Scouting Report on Donnie Veal

No Cubs prospect exploded on the scene more than Veal. After riding an impressive wave at Boise in 2005, Veal climbed the rungs in 2006 playing in both Peoria (Low A) and Daytona (High A) and earned Cubs' Minor League Player of the Year honors (splitting it with Rich Hill). In only his second season, Veal led Cubs minor leaguers with 174 strikeouts and the minors with a .174 BAA. With the 68th overall pick, the Cubs selected Donnie in the 2nd round of the 2005 draft following up their earlier selection of Utah High School sensation Mark Pawelek, another young lefty pitching prospect. Yet the Cubs were not the first Chicago team to select Veal, as the White Sox selected him in the 12th round of the 2003 draft out of Buena Vista High School in California. But neither side came close to agreeing to a deal as Veal had already committed to the University of Arizona. Yet Veal did some labrum damage in his freshman year, the worst injury possible for a pitcher, and didn't opt for surgery as many others have. Instead, Veal rehabbed on his own, allowing the scar tissue to build and stabilize the labrum, transferred out of the U. of Arizona, and into the local Pima Community College (in Arizona) playing in the following season where in 74 IP he struck out 119 batters while posting a 3.65 ERA with only his fastball and a developing changeup. His quick rebound impressed the Cub scouts along with others that had followed him since high school days, if he could takeover a ballgame with just a fastball and changeup, he'd be more impressive when he's able to throw his curveball again. The Cubs gambled that the labrum would hold up and he'd continue to impress with his filthy stuff. Still he's flown through the system that has taken the cautious approach with their young arms.