Alex Muren

Like his older brother Drew, Muren is a quality athlete who split time between hitting and pitching for Northridge in 2010 and '11, before focusing on pitching as a junior this year. Muren caught scouts' attention by running his fastball up to 96-97 mph in the fall, but he has pitched in the 90-94 range this spring. Despite his power arm, Muren hasn't missed many bats this spring, posting a 43-26 strikeout-walk mark through 84 innings. Scouts like his 6-foot-3, 190-pound frame and athleticism, but he lacks deception and pitches on a flat plane. His below-average slider/cutter sometimes show depth in the 80-83 mph range and can reach 85-87. However, he doesn't run the pitch in against righthanders, instead leaving it in a hitters' comfort zone over the plate. He lacks feel for a changeup, despite the Matadors' efforts to teach him a circle change. Muren's body and pure arm strength make him an intriguing sleeper, but one scout referred to him as "a block of clay." Given his lack of polish and underdeveloped secondary stuff, he profiles best as a reliever.