All About Kyle Schwarber

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Here is a smattering of things said about the Cubs pick of Kyle Schwarber today:

A poster here at NSBB posts indiana beat writers opinions

For his career at Indiana, Schwarber had 114 BB, 89 K and 39 HR. Great plate discipline and power in a pitchers park.

In the MLBTV interview, one of the first things he said was, "I model my game after Joey Votto." No matter where he plays on the diamond, that's a great thing to hear.

There have been multiple Brian Giles comparisons thrown around based on body, stance, swing, approach and production.

Some Tweets:

@aaronfitt: Hearing same. Might be best college hitter & best power hitter in class. RT @Clint_BA: Cubs will draft Kyle Schwarber at No. 4 sources say

@jazayerli: Kyle Schwarber models his game after Joey Votto? No wonder the Cubs took him. #OBP

@ProfessorParks: Interesting move by #Cubs. I like it. Save some money, get a good stick, go heavy on the depth later on. Its smart.

@BleacherNation: In release about the pick, Jason McLeod says Schwarber has the power and patience Cubs look for, and also the character.

@BruceMiles2112: McLeod added #Cubs felt Schwarber was best bet in draft "hands down" and makeup "off the charts.

@BruceMiles2112: #Cubs expect a quick signing of Schwarber. Boise a possible first destination.

@CarrieMuskat: #CubsMcLeod: "He does everything that we like from an offensive standpoint in terms of controlling the strike zone, hitting for average ...

@CarrieMuskat: ... hitting for power. His makeup is off the charts." McLeod on Schwarber #Cubs

@keithlaw: I believe it. They love the bat. RT @NW_7: @keithlaw Any thoughts McLeod saying the Cubs had Schwarber 2nd on their list behind Aiken?

@sahadevsharma: McLeod on Schwarber moving quickly (1/3): Bryant has set the bar high & really we need to step back & look at reality

@sahadevsharma: McLeod on Schwarber moving quickly (2/3): I don’t want people think he’s going to be in AA, doing what Kris is doing this time next.

@sahadevsharma: McLeod on Schwarber (3/3): But we do feel, with his profile & the way that he handles himself as a hitter, that he can move pretty quickly.

Clint Longenecker @Clint_BA · 25m: Schwarber walked in 16% of PAs versus 10% SO rate with .283 ISO in pitchers park

KendallRogers from Perfect Game: Had a prominent college coach tell me late last year @Cubs pick, #IU’s Kyle Schwarber was the best pure hitter he’d seen in 15 years.

@M_Montemurro: McLeod statement on Schwarber: Kyle has been 1 of premier performers in college ranks ... He displays what we look for in patience & power

Some video:

Cubs scouting director Jason McLeod reviews Kyle Schwarber, the Cubs' top pick in the MLB draft.

Schwarber

in a tourney game

Go to the

to see more Schwarber for Indiana.

Here's an HS football scouting video of his. There's a play 40 seconds in of him picking the ball and taking it 70 yards to the house that should give you a pretty good idea of his speed. Or at least his speed 3 years ago.

An Indiana interview with Schwarber after the selection:

http://scoop.hoosiershq.com/2014/06/schwarber-ecstatic-after-selection/

Kyle Schwarber met Theo Epstein in Surprise, Ariz., when Indiana was playing in the Big Ten/Pac 12 Challenge. The Hoosiers catcher talked shop with the Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations and the architect the 2004 and 2007 Boston Red Sox World Series championship teams, and both men came away impressed with each other.

“We had a great meeting because we were both on the same page,” Schwarber said. “We agree about hitting and everything and we just had a good time talking to each other. … He came out and watched me, and then their area scout came out to see us and (the scout) told me, ‘Theo really loves you, so just keep going.’”

“I was ecstatic and I’m kind of in shock,” Schwarber said by phone Thursday night after watching the draft with family and friends at the clubhouse at Weatherwax Golf Course in his hometown of Middletown, Ohio. “It’s really happened. All the hard work paid off. I just gotta keep going, but I’m very, very, very, very excited right now.”

Schwarber wasn’t drafted out of high school in Middletown and was arguably more highly coveted as a middle linebacker as he was a catcher.

It’s the second straight year that the Cubs have drafted a powerful college hitter. Schwarber joins 2013 first-round pick Kris Bryant, last year’s Golden Spikes Award winner who hit an astounding 31 home runs as a junior last year at the University of San Diego. They also have a power-hitting shortstop in the organization in Javier Baez, who hit 37 home runs in the minors last year.

The left-handed Schwarber thinks he can play off both well if they end up in the majors together.

“It’s going to be great,” Schwarber said. “It’s going to be like another (Sam Travis) and I deal.”

The lone knock against Schwarber going into the draft was that scouts were uncertain whether or not he would be able to play catcher in the majors and that he might have to make a move to left field or possibly even first base in the minors. He said he and the Cubs have not yet had any of those discussions.

“We haven’t even talked about it yet,” Schwarber said. “… Whatever the team wants me to do, I’ll do it.”

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