Black , Pounders, Chambers Join Bucs

The Bucs took Victor Black, 6-4, 205 pound junior RHP from Dallas Baptist University, in the supplemental round. He can hit 95 MPH and has a good slider, with a work-in-progress changeup. Black was 6-4 with a 4.16 ERA in 88-2/3 innings, with 99 strike-outs and 40 walks. He faced better competition than you’d think with Dallas Baptist, as he often pitched mid-week against Big 12 competition.

He's made a big jump this year; he had control issues as the first two years and is a project of sorts. Black, 21, didn't pitch until he was a high school senior, so he still has room to improve and some upside, although some think he may end up in the bullpen. He was drafted out of high school by the Mets, and was expected to go in the supplemental - second round range.

In the second round, they took 6-5, 240 pound RHP Brooks Pounders, 18, from Temecula (Cal.) Valley HS. He throws an average heater, but has command of four pitches, a rarity for a young pitcher, and good control.

Here's what MLB.com has to say about him:

Control: Throws strikes, has above-average fastball command. Will be a plus command guy in the future.
Poise: Good poise, works quickly, and has a no-nonsense attitude on the mound.
Physical Description: Big-body guy; doesn't look very athletic, but actually is fairly athletic when it comes to repeating his delivery. Kind of a Jonathan Broxton type.
Strengths: Four at least average pitches from a high schooler. Works fast and throws strikes, the type who can throw a two-hour game.
Weaknesses: Will have to maintain his body. To get into the upper echelon, some would like to see an increase in velocity.
Summary: Pounders might be more substance than style. He doesn't seem to have the best body in the world, but he's more athletic in his delivery than you'd think. He won't light up a radar gun -- something that might hurt his Draft status -- but he does have four pitches he can throw for strikes as a high schooler. That kind of pitchability doesn't grow on trees, especially from the prep ranks.

The third round pick was Hillsborough CC centerfielder Evan Chambers. He's a 5-9, 210 pounder that hit .324/11/39 in 188 at-bats. Chambers is a speed guy that stole 27 bases in 29 tries, and is a plus defender. The 19 year-old was drafted out of high school in 2007 by the Rockies in the 17th round. He looks like a serious reach, though; Baseball America had him as a 5th-6th round pick.