitching prospects in the Rays system:
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“Zach Quate, RHRP – Taken in the 14th round of the 2009 draft, Quate was arguably the most dominant reliever in the New York-Penn League. In 26 innings, he allowed just a single earned run while striking out 34 and walking just four. Then again, Quate might be exactly the type of guy who would dominate a short-season league: He played four college seasons(although he didn’t turn 22 until September), has a bit of a deceptive delivery, and everything he throws moves. His statline is very similar to Matt Gorgen’s from 2008 in Hudson Valley(Gorgen struck out 35 and walked five), but he doesn’t throw as hard as Gorgen or have quite the same bite on his off-speed stuff.

While Quate will have to prove himself each time he moves up the ladder, he does have the potential to be a major-league middle reliever. He pitched in a non-elite college conference, so it will be interesting to see how he does against more experienced hitters in full-season ball in 2010. The Rays could skip him over Bowling Green like they did with Gorgen, but whether it’s with the Stone Crabs or Hot Rods, Quate will be the closer.

by bobr on Jan 30, 2010 4:11 PM EST reply actions

College competetion

While Appy plays in a smaller conference they do get a geographical boost in who they play. They play Wake Forest every year, as well as UNC every once in a while. They also play the other NC schools that are generally somewhat competetive. it doesn’t make up totally from being in that conference, but they do play some pretty decent baseball schools.

by rglass44 on Feb 1, 2010 9:08 AM EST up reply actions