With the 1st pick of the 17th Round (519th overall), the Astros select 6'1" 205lb 22-year old RHP Aaron West, a Senior out of the University of Washington.
West was UW's SP1 in 2012, starting a team-high 16 games, and tying for a team-high 7 wins. He was 7-5 with a 2.53 ERA, where in 96IP he allowed 89H/27ER, with 65K:18BB and a .249 batting average against.
The Perfect Game forum has this scouting report:
I like the way West pitches, as he commands the strike zone really well and pitches to contact. That approach doesn't serve him as well at the college level, when a lot of pitchers are taught to pitch away from contact, and because of that I could see West enjoying more success at the next level.
West showed back up on teams' collective radar recently:
"Being healthy and just getting my confidence back. I'm starting to pitch like I can pitch again."
We didn't come out here to play tiddlywinks, son.
-Hal Smith
