June 29th 2011

Looking Ahead: Olympia Underclassmen

 

ORLANDO — While most of the 20 or so scouts at the Montverde vs. Olympia game were there to see top shortstop Francisco Lindor, they got an extra treat with Olympias young squad. Olympia has three very interesting underclassmen . . . 

Jesse Winker, of, 2012

Winker plays centerfield for Olympia, but profiles best as a corner outfielder. He has a strong, 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame and was noticeably stronger, especially in his legs, than he was this summer.

“Ive been working out a lot, working out my legs,” Winker said. “Im not a real big upper-body guy, but Ive just been working really hard. I go to Titus Sports Academy three times a week and Ive been working really hard.”

Winker uses those strong legs to produce some above-average power from the left side of the plate. But he hasnt been able to show as much power as hed like this season because pitchers arent risking throwing anything near the plate. In his game against Montverde, Winker drew three walks and flew out to left-center field, just getting under a pitch on the outer half of the plate.

“Jesses getting nothing to hit,” Olympia head coach Randy ONeal said. “Its been a really hard season for him. They dont pitch to him and everything is three feet outside or over his head and its been tough. When he does get something to hit, hes been hammering it, but its been a hard season for him. He takes his walks and thats one part hes going to have to do. I may even have to start hitting him leadoff at some point. If they want to start off a game with a walk, well end up scoring somehow.”

Winker, who is verbally committed to Florida, is trying to take what the pitchers give him.

“Im trying to hit the offspeed better,” Winker said. “Just throw my hands hard and use all fields, thats what Im really trying to do. If its inside, hit it to right, and if its outside, be disciplined enough to just take it to left for a good, hard single.”

Walker Weickel, rhp, 2012

Weickel started the game and overpowered most of Montverdes lineup. 

“My last start was about eight days ago, so I was just focusing on my mechanics and trying to keep my fastball low in the zone,” Weicklel said. “Theyre a really aggressive fastball-hitting team, so I was really trying to get some run on my ball and keep it low in the zone and hopefully get them to chase over the top of it.”

Weickel did just that. He used his big, 6-foot-6, 200-pound frame to drive his upper-80s to low-90s fastball down in the zone.

“Walker looked good,” said ONeal, who pitched in the big leagues for parts of seven seasons. “He went out there and attacked more, he threw more strikes today and thats the key to pitching—stay ahead and limit your pitches. When you attack and throw strikes, it widens the strike zone and the umpire starts calling more strikes. So, it gives you more opportunities to get strikeouts or put the ball in play and we have a good defense.”

Weickel, who is verbally committed to Miami, was spotting his fastball pretty well and staying on top of the pitch, but his secondary stuff—mainly a curveball and a changeup—are still a work in progress. The curveball was inconsistent in both shape and control.

On the underside of Weickels hat, in addition to his number and a motivational bible verse, he has a phrase he likes to think about when hes on the mound: “Be big. Be bold. Be better.” Weickel has a busy summer in front of him on the showcase circuit and hes working to take his game to the next level.

“This season, Im really trying to maximize my dominance out on the mound,” Weickel said. “Just come in there and no holds barred from first pitch to last pitch—really attack the zone with all pitches and not relying on just one. My fastballs my dominant pitch, but Im really looking to establish a cut fastball, as well as a hard changeup to complement each other and further my repetoire.”

Nick Gordon, ss/2b, 2014

Dees little brother is the starting second baseman for Olympia as a ninth grader and sees some time at shortstop, as well. He bats lefthanded and throws righthanded.

“Hes doing very well,” ONeal said. “I started him off hitting ninth and hes moved up to sixth and now hes moved up in the two-hole. He does a lot of things for the offense. He has good bat speed, good bat control and can do a lot of things with the hit and run—although I havent had to yet. But he can bunt, he can steal bases, he does a lot of good things and hes going to be a very good player, especially as a freshman.”

Nick says having a former big leaguer for a dad (Tom Gordon) and Baseball Americas No. 26 prospect as an older brother definitely helps.

“It helps me a lot because when Im down and think things arent going well, my dads there to tell me to just relax and have fun out there,” Gordon said. “My brother helps me with my hands and my fielding and all that. Im really close with my brother. After every game I call and talk to him and hell ask me how I did and Ill ask him how he did. Weve got that real good, brother relationship.”

ONeal said Nick and Dee are comparable players, from what hes seen.

“Ive seen Dee—he used to come up here and workout when he was at Seminole Community College,” ONeil said. “He works out here sometimes and hes very similar in body, but I think Nicks going to be a little bit bigger and a little bit stronger, so its going to be very interesting to see how he develops over the next few years.”

Nick, who stands 5-foot-10 and 140 pounds, is a little more bold with his assesment of how the two brothers compare at the same age.

“I didnt really get to see him play that much as a ninth grader, but he was real good,” Gordon said. “I dont know if he could touch me, though.”

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