Sean Gilmartin
LHP / Florida State

Bats-Throws: L-L
Height/Weight: 6-2/190
Hometown: Moorpark, Calif.
Previously Drafted: Padres ’08 (31)
Birthdate: May 8, 1990

SCOUTING PROFILE: For a player who was drafted out of a California high school primarily as an outfielder, Gilmartin has made some improbable strides in his development over a three-year period to become one of the elite college lefthanders in the 2011 draft class. He made significant headway this year, in particular, improving from a disappointing 9-8, 5.24 record as a sophomore to a stellar 12-1, 1.83 mark this season, along with walking just 20 walks and striking out 122 in 113 innings. It marked the third year in a row that Gilmartin led Florida State in wins and strikeouts, but he was a different pitcher this season as he threw harder than in the past, up to 92 mph, and became a more-complete pitcher. With no go-to pitch, Gilmartin has always pitched pretty much to contact, but he located all of his pitches much better as a junior than in the past. In particular, he worked both sides of the plate more efficiently with his fastball, especially the inside corner on righthanded hitters. He also had better command of his Tom-Glavine-like changeup, probably the best pitch in his repertoire, and also a 72-75 mph curve and 79-81 mph slider. As opposed to 2010, when his fastball was often only in the high-80s and he tried to nibble on the corners too often, Gilmartin trusted his superior stuff more this spring and went after hitters with conviction. Like few pitchers in the college game, Gilmartin understands his ability, both his strengths and weaknesses, and will pitch to his strengths to exploits a hitter’s weaknesses. Those qualities, perhaps more than his raw stuff, should land Gilmartin in a preferred spot in this year’s draft, probably in the sandwich round, but possibly late in the first round. But with no swing-and-miss pitch, he profiles as a back-end of the rotation starter in the major leagues, or possibly a swingman in the bullpen. Regardless of what the draft holds in store for him, or what his future role in the game might be, Gilmartin has improved by leaps and bounds since high school, when he saw regular duty in the out field and worked mostly out of the bullpen. Swinging a bat at FSU became secondary for him (he has had 78 at-bats in three years) and he stepped in as the Seminoles ace as a freshman, going a very respectable 12-3, 3.49. He has remained the team’s ace for three years. Though his performance slipped as a sophomore, he rebounded strongly this season and became the savior of the FSU pitching staff as his 12 wins were double his closest pursuer, and 122 strikeouts more than twice as many as anyone else. Gilmartin has an ideal pitcher’s frame at 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds and is obviously athletic, but his upside is limited. He is pretty much what he is, but that should be plenty good enough to reach the big leagues as quickly as any pitcher in this year’s draft.

Projected Draft Position: Late first round / Sandwich round.