Sun Devils’ ace brings heat

CLEMSON — San Diego State largely lucked into the proclaimed best baseball prospect of this generation, benefiting from Stephen Strasburg's transformation from a moody, overweight player into the most dominant pitcher in the college game.

The second-most dominant pitcher this season came from San Diego State's backyard, but recruiters and pro scouts long have been aware of his talents.

The desert might not be the only barren terrain No. 14 Clemson experiences this weekend if Arizona State junior right-hander Mike Leake holds to form.

While neither team has announced its starting rotation for the best-of-three Super Regional series in Tempe, Ariz., the Tigers know they will see the Sun Devils' ace, presumably in Saturday's 9 p.m. opener.

And their scouting reports suggest his credentials are no mirage.

"We've talked to a quite a few (coaches and scouts), and they're comparing his numbers to Strasburg," Tigers hitting coach Tom Riginos said. "They're saying if he was 6-4, 200 pounds, he would be the second pick overall. They're saying he's as fiery and competitive a kid as you'll ever see. We have our work cut out for us, but we're going to be up for the challenge."

The challenge for Clemson is to duplicate Virginia's improbable success last weekend, when the Cavaliers registered eight hits and two earned runs off Strasburg to hand him his first loss of the season.

Leake has lost once this season, but he doesn’t appear to be far behind Strasburg in proficiency.

He is 15-1 with a 1.23 ERA, having surrendered a streak of 26ð scoreless innings (and 33ð without an earned run) in the ninth inning of his complete-game victory Saturday against Oral Roberts.

Perhaps the last time the Tigers faced a pitcher with comparable numbers in a game of such magnitude was the 2002 College World Series opener against Nebraska. Clemson got the better of Cornhuskers righty Shane Komine (10-0, 1.87 ERA going in), tagging him for six runs in 5Ð innings of an 11-10 victory.

In 123ð innings this season, Leake has recorded 143 strikeouts to 20 walks, phenomenal numbers for a workhorse starter. Strasburg finished with 195 strikeouts and 19 walks in 109 innings, posting a 1.32 ERA.

"There is not a better kid and a better competitor," said Oral Roberts coach Rob Walton, who coached Leake on the U.S. National Team last summer. "He's as good as there (has been) in 10 years. When he does his thing, he's a pleasure to watch, except (if you’re) in the other dugout."

There are vast differences from Strasburg, though, in Leake's physical stature and pitching repertoire.

As Riginos noted, Strasburg (6-4, 220) has a prototype frame to go with a fastball supposedly clocked at above 100 mph.

Leake is a 6-foot, 180-pounder who hits 91 mph on the gun. According to a draft report filed on Major League Baseball's Web site, he throws four pitches, including a sinking fastball and vicious changeup, while displaying exceptional command. He has been compared to David Cone and Tim Hudson.

"He has the presence to pitch in the big leagues right now," the report reads. "He's more of a lead-by-example guy — soft-spoken, but confident."

Leake was a seventh-round draft pick of the Oakland A's out of high school but reportedly turned down a six-figure signing bonus.

His decision appears destined to pay off, as he is projected to go in the middle of the first round of next week’s draft and net a signing bonus of at least $2 million.

If Leake records a win against Clemson, he will move into a tie atop the school’s career victories list (39) with Eddie Bane, the scouting director for the Los Angeles Angels.

Three weeks ago, Bane evaluated Leake, reportedly writing on his notes: "Like Wiffle Ball. Other team can't touch."

"He's got command unlike almost any college pitcher," Bane told The Arizona Republic. "The only thing that will hurt him at all in the draft is his size. But the last smallish guy (Boston Red Sox’s Dustin Pedroia) to come out of (the Pac-10) ended up as the MVP of baseball last year, so maybe somebody's learned a lesson."

Said Arizona State coach Pat Murphy: "I know there is a kid everybody is making a big stink about (Strasburg). He deserves all the accolades he gets, he's a great one.

“But he ain't better than Mike Leake. That's a fact."