Erik Tolman 2018 LHP

Depends on how good he is, but I tend to agree.

He would meet a need with the dearth of quality LHP on this team, but he’d have to be a stud.

I do agree we could have a need for another lefty, but we still have a ways to go roster management wise to make room. If all these signees are making it to campus outside of Turang and and Kelly, that's 18 guys coming in. If only Bush, Sanders and Feduccia sign from our current roster, that means we have 26 returnees (at the moment)

18+26 = 44 on the roster already for next year and we have to get down to 35. Maybe a current recruit or two gets told to head to JUCO for a year. We have 8 incoming RHP as of right now and only 1 LHP, maybe trade 1 RHP for this lefty there.

Well, Project is busy but I've got some time. Here's the skinny on Tolman.

He's a 6-2, 180-pound lefty out of El Toro High School in Lake Forest, California and a former Cal Poly commitment.

This year as a senior Tolman was 6-0 with a 1.63 ERA. In 47.1 IP, he gave up 36 hits and 13 walks while striking out 60 (OBA of .200). He also hit .361 with nine doubles, a triple and three homers in 72 at bats.

Here's his Perfect Game profile.

Perfect Game video from April 4 of this year.

Prep Baseball Report comments from a month ago...


5/9/18 - Erik Tolman took the mound In a must-win situation for El Toro last week and had his best showing we've seen this season. Tolman threw a complete game finishing with nine strikeouts to only only one walk. He also induced eight flyouts and four groundouts. At one point Tolman retired 14 straight hitters. He allowed one earned and three unearned runs. His fastball was up to 89 while living 86-87. He maintained his velocity throughout his outing as he touched 88 two times in the seventh inning while living 85-86. While his fastball was good, it was his slider that really opened eyes. Working 76-78 and touching 79 it was a hard biter with tight rotation and tilting action. The pitch induced weak contact, generally to the pull side in the outing. On the day, it was Tolman's best pitch and really made his fastball play up. Tolman showed feel for a changeup that his threw sporadically early in the outing before going to it more in combination with the slider in the middle part of the outing. Working 75-77, the pitch was a good change of pace as hitters began to sit fastball the second time through the order. For good measure Tolman added a two-run home run at the plate in his teams 8-4 win.

He's apparently been clocked at 91-92 with his fastball though it sounds like he's usually 88-89.

A week ago he threw a two-hit shutout with seven K's to put his team in the state championship game. Quote from his coach...

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“It was everything about Tolman today. He was lights out,” said El Toro coach Mike Gonzales, in his 17th season. “To have that pitching performance in the semifinals of the Division 1 playoffs says a lot about his character.”

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And from a February scouting report at Scout Trio...

Fastball-85-87 (88) (89x1) (30/40), slightly higher out of pen

I have no problem with the full grade bump on Tolman’s fastball because of the projection in the body, and the way the arm works. Also believe that the fastball could play closer to a 45-grade in shorter outings in the future. Tolman consistently showed strong average to good life on his fastball. The life varied from run to sink, yet he showed an ability to spot it well, especially in the lower half of the zone.

Changeup-76-77 (50/60)

Tolman’s changeup plays very well off his fastball. The pitch shows good feel for arm speed, fade, and late depth. The reason I have a full grade jump on the pitch, is while it flashes good, it is a little inconsistent. Where Tolman can improve is consistently settling into his lower half and finishing the pitch well out front.

BB(1)-Slurve 73-78 (50/55)

Velocity on Tolman’s breaking ball ranged throughout the game. Earlier in the outing, the pitch sat more in the higher part of the velocity band, showing more 2-8 shape than anything else. The reason the pitch has a strong average future grade on it, is because throughout the outing the pitch flashed that or better, due to it’s late depth and bite. When Tolman replicated arm speed, he was able to get tight spin on the pitch, allowing me to project out. Later on, the pitch had more 1-7 shape, and didn’t have the same bite to it. Still a chance to have a strong average offering here.

BB(2)-

NA

Command-(45/55)

In his delivery, Tolman uses a high hip twist, and conceals the ball well on the backside. When he stays in his lower half, he does a good job of staying on plane and throwing strikes. As he continues to mature into his body, will only allow for more consistent strike-throwing in the future.

Body

Tolman is loose and athletic. He has a wiry build, with a lower half and upper half that can add strength in the future.

Summation

There is quite of bit of projection here with Tolman, the reason I put him in the “C” present category. His arm works, with feel for arm speed on both his breaking ball and changeup. As he continues to grow into his body, I see him having an uptick in velocity, while seeing his fastball still play very well within the strike zone. There is some deception here and hitters to don’t see the ball well out of the hand. He mixes and matches well, showing strong average pitch-ability. Tolman is an athletic kid that I would recommend in the 7th Round.

Looks like he’s pretty legit

Maybe going juco and committed here for the 2019 class, 2020 season?

From Baseball America below, I’ll see what I can find on the bolded announcement.

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Tolman had helium after he helped pitch El Toro (Lake Forest, Calif.) to a section title as a junior and touched 92 mph at the Area Code Games the following summer. But he didn't maintain it, pitching at 85-88 mph with shaky control as a senior and losing most evaluators' interest. Tolman is physical and athletic with room to grow into his 6-foot-2, 186-pound frame, so there is hope his velocity will increase with time. He shows feel to spin a hard, 75-79 mph breaking ball and has a 71-73 mph changeup he throws for strikes. He moonlighted as a power-hitting outfielder with a strong swing on days he didn't pitch. Tolman has promise, but his lack of velocity and questionable strike-throwing ability have most teams willing to let him go to college. He signed with Cal Poly, but it was announced late in the spring he would not be attending there. He has not yet committed to another school.

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Appreciate the info guys, I’ll keep this updated if I hear anything more on it.

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Perfect Game's No. 1-ranked left-handed pitcher in California for the 2018 class of recruits

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This is huge

While googling around for info I ran across his dad's twitter and he's got videos of Mainieri talking about the recruiting class posted 13 hours ago. There's definitely something to this. Hope we can make some room.

Pops Twitter