Orioles Prospect Profile: Matt Bywater

A few notes on Orioles minor-league LHP, Matthew Bywater, whom they drafted out of Pepperdine in the 7th round of the 2010 draft:

• Born on June 15, 1989 in Thousand Oaks, California. He played baseball at Thousond Oaks High School, before moving on to pitch at Division I powerhouse Pepperdine University.
• He's 6'2", 190 lbs, left-handed, and a work-horse, though not a particularly hard thrower.
• According to the Baseball Draft Report, his fastball sits around 88-89 with plus movement, he has a really good slow low-70s slider, and a high-70s sinking change-up.
• According to O's scout Gil Kubski:

"He's a 6'3", 6'4" left-hander, real lean. I think he's going to get bigger and stronger when it's all done. He's not a flame thrower, about 87 and will touch 90. But he's got an outstanding change-up. If there's a better change-up in the country this year as an amateur, I'd be surprised. It's anywhere from 79 to 81 and just disappears at home plate. It's an amazing swing and miss pitch for him. He also throws a slider that is his third pitch and needs some improvement and he's well aware of it. I think it's going to be an average pitch for him...He's got a real good understanding of how to pitch with his fastball. A lot of guys when they have a great change or breaking ball can fall in love with it. He knows that the more he uses his fastball, the more effective his secondary stuff is. And, he commands his fastball extremely well to both sides of the plate. He really has an understanding of how to succeed with his tools out there."

• Bywater was a starter all 3 years he pitched at Pepperdine, finishing with 19 career wins.
• In his junior (final) year, he was 6-5 with a 2.40 ERA, and averaged better than 7 innings per start, including 5 complete games and 4 shutouts.
• Those 4 shutouts were a Pepperdine record; the previous record holder was former MLB RHP Mike Scott, who was drafted out of Pepperdine in the 2nd round of the 1976 draft by the Mets, and finished with 124 career wins, 3 All-Star Appearances, and a Cy Young Award in 1986.
• Bywater was a unanimous first-team All-West Coast Conference selection in 2010.
• Bywater's velocity was the only real question mark on him, going into the draft. That caused him to drop several rounds, according to scouts.
• Thet team wasn't sure they'd be able to sign Bywater to a contract, and were afraid he'd go back to college; he ended up agreeing to a deal at the 11th hour before the signing deadline.
• Matthew's father's name is Curtis, his mother is Susan, and he has one brother, Brian.
• He didn't make his pro debut in 2010; odds are that he opens up this year at Low-A Delmarva, or possibly short-season Aberdeen.