Batter's Box Interactive Magazine - An interview with Sean Nolin

Sean Nolin was a 6th round pick of the Blue Jays in this years draft out of San Jacinto Junior College in Texas. Here is what Baseball America said about him:

At 6-foot-4 and 250 pounds, Sean Nolin looks like a lefthanded version of Jason Jennings. Nolin's fastball will sit at 86-89 mph in some games and 88-92 in others, and he backs it up with a solid changeup and fringy curveball.

Nolin sounds like a more raw player, despite his college experience. Nolin was born on Boxing Day and he will be 21 this year and entering next season. Nolin has made three starts for Auburn with mixed results. As the story notes, and as Vince Horsman and our own sam reported a week ago, Nolin is not in full playing shape yet.

BB: You are from Seaford New York, where is that?

SN: It's on the southern part of Long Island, it's near the beach. It's a pretty nice area.

BB: Were you a Yankee or a Met fan growing up?

SN: I was aYankee fan growing up.

BB: So when you were drafted by the Blue Jays you knew a lot about them?

SN: Definitely, I know every team in the AL East just from following the Yankees.

BB: Did you have much expectations going into draft day?

SN: I was hoping for top ten rounds, that's what I was looking for. I had a really good junior college season, I went 13-0 and I felt I was in that area.

BB: Did the Blue Jays talk to you before the draft?

SN: Definitely, they were talking to me a little bit and things worked out.

BB: Where were you when you got the draft news?

SN: I was still in my apartment in Texas. Our move out date was a few days later, I was there with my roommates when I heard.

BB: That was in June, and you only signed a few weeks, so did you do anything in those six weeks?

SN: I took it easy for a few weeks before starting to work out a little bit. I definitely needed some time off because I threw a little over a 100 innings in college.

BB: So when the Jays brought you into Dunedin what did they tell you about this year?

SN: Just work hard, do what you can this year and we will see what happens.

BB: Did they tell you you were coming here or did they say go to the GCL and we'll see what happens?

SN: Start in the GCL. Then I guess they felt I needed to move up.

BB: I know it's early days yet but have you found much of a difference in the hitters here?

SN: Yeah they seem to be a lot better. They go for a lot of contact, they are very aggressive but I will get used to it as I get back into pitching shape.

BB: Compared to where you were when you finished the college season, how is your throwing now?

SN: I think I am still behind, just from the workload I had. It put me behind a little bit but I am working my way back, getting stronger and hopefully I can finish the season strong.

BB: And then next year, whatever happens, happens?

SN: Wherever they want me I am ready to play.

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Batters Box thanks Sean Nolin.

Image note: When I was in Auburn I never saw Sean Nolin in full uniform as he was in the stands for both games charting. This bottom image is the only picture I have of him.

Posted by Gerry on Tuesday, August 17 2010 @ 09:30 AM EDT.

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John Northey - Tuesday, August 17 2010 @ 10:19 AM EDT (#220993) #

Given he'll be around 120+ IP this season I guess 150 is the goal for 2011 (full season A) then 180 in AA and ready for the majors as far as an inning level goes.

Of course, the big issue will be 'can he develop into a major leaguer'. However, it is nice to see that he should be OK from an inning standpoint by the time he'd be ready (as opposed to how Cecil and a few others were).

Gerry - Tuesday, August 17 2010 @ 10:29 AM EDT (#220996) #

Just repeating sam's report on Nolin....

Sean Nolin - Although his stat line was not that impressive you can see why the Jays selected him relatively high in this past draft. Nolin is a big-body workhorse type pitcher, the type of guy who you pencil into the back-end of a good rotation to gum up innings and give your team a fairly good chance of winning each time out. He possesses what looks to be three major league average pitches and strong pitchability. I was impressed. He did well to keep Lowell's running game in check and made pitches when he had to. His fastball ranged from 84-89 mph, his curveball was 71-76 mph, and his change-up was 74-77 mph. He was eradicate with his fastball command on this occasion, and reverted to his off-speed stuff to get hitters out. He seemed clearly frustrated with his fastball command and velocity. In the second inning he threw three straight fastballs ranging from 85-87 mph and after each one would whip around to look at the scoreboard to seemingly check his velocity. This brought a quick visit from catcher Jack Murphy and Nolin seemed to refocus. Nolin tended to miss up in the zone, I don't think this will be a problem long-term, I would put this down to exhaustion. I don't know how many innings he's thrown this year but it certainly looks like he's carried a significant workload. He tended to fall off the mound after 40 pitches (overly-dramatic continuation on his follow-through) and he laboured for the most part through this start. However, his mechanics are clean, he was free and easy for the most part, and the tempo to his delivery and to the way he worked was nice. In my opinion with some significant rest and conditioning this offseason he could have an excellent season next year at Lansing. I think going forward the Jays will ask him to keep his weight in check (he does look like he could have a Boomer Wells-type physique when all is said and done) and they'll probably work a bit on his mechanics, but to me he looks like a solid pitcher with good intangibles. Note: I think his fastball velocity in the long-run will be 88-91. He has a quick-arm and there's some projection left with better conditioning and some mechanical work.

rtcaino - Tuesday, August 17 2010 @ 10:50 AM EDT (#220999) #

Thanks as always, Gerry!

He definitely does not look to be in great shape in that last picture.

sam - Tuesday, August 17 2010 @ 12:14 PM EDT (#221014) #

Ya to echo some of the comments made on his body. It wasn't just the fact he looked out of shape, heck in my opinion there are a lot of Major League pitchers who look out of shape. He just looked exhausted pitching and I can't ever remember a pitcher sweating as profusely as Nolin did in his start. He looked like he was in a sauna. With that being said, he competed in his start, and it seemed like he was frustrated with the fact he was out of shape and tired, which leads me to believe that he'll come back next year in better condition.

sam - Tuesday, August 17 2010 @ 12:16 PM EDT (#221015) #

Excellent interview as always Gerry!

92-93 - Tuesday, August 17 2010 @ 04:08 PM EDT (#221040) #

He just looked exhausted pitching and I can't ever remember a pitcher sweating as profusely as Nolin did in his start.

Ever see David Purcey on a hot summer day? His jersey becomes another shade of grey.

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