Corey Black Scouting Report

The Cubs were close to trading Alfonso Soriano last night before the Cubs and Diamondbacks gone, but didn't complete the trade until this morning. It wasn't known who the Cubs had received in return until a bit later when we learned the Cubs got RHP Corey Black. 

Black was ranked the 157th best draft prospect prior to the 2012 season and the Yankees selected him with the 157th pick. 

Black has some surface similarities to 2004 No. 1 overall pick Matt Bush, starting with his 5-foot-11, 170-pound frame. He’s slighter than Bush, who like Black first attracted attention at Mission Bay High in San Diego as a two-way player. Black wound up missing much of his junior season with Tommy John surgery and went to San Diego State, getting more time as a pitcher than a hitter. He pitched 121 innings in two seasons and went 4-5, 3.56 with 78 strikeouts and 42 walks in 73 innings as a sophomore, but he was taken off the Aztecs roster in the fall. He wound up showcasing himself at the Arizona Fall Classic and transferred to NAIA Faulkner so he would be eligible to pitch in 2012. Black has a quick arm and can run his fastball up to 94-96 mph at times, and he should sit there in a future bullpen role. Both his slider and changeup have their moments; his changeup developed into a reliable second pitch, with his breaking ball remaining inconsistent. Black’s fastball should get him in the first five rounds despite his medical history and size.

John Sickels had Black ranked 12th in the Yankees organization prior to this season. 

12) Corey Black, RHP, Grade B-: Got up to 100 MPH after signing out of Faulkner University in the fourth round and command was better than expected in pro ball. Could move very quickly.

Obviously this isn't a guy who can hit 100 regularly or anything, but even getting it up to that speed is impressive. 

Jason Parks of Baseball Prospectus sees Black as a reliever and he's quite confident about it.

He's a short RHP with a high-effort delivery and a very good FB. I've seen him work 95-plus with ease, showing good late life on the ball. It's a 7 pitch. He's a reliever all the way. I've seen him drop a decent CH before, and I know he had both a CB and SL. He could be a seventh-inning type, but it's a limited ceiling.

He's had some control issues this year and after the trade, he's not ranked in the Cubs system. I'm unsure what he was ranked in the Yankees organization prior to the season. 

Pinstriped Bible had a pretty good interview with him that they published less than two weeks ago. In January, River Avenue Blues had a very good article on Corey Black. 

He's walked a bit over 10% and struckout just above 23% in his short professional career. Prior to this season, he had shown very good control, but it's something he'll have to work on. On top of the increase in walks, he's also hit 7 batters this year and thrown 14 wild pitches. 

To get Corey Black for Alfonso Soriano has to be considered a good trade for the Cubs. They gave the Yankees as much money as they did in order to secure a decent prospect and Black is. He'll go to High A Daytona and my guess is that if he can show improved command over a month or so, he could get moved to Tennessee by the end of the year.