Josh
Osich
LHP
/ Oregon State
Bats-Throws: L-L
Height/Weight: 6-3/225
Hometown: Boise,
Idaho
Previously
Drafted: Angels ’10 (7)
Birthdate: Sept.
3, 1988
SCOUTING
PROFILE: The 6-foot-3, 225-pound Osich is your classic
high-reward, high-risk lefthander. He has unquestioned first-round
quality stuff with a fastball that will peak at 98 mph, but Osich
also never won a game in his first three years at Oregon State. He
missed all of the 2010 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. Osich was brought back slowly
this season in a starting role for the Beavers, and has averaged just
five innings a start. But he continued to increase his workload
through the spring, and his stuff and command have predictably
improved with almost every outing. Everything came to a head on April
30, when he pitched a 2-0 no-hitter against UCLA, walking just one
and striking out a career-high 13. He outdueled Bruins high-profile
righthander Trevor Bauer, who fanned 15, and Osich’s sudden
breakthrough came about, coincidentally, when he was finally given
the green light to cut loose with his breaking stuff. Prior to that
game, he had been limited to using just his fastball and changeup. He
dominated UCLA with all three pitches, and that single performance
may have pushed Osich over the top and into first-round consideration
for this year’s draft, though teams remain skeptical of his long
medical file and checkered record of success in four years at Oregon
State. Though he failed to win a game as a freshman in 2008, going
0-0, 7.56 in 12 appearances, Osich’s impressive raw stuff was
readily apparent, and it came to the forefront that summer for
Corvallis in the West Coast League. Not only
did he pump his fastball anywhere from 92-98 mph, but he hardly broke
a sweat doing it. He generated easy heat, mostly at 94-95, though his
fastball often straightened out and tended to elevate the harder he
threw it. It was apparent then, though, that Osich needed to develop
better command and better feel for his secondary stuff to become a
more complete pitcher. His slider and changeup both graded out as
slightly below-average pitches. As a sophomore at Oregon State, Osich
made 17 appearances (one start), but again failed to win a game. Even though Osich hadn’t throw a pitch
in more than a year, he was nonetheless selected in the seventh round
of last year’s draft by the Los Angeles Angels, but gave little
thought to signing. Finally healthy again this spring, Osich has been
used strictly as a starter, but the prevailing wisdom, given
his history of injuries and lack of finesse, is that he’ll
eventually end up in a meaningful short-relief role, where he could
excel with his power arm. With the notable exception of his signature
outing against UCLA, Osich’s stuff and command have been
inconsistent this spring. His fastball has generally ranged between
92-96 mph. As Oregon State entered NCAA tournament play, Osich was
6-4, 3.57 with 32 walks and 79 strikeouts in 76 innings. There may be
a lot of temptation on the part of some clubs to pop Osich late in
the first round because of his tremendous upside, but the sandwich
round might be more prudent.
Projected
Draft Position: Late first round /
compensation round.
Perfect
Game Events Attended
2006 Sunshine West Showcase
2006 National Showcase
2006 WWBA 18U/06 Grad. National Championship