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.