The Draft: Lawrence Academy RHP Tyler Beede.

   As Draft Day approaches on Monday, we take a look at another prospective Reds selection during a visit to New England where we’ll have a gander at one of the draft’s more interesting youngsters, Lawrence Academy RHP Tyler Beede.

   Beede (6-foot-4, 200 pounds) is from Groton, Mass. Despite poor weather in the Northeast, Beede has put up ridiculous numbers this season, going 7-0 with a 0.32 ERA. In eight games and 44 innings he has allowed eight hits, walked six and struck out 89.

   A Vanderbilt recruit, Beede could be a difficult sign. He and his family value education and Beede is close to the Commodore coaches. Various sources project him to go in the late first or early supplemental round.

   Overwhelmingly regarded as the best high school pitcher in the Northeast in a year that features several good ones, Beede is quite intellectual. He writes poetry, attends dance classes and writes music. Beede lives in a dorm on the Lawrence Academy campus, even serving as the R.A., all week and returns home on weekends. He transferred to Lawrence as a junior after helping Auburn HS win a state title as a sophomore.

   Scouts love Beede’s frame and consider him projectable. He throws from a high three-quarters arm slot and offers a four-seam fastball that ranges from 88 to 93. He has touched 95. Beede doesn’t throw a two-seamer and some scouts say his heater lacks movement. His changeup, however, excites scouts. Beede uses multiple unconventional grips that result in impressive movement from 78 to 80 m.p.h. His arm speed makes the pitch look like a fastball coming out of his hand. Beede features an average curve and throws a slider in warm-ups, but hasn’t used it in games. He repeats his mechanics well and has smoothed them since last season.

   Beede is athletic. He played wide receiver, cornerback and longsnapper in football and has toyed with the idea of walking on as a longsnapper at Vanderbilt. Beede’s dad was a 13th round draft pick of the Cubs in 1981, but tore his rotator cuff early in his career. Beede’s dad reportedly has lamented not accepting a scholarship from Arizona State to turn pro and wants his son to carefully weigh his options.

   Beede brings advanced command and feel for his off-speed pitches and is known for his composure. He is mature and some scouts say his transition to pro ball will be seamless.

   A Red Sox fan, Beede is ranked the 35th-best player available by Baseball America.