10-309: LHP Joe Bircher

With the 1st pick in the 10th Round (309th overall), the Astros select 6'4" 220 LHP Joe Bircher, a 22-year old Senior out of Bradley University.

*Bircher is from Omaha, Nebraska, and was a 2012 All-Missouri Valley Conference selection, as well as a 2011 Cape Cod Baseball All-League choice, and a team co-captain in 2011 and 2012.

*In four years (58 appearances, 50 starts), Bircher threw 359.2IP, allowing 346H/143ER, with 302K:95BB, and nine complete games. In his senior season, he allowed 93H/33ER, in 110IP, with 113K:21BB in 110IP, going 7-3 with a .225 BAA. Bircher owns the Bradley career record in stikeouts and IP.

*Bircher was #56 on College Baseball Daily's pre-season Top 100.

*Here's a video from WEEK-TV with Bircher.

*Bircher throws a low-90s fastball, with a slider, curve, and changeup. Bradley coach Elvis Dominguez says:
“He has command of three of them most nights. When he has command of four, he’s really tough to hit. I’ve never been around a kid who throws as many strikes as he does with that many pitches. Plus, he’s such a great competitor....I’ve been getting a couple of calls a week from scouts, I think Joe would be a tremendous asset for any organization. Somebody will take him in the first 15 rounds. It just depends on which organization will take a chance on him.”

Bircher:
“Ever since I was a kid watching Roger Clemens pitch, I always wanted to be out there in front of all those fans. I’ve filled out a few informational stuff from teams, but nobody’s really told me anything (about whether they’re going to draft him). I’m not too concerned about it. Good players on good teams get noticed.”