5 days till FSU baseball: Shane Drohan looking to breakout as Saturday starter in junior year

Shane Drohan had an up-and-down 2019, but still came out with an effective 3.66 ERA. The lefty started the season as the Seminoles’ Sunday starter, posting a 3.60 ERA through ten starts. Despite the decent ERA and winning FSU some series, Drohan was moved to the bullpen due to a lack of command and efficiency. The LHP took just one loss on the season, but also picked up just three wins to his name due to the inability to get through five full innings on the hill. As a sophomore, he walked 8.43 batters per 9 innings and posted a WHIP of 1.85. He was able to keep his ERA down by getting swing-and-misses with his elite raw stuff, posting a K/9 of 12.5.

New pitching coach Jimmy Belenger is hoping a change in pace keeps the Florida-native in the zone at a more consistent rate. Belanger sped up the tempo of the lefty’s delivery, which has led to less misses high and a much lower walk rate. Drohan didn’t give up any free passes in four innings of work during the fall, but he did give up four free passes in four innings of work yesterday. The command issues usually come after the first two innings, so learning how to pitch deeper into games and stay consistent with the delivery throughout the game will be key to his development in his junior season

Drohan does possess true elite, first-round stuff. The spin-rate on his fastball and curveball regularly average in the above-average range and he often makes hitters look silly when he’s around the zone. The fastball will sit 92-94 MPH, while topping out at 95. It also has good two-seam action on it from the left side. The breaking ball is a hammer curveball that he can use against lefties and righties for an out pitch. The curveball rides the same tunnel as the fastball, before a sharp drop below the batter’s bat. He’s a good high-ball pitcher due to the difference between FB and CB and being able to change the batter’s eye level. He also throws an above average changeup that induces weak contact from right-handed hitters.

For the second straight year, Dro will start the season as a weekend starter, but this year as the Saturday starter. Now, will he be able to show the staff he can be in control and efficient enough to start for the whole season. If he can just get the fastball in the zone at a high rate, he’ll be fine, getting chases out of the zone on the elite off-speed. If the walk-rate comes down this year, FSU will have a productive year and Drohan will be receiving quite a healthy signing bonus in the 2020 MLB draft.

2020 FSU commit Trey Carter is currently ranked the 114th overall player and number one outfielder in the state of Virginia by perfect game. He possesses 5-tool potential, and you can see the power and lightning in his bat in this short clip. Carter is a potential impact freshman for the 2021 season if he makes it to campus.