2011 Washington Nationals Draft

Greetings, and thank you for coming to my site. I spent countless hours compiling scouting reports and links for each and every player drafted by the Nationals in 2011. For now, you can find each player's page from this main page and you will be able to search by the players who have signed. As each player signs, I will update his page with the date and dollar amount (if provided) and at the end of each season, I will add minor (and eventually major) league stats to each player's page. Feel free to pass the site along, bookmark it and check it regularly!

(Players in bold have signed with the Nats)
Round 1: Anthony Rendon, IF, Rice University (Texas)
Round 1: Alex Meyer, RHP, University of Kentucky
Round 1 (Supplemental): Brian Goodwin, OF, Miami Dade CC (Florida)
Round 3: Matt Purke, LHP, Texas Christian University
Round 4: Kylin Turnbull, LHP, Santa Barbara CC (California)
Round 5: Matt Skole 3B, Georgia Tech
Round 6: Taylor Hill, RHP, Vanderbilt
Round 7: Brian Dupra, RHP, Notre Dame
Round 8: Greg Holt, RHP, University of North Carolina
Round 9: Dixon Anderson, RHP, University of California
Round 10: Manny Rodriguez, RHP, Barry University (Florida)
Round 11: Caleb Ramsey, OF, University of Houston 
Round 12: Blake Monar, LHP, Indiana University
Round 13: Casey "Ory" Kalenkosky, 1B, Texas State University
Round 14: Cody Stubbs, OF, Walters State CC (North Carolina)
Round 15: Zach Houchins, SS, Louisburg College (North Carolina)
Round 16: Deion Williams, SS, Redan HS (Georgia)
Round 17: Esteban Guzman, RHP, San Jose State
Round 18: Nick Lee, LHP, Weatherford College (Texas)
Round 19: Hawtin Buchanan, RHP, Biloxi HS (Mississippi)
Round 20: Josh Laxer, RHP, Madison Central HS (Misssissippi)
Round 21: Todd Simko, LHP, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi
Round 22: Travis Henke, RHP, University of Arkansas
Round 23: Khayyan Norfork, 2B, University of Tennessee
Round 24: Kyle Ottoson, LHP, Arizona State University
Round 25: Erick Fernandez, C, Georgetown University (DC)
Round 26: Shawn Pleffner, OF, University of Tampa
Round 27: Bobby Lucas, Jr., LHP, George Washington University
Round 28: Ken Ferrer, RHP, Elon University (North Carolina)
Round 29: Sean Cotten, C, Tusculum College (Tennessee)
Round 30: Bryan Harper, LHP, University of South Carolina
Round 31: Josh Tobias, OF, Southeast Guilford HS (North Carolina)
Round 32: Billy Burns, OF, Mercer University (Georgia)
Round 33: Trey Karlen, 2B, University of Tennessee-Martin
Round 34: Calvin Drummond, RHP, University of San Diego
Round 35: Alex Kreis, RHP, Jamestown College (North Dakota)
Round 36: Ben Hawkins, LHP, University of West Florida
Round 37: Derrick Bleeker, RHP, Howard College (Texas)
Round 38: Brett Mooneyham, LHP, Stanford University
Round 39: Peter Verdin, OF, University of Georgia
Round 40: Stephen Collum, OF, Cartersville HS (Georgia)
Round 41: Bryce Ortega, 3B, University of Arizona
Round 42: David Kerian, SS, Bishop Heelan HS (Iowa)
Round 43: Mitch Morales, SS, Wellington Community HS (Florida)
Round 44: Matt Snyder, 1B, Ole Miss
Round 45: Richie Mirowski, LHP, Oklahoma Baptist University
Round 46: Tyler Thompson, OF, University of Florida
Round 47: TJ Montgomery, Rockmart HS (Georgia)
Round 48: Mike Bisenius, OF, Wayne State College (Nebraska)
Round 49: Hunter Cole, OF, Dorman HS (South Carolina)
Round 50: Tony Nix, OF, University of California-Riverside

Round 1: Anthony Rendon, IF, Rice University

(from ESPN)

Baseball-Reference
Rice Bio
Wikipedia page


Sean's one sentence analysis: The former Rice University infielder is known for excellent defense, bat speed and plate discipline.

Thoughts from the community: "Injury concerns (shoulder, ankle) dropped Rendon to the Nats (#6) in the ’11 draft but several draft experts felt he was the best player anyway. Not big for a corner infielder (6 ft., 190 lbs.) he’s praised for his strong hands/wrists and superb plate discipline. Defensively, scouts like his skills at either 3B or 2B, noting that his .300BA, 25HR, 100RBI bat is the real deal. My opinion is that he'll start in Hagerstown and play 2B until he (or the Nats brass) feels comfortable, then move up to Potomac and play 3B. The Nationals have never debuted a position player at Potomac and have only started three players there the April after the June they were drafted (Espinosa, Hague, Detwiler)." - Luke Erickson, NationalsProspects.com (@Nats_Prospects)

Previous analysis and notes:
Don't let the 6th overall pick fool you; Rendon is the best player in the draft. That makes it three straight years that the Nationals have picked the best player.  He played a little 2B this year and may be able to play there permanently, but his position isn't what is important right now. Rendon fell to the Nationals due to his recent injury history. With two severe ankle injuries in the past and a current shoulder strain, teams were a little scared off. Still, when a team has the ability to take the best player available in the entire draft with the #6 overall pick, they need to do it as long as said player has two arms, two legs, two eyes, etc.
Rendon's college stats:
2009: .388/.468/.702. 94 H/242 AB, 60 R, 14 2B, 1 3B, 20 HR, 72 RBI, 9/11 SB, 31 BB/23 K
2010: .394/.539/.801. 89 H/226 AB, 83 R, 12 2B, 1 3B, 26 HR, 85 RBI, 14/18 SB, 65 BB/22 K
2011: .327/.520/.523. 70 H/214 AB, 58 R, 20 2B, 2 3B, 6 HR, 37 RBI, 13/18 SB, 80 BB/33 K
From Matt Garrioch, MLB Bonus Baby, 7/17/2011: "Rendon was the consensus 1st overall pick for the majority of the last year. He had 2 pretty serious injuries to his ankle over the last 2 years as well as a shoulder injury that held him to DH most of the season. When he was on the field he showed above average defense at 3B and should have no issue staying there for a long time, as long as his shoulder holds up. If not, he may have to move to 2B, where he should have the athleticism to make that work, but it could take a little time. His bat won't take much time. He is a very polished hitter with the potential to hit .300 with 25 HR annually. He is not a burner but he knows how to run the bases and could steal a few bases."
From John Sickels, Minor League Ball, 6/14/2011: "Although everyone is wondering exactly how bad those medical reports must be, even if Rendon's arm can't handle third base any more, his bat is still excellent."
From John Sickels, Minor League Ball/Baseball Nation, 6/6/2011: "Rendon was long projected as the top position player in the 2011 draft, thanks to his power, superior hitting skills, superb plate discipline, and excellent defense at third base. However, he was hampered by shoulder injuries all spring, limiting him to DH most of the time and causing teams to wonder if he can remain at third...Rendon's ETA to the major leagues, and perhaps even his position, will depend on how his shoulder recovers. Reports/rumors are mixed, but it seems that the Mariners (expected to pick him second overall) may have been scared off by his medical reports. If his arm is OK, Rendon has the tools and skills to reach the major leagues very quickly, within two years and perhaps just a single year without further physical setbacks. A healthy Rendon projects as an on-base machine with good power and excellent defensive ability at third base. The Nationals may have a steal here."
From Marc Hulet, FanGraphs 2011 Draft Live Blog, 6/6/2011: "Washington: Anthony Rendon, 3B (Rice U): Perhaps the famous Rice University injury curse is spreading from the pitchers to the hitters. Rendon has been the consensus first overall pick for the 2011 draft since his eye-opening freshman year of college. However, injury concerns - most recently his shoulder, and previously his ankle - have clouded his draft status. Seattle is known to be very interested but he could end up sliding a bit with reports of so-so medical reports that team doctors are no doubt pouring over until the very last minute. If all goes as hoped, Rendon has the chance to be a Gold Glove fielder with 20+ home run potential and a solid batting average."
From Larry Stone, The Seattle Times, 6/6/2011: "Going into this year, Rendon was the consensus No. 1 pick, and no one thought the Mariners had a chance to get him at No. 2. Three things changed: One, Cole got off to a sensational start and developed a changeup to supplement a fastball that gained in velocity to occasionally over 100 mph. Two, Rendon got a shoulder strain that raised issues about whether he is injury prone while limiting him to DH duties most of the year. And three, Rendon's offensive statistics dropped dramatically, particularly his power. Now, if you believe that No. 2 is largely responsible for No. 3 (along with new bat regulations that resulted in a 40 percent decline in home runs in collegiate baseball), and, furthermore, you believe the injury is not serious long-term, then the Mariners should be ecstatic to get Rendon at No. 2."
From John Klima, Project Prospect, 6/5/2011: "Do I think Rendon can hit? Yes. Do I think he will hit? Probably. Am I sold he will? No. Why? Two words: The Medicals. I’m sorry, if I’m spending a lot of my boss’s money on a guy with a recent history that includes joint injuries – I’m talking shoulders and ankles at a very young age – then that’s a big turn off for me. No. I’ll take my chances somewhere else. What I do think? Too expensive and too many risks. I would be more comfortable with this guy somewhere in the middle of the first round than I would be with one of the very first picks of any draft. Hey, look, nobody drafts for me. I draft for me. If you have risks, I will find them, and if I see warning signs – and on this boy, oh yes I do – then I’ll find someone else."
From Nick Piecoro, Arizona Republic, 5/30/2011: "There are many theories for the offensive decline. The NCAA mandating the use of less potent bats. The pressure of being the country's top prospect. Other teams not giving him pitches to hit, leading to 76 walks, most in the nation. Not getting into the rhythm of the game by being limited to designated hitter....(Rice coach Wayne) Graham even cited Rice's Reckling Park, where he said the wind uncharacteristically blew in all season long. 'He has a very low-maintenance swing,' said a National League scouting director. 'He's going to hit, and you just can't say that about a whole lot of people in any draft. The downside is he has a history of injuries. And sometimes people with a history of injuries continue to have a history of injuries.The (shoulder) muscle won't heal until he gets enough rest,' Graham said. 'It might be something more, but it's not something they can't correct with surgery.' Rendon, who said he hurt the shoulder stretching before the season, was asked if he thought he would need surgery...'I'm just going to take the summer to rehab it and rest it. I'm not going to pick up a ball or anything and make sure it heals.'"
From Jeff Reese, MLB Bonus Baby, 5/26/2011: "The shoulder injury is being blamed for his somewhat underwhelming offensive numbers with some saying it has affected his bat speed. If that's the case, his bat speed must have been completely off the charts prior to this year as the player I saw certainly had no shortage in that area of his game. Indeed, he has some of the most impressive bat speed that I have ever seen at this level, making up for his lack of physicality; it is not hard to see above-average power at the major league level. Rendon has been pitched around all season, and I believe that is the biggest contributor to his stunted power output. It is easy to forget that Rendon played third base during the first series of the year against Stanford. His speed looked completely unaffected by the past ankle injuries, and he showed the same impressive range that we have come to expect. Buster Olney tweeted on Monday that he has 'spoken with more teams that project Anthony Rendon as a second baseman, rather than third baseman, because of body type, arm concerns.' Unless the shoulder injury is structural in nature and a long term concern, that would be a monumental mistake. He has everything necessary to be an elite level defender at third base. The injuries have been exceedingly inconvenient, certainly affecting his value to Rice, but long term, we are looking at the same player as we were a year ago. He has the highest ceiling in this draft – some will certainly disagree with that opinion – while also having the best chance to reach it."
From David Brandt, AP (via Washington Post), 5/25/2011: "Rendon leads all of NCAA Division I with 76 walks so far this season, as pitchers have avoided him at nearly all cost. Tossing the bat toward the dugout for a slow jog toward first base isn’t his first choice, but if this season’s taught him anything, it’s patience. 'Of course as a hitter, I want to go up there and knock the crap out of the ball,' Rendon said. 'That’s what I want to do. But I can’t go out there and hurt my teammates by swinging at balls in the dirt. You’ve got to take it how it is.' 'Rendon 'has great wrists,' said Graham...'His hands work so well. He’s got a very similar bat action to (Hank) Aaron. The way they load their hands, and the bat angle as they get ready to hit. The swings are nearly identical.'
From Nick Faleris, Diamond Scape Scouting, 4/17/2011: "Rendon in 140 characters or less: True five-tool talent; no apparent holes; potential elite bat and glove; above-average speed, +baserunner; team leader with pure approach. Rendon's bat is special. He generates very good bat speed through a strong core, maintaining and then transferring the force in his swing through his strong wrists. The top notch bat speed produces loud contact as often as any amateur in the game, and portends an ability to hit for average and power (despite his unimposing physical appearance) at the next level. Rendon is the rare five-tool talent with game changing ability in each category...and an intricate feel for the game on defense, in the batters box and on the basepaths."
From John Sickels, Minor League Ball, 4/6/2011: "Shoulder injury has bugged him and consensus number one pick pre-season may drop all the way to number two. I still think he's an outstanding prospect with terrific plate discipline, power, and excellent defense, perhaps something like a blending of David Wright and Evan Longoria."
From Steve Carter, Project Prospect, 7/15/2010: "I contacted our old friend, Mr. Veteran Scout, to see what his thoughts were on Rendon: 'Rendon has a lot going on here. He has knack [for hitting] foremost. He does have a good swing in the game. Gets the ball deep. He can hit. Has always hit. Even when he was little. Has some ego that he will have to over come but he projects to be a plus hitter with plus power. Has a plus arm and solid glove. Just not a good runner. Possibly the best bat in country.' He gives his barrel an earlier start than most hitters, which allows him to build up bat speed before he launches his swing. Because of his ability to accelerate the barrel so quickly, Rendon is also able to wait longer than most hitters before he has to commit to the pitch. While some players are unable to reach max velocity with the head of their bat until well after contract, Rendon's early bat speed means his barrel will be up to speed quicker and more efficiently. There is no such thing as a "sure thing" in prospectdom, but Rendon is almost as good as it gets. He is adept at making adjustments on the fly and utilizes video of opponents to seek out any weaknesses they may have -- something young players often don't learn to do until well down the road. To reiterate what Veteran Scout said earlier: 'Plus power, plus hit tool, plus arm, solid glove" and a mechanically fantastic swing to boot. On top of all that, he adds in outstanding patience at the plate. He doesn't just dictate the at-bat the second he walks into the box, he rules it with an iron fist.'"

John Heyman of SI reports that Rendon signed a $7.2 million guaranteed ML deal with the Nats. 

Round 1: Alex Meyer, RHP, University of Kentucky

(from Nation of Blue)

Baseball-Reference
Kentucky Bio

Sean's one sentence analysis:  The 6'9" righty is a big risk/reward project player, but has as much  upside as pretty much any player in this draft.

Thoughts from the community: "Meyer is tall, throws hard, and could be the right-handed version of Randy Johnson. He could just as easily become the next Andrew Brackman. Like most super-tall pitchers, repeating his delivery is the skill he has yet to master. His stuff (high-90s FB, high-80s SL) has had scouts drooling for several years now, despite his mechanical flaws. If he fails as a starter, prospect gurus believe he could still succeed as a reliever, comparing him to Daniel Bard." - Luke Erickson, NationalsProspects.com (@nats_prospects)

Previous analysis and notes: Whether he ends up in the starting rotation or the bullpen is yet to be seen; he has a great arm but poor control thus far in his career. I'm a fan of this pick by the Nats, as Meyer has the upside to be a stud starter, or if that fails, he still has the stuff to become a stud closer. He's far from a sure thing, but could become something special.

Meyer's college stats:
2009: 1-4, 5.73 ERA, 59 and 2/3 IP, 53 H, 45 BB, 80 K, .239 avg against
2010: 5-3, 7.06 ERA, 51 IP, 59 H, 36 BB, 63 K, .285 avg against
2011: 7-5, 2.94 ERA, 101 IP, 78 H, 46 BB, 110 K, .222 avg against


From Matt Garrioch, MLB Bonus Baby, 7/17/2011: "Alex Meyer is a 6'9", 200 LB athletic right handed pitcher who has had a hard time maintaining his mechanics. This season things seemed to come together for him. He routinely throws 95-96 and can hit 100 on occasion. Along with that, he has an 85-89 MPH slider that is nearly unhittable at times. They are both MLB plus pitches right now and still have room for improvement. He also improved on his change this year as well and it looks like it could be a useful pitch at the major league level opening up the possibility of him being a starter,which makes him more valuable that a set up man or closer. He needs to be watched, because his mechanics could go haywire quickly due to his long arms and legs but he could also be a front end of the rotation starter."
From John Sickels, Minor League Ball, 6/14/2011: "6-9 monster with 95+ fastball and impressive slider made strides with his command this year, and his changeup is good enough for him to remain a starter. Could be a number one type if it all comes together"
From John Sickels, Minor League Ball/Baseball Nation, 6/6/2011: "He touches 100 MPH on his best days and works consistently in the mid-90s, mixing in a good slider and workable changeup. Meyer still has command issues at times and doesn't always repeat his mechanics consistently, but his ceiling is one of the best in the draft. He's matured emotionally and how has a strong mound presence. Ideally he would develop into a number two starter, although if command is a long-term problem he could end up in a bullpen role. It is unusual to find an arm with this kind of upside with the 23rd pick in the draft, testimony to how deep this class truly is."
From Satchel Price, Beyond the Box Score, 6/6/2011: "Armed with the kind of raw stuff that only Gerrit Cole can match at the college level, Meyer struggled in his first two years with the Wildcats before his command and control finally began to improve during his junior season. Meyer brings two ridiculously good pitches in his fastball and slider, and has a pretty clean delivery for someone that stands 6-foot-9. There's very legitimate No. 1 upside here, although Meyer may take a couple years to reach the majors."
From Robbie Knopf, I Sports Web, 6/5/2011: "As you would expect from his big frame, Meyers throws in the mid-90′s with his four-seam fastball with some nice late movement, but his fastball is not even his best pitch. He also features a nearly unhittable slider in the mid- to high-80′s that looks like a strike before suddenly breaking out of the zone and making hitters look bad as they flail and miss by a couple of feet with their swings. His third pitch is a changeup in the high-70′s that is a straight pitch and it needs work, but it still has a nice speed variation with his fastball and if a hitter is looking slider, they could take the change for a strike. Meyer’s weaknesses are pretty much the same as his strengths. His big figure makes him a scary pitcher to face, but it has also has made his mechanics inconsistent, leading to control struggles. His fastball’s late movement sometimes hinders him from throwing it for a strike. His slider forces tons of swings-and-misses, but he doesn’t often throw it in the zone for a strike looking. His changeup may provide a good change of speeds, but it’s a heck of a lot easier to hit than his other two pitches. A hitter could be overwhelmed by his fastball and easily hit his changeup."
From Reed MacPhail, Fangraphs, 5/27/2011: "As expected, the biggest problem with Meyer was his command. Even though the results were good, his performance could aptly be qualified as “effectively wild”...Surprisingly, Meyer showed much better command of his slider than he did with his fastball. He was able to consistently break his slider off the outside corner of the strike zone, generating a lot of swings-and-misses. While Meyer struggled with his fastball command, he appeared much more comfortable throwing away from right-handers than he did coming inside. While Meyer has made strides in refining his command since high school, it will be hard for him to ever have even average command. His arms are simply so long that it’s difficult for him to keep everything in sync. His arm action is long in the back, and I think the somewhat unorthodox delivery will makes it especially difficult for Meyer to command the ball. Meyer will also have to make strides to control the running game, as the length in the back of his delivery causes him to be slow to the plate. When it comes right down to it, I don’t envy the scouting directors picking in the 6-12 range who will have to make the call on Meyer. He has the size and stuff to be an absolute force in a big-league rotation, and he’s made encouraging strides over the last three years, but he’s still raw. While he could be great, you can see him as the type of pitcher who’s lack of command forces a move to the pen. While his fastball-slider combination could make him a shutdown closer, in this highly regarded a draft class, you’re probably looking for more value out of a top-10 pick."
From Jonathan Mayo, MLB.com, 5/27/2011: Quotes from Meyer: "I finally quit growing this year and started putting on weight, but it started with being confident out there and attacking the strike zone and not giving the hitters too much credit. You have to attack them as much as they want to attack me. You learn from your past. It can be the best teacher for you. And I think it was. I knew guys would take pitches and try to get my pitch counts up. The main thing is location and keeping the ball down. I truly believe that. When you try and pitch instead of just throw, it really makes it easier for you. I think it's a big reason why I was successful this year. Baseball has so much failure in it. It's how you come back from it," Meyer said. "I'm not saying I had a perfect season, but it was definitely better than the last two seasons. I think that's been huge for me. When you go through failure, you're going to know how to deal with it, how to respond to it. I feel I went through quite a bit of failure, more than I wanted to, I grew from it, I got stronger, I'm a more mature baseball player because of it."
From Charlie Fliegel, The Nationals Review, 5/18/2011: "He has a complex delivery that has lead to serious control issues. He has issued plenty of walks, and may never be able to bring down the walk total enough to be a great pitcher. Keith Law mentions, though, that his command and control have improved, and there are positives in his delivery. To me, this means he may be a work in progress, but there is room for the right pitching coach to make him better. Still, many fear that he will be a walk machine. Keith Law’s summary was a good combo of the hopes and fears about Meyer: Meyer’s lack of track record hurts him, and even with the improved control he was walking a guy every other inning until his last few outings, but it’s top-10 or top-5 stuff with No. 1 starter upside. But if the Nats are looking for a starter, even if he’s great they may not get it. According to Kevin Goldstein at Baseball Prospectus: One scout summed him up best by saying, 'He’s either a number one, a shutdown closer, or doesn’t get out of Double-A.'"
From Matt Garrioch, MLB Bonus Baby, 5/13/2011: "Alex Meyer is an impressive pitcher on the mound. His fastball pops and his slider is just nasty but so is his delivery. He is so tall that if his mechanics just get off by a little bit, he could be a mess, but when he is on, his stuff is phenomenal. I don't think I could pull the trigger on him in the top 15 picks though."
From John Sickels, Minor League Ball, 3/30/2011: "Composite ERA in Kentucky games is about 4.75 so he is pitching quite well for context, although the walk rate is rather high. Mid-90s fastball and above-average curve stand out, but command and mechanical issues keep him from Gerrit Cole/Sonny Gray status. A certain first-round pick in most drafts, might drop to supplemental in this one but upside is impressive."
From Stephen Goff, Houston Examiner, 3/7/2011: "Despite his struggles, Meyer has tremendous growth potential and could be on the road to a successful major league career once he gains more confidence in his fastball location, slider, changeup and two-seam fastball, thus leading to greater consistency. He's a big, imposing right-handed pitcher who combines a 94-96 mph fastball with an above-average curveball, making him a classic, raw-power arm that utilizes a repetitive, low-effort tall delivery. 'I like to attack with the fastball,' Meyer said. 'I feel like it’s an out pitch. I feel like I have enough velocity on it to get by some guys. I throw a knuckle curveball. I try to stay on top of it to get more of a 12-6 action. There are some I hook a little bit and end up getting a slider action. It’s something I need to get more consistent at doing. I'm also starting to throw a better two-seam fastball and changeup. It has helped to change my game.'"

Follow @AlexMeyer17 on Twitter.

According to John Manuel of Baseball America, Meyer signed for a $2 million SB.

Round 3: Matt Purke, LHP, Texas Christian University

(from USA Today)

Baseball-Reference
TCU Bio

Sean's one sentence analysis: The lefty starter fell to the third round due to injury concerns, but snagging him here was a great coup for the Nats; elite talent does not grow on trees.

Thoughts from the community: 
"Purke got hit hard in his initial AFL outings last fall but settled down with four straight scoreless outings. He held his own in two spring outings, but more importantly he seemed healthy. Purke features a low-to-mid 90s FB and a plus low-80s SL. Like Ross Detwiler, he has a history of dropping his arm slot and throwing across his body, flattening his stuff. He's set to begin the 2012 campaign in Potomac, and all indications at this point are that he'll be in the starting rotation." - Luke Erickson, NationalsProspects.com (@nats_prospects)


Previous analysis and notes:
I was ecstatic with the pick when it happened. While Purke was obviously no guarantee to sign both because of his injury and his sophomore eligibility, it was the right place to take a risk.The Nats would have gotten a compensation pick at the end of the 3rd in 2012 if he didn't sign.
From John Sickels, Minor League Ball, 6/14/2011: "Huge wild card. Put up great numbers (1.71 ERA, 61/20 K/BB in 53 IP, 36 hits) despite injury issues and loss of velocity. Has sophomore leverage. If he looks good this summer, he could earn first round money, but my psychic powers say he heads back to college."
From Keith Law via Amanda Comak, The Washington Times, 6/7/2011: "I could craft you an explanation about how the time off cost him arm strength, and how he didn't have time to rehab the arm and regain both velocity and durability, and it would all make sense. I'm not dismissing the possibility that given time and the right strengthening program, Purke can again pitch like he did during his healthy and successful freshman year. But the bottom line is that pitchers with big price tags need to show big stuff, and Purke didn't do it in what is likely his last opportunity before the draft to show he's worth what he's expected to demand."
From John Manuel, Baseball America, 6/7/2011: "Purke was never quite right in 2011. He didn't pitch last summer or fall and wasn't able to recapture his '10 form in 2011. Purke's fastball hit the mid-90s last year and sat at average this year, and his stuff across the board was down, plus he missed time with arm issues. He was an unsigned first-rounder in 2009 and might be the toughest sign in this draft, considering he agreed to a $6 million deal in '09 before it was vetoed by the commissioner's office."

According to Jim Callis of Baseball America, Purke signed a Major League deal worth around $4.4 mil.