The Texas Ranger’s 1st round (9th overall) selection in 2003, 21-year-old John Danks has elevated quickly within the Ranger system. In just three years, Danks has played at every level, from rookie to Triple-A. He has shown the ability to be a major league starter as soon as next April.
Starting the 2006 season at Double-A Frisco, Danks went 5-4 with a 4.15 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 69.1 innings. His poise and potential led to a promotion to Triple-A Oklahoma, where he continued to impress at a young age, sporting a 4.33 ERA and striking out 72 batters in 70.2 innings.
Danks was the youngest pitcher and fourth youngest player to take the field in the Pacific Coast League in 2006 – behind Oakland first basemen Daric Barton (147 at-bats), Oakland outfielder Larry Cobb (4 at-bats), and Anaheim shortstop Sean Rodriguez (2 at-bats).
Project Prospect recently held an email interview with Danks, where we asked him about his chances on making the 2007 Ranger rotation, his quick Minor League ascension, and his thoughts on possibly being traded.
Project Prospect: In April, Ranger’s GM Jon Daniels said that you received some serious consideration to join the big league team out of Spring Training. Did you feel like you had a shot to make the team out of camp?
John Danks: Going into spring training, I was told and already knew that it would be a long shot – if at all – of me making the club out of Spring Training. But as camp progressed, a few pitchers went down with some injuries and there was some uncertainty with the guys that were going to make the club. I had heard that I was going to be considered but I still felt like they had some other options that they were more comfortable with at that time.
PP : As a pitcher who tends to work up in the zone, are you concerned about pitching in Ameriquest, a home ballpark that tends to give up a lot of home runs?
JD : You know I’m not really concerned at all for a couple of reasons.
First of all, the opposing pitcher has to deal with the same difficulties that Ameriquest Field presents. All I have to do is pitch better than him that day, as it is with every game I’ve pitched in my life.
Secondly, my main focus this next year is to improve my groundball/flyball ratio. I’ve been working on a sinker, my change up is still new and improving everyday, and my curveball is big enough to get ground balls when I am able to keep it sharp and down in the zone.
PP : What minor league pitching atmosphere have you enjoyed the most?
JD : Aside from Frisco and Oklahoma City – which I loved pitching at – I'd say either Springfield, Missouri or Corpus Christi, Texas in the Texas League and Round Rock, Texas in the Pacific Coast League.
Both Springfield and Corpus Christi average probably 8-10 thousand a game and are very knowledgeable fans. I got the rare opportunity to pitch at home in Round Rock in the PCL. That was a game I will never forget for the rest of my life. I think I'd like Ameriquest the best though.
PP : There were a variety of rumors earlier in the season that you might be traded. What was going through your mind, knowing that you may be playing for a new team at any time?
JD : I understand that baseball is a business and being traded, though it’s not always what you want, is part of the game. I would love to spend my whole career with the Texas Rangers. They are the home town team and they were the team that gave me the opportunity to play pro ball for a living.
That being said, the trade rumors get to my mom more than me. My dad and I have talked and we get it, but my mom would hate it if I were traded away from the Rangers.
PP : Going through six different leagues in three years, you’ve ascending through the minors quickly. Have you felt prepared every time that you’ve been promoted?
JD : Yes. I feel like the rangers have done a great job with the young pitchers such as myself and Thomas Diamond by letting us have some success at a level before moving us. But with that, as soon as we show we have progressed beyond that level, they let us try at the next level.
It isn’t always pretty, especially with me the last few years, but it gives us some knowledge of what it is like to pitch at that level and it really exposes our weaknesses and gives us something to focus and work on in the off season.
PP : You continued to build upon your minor league success last season but you struggled some in the month of July (17 earned runs in 22.2 innings). Was that just a rough stretch of time for you, or was there something wrong with you physically?
JD : No, there wasn’t anything wrong. It was just me not being as sharp as I have been and when I did make some quality pitches they got hit. There isn’t anything I could have done differently it was just a rough stretch of games.
PP : Being from Round Rock, Texas, what was it like being drafted by an in-state team? Were you a Ranger or Astro fan growing up?
JD : Well when draft day came I wanted to be drafted by the Rangers. I have always been both a Rangers and Astros fan, but the Astros didn’t have any picks until the 3rd or 4th round, so I wanted to be a Ranger all the way.
We would get both the Rangers and Astros games on TV, so I just rooted for whoever was on that night. I guess the Rangers get the nod now obviously.
PP : Your brother Jordan projected as a first round pick heading into the 2005 draft but instead decided to play at the University of Texas. What kind of advice did you give him when it came down to making that decision?
JD : You know I didn’t tell him to go one way or the other. The only thing I really told him was there was no pressure from our family to go one way or the other and if he was as good as they had projected – which in my opinion he will be a top 10 if not top 5 pick overall when he is drafted – then he will get his chance in 3 years.
PP : What are you going to be doing this offseason to prepare for 2007?
JD : I am going to do all of the things I did last year except I’ll be doing it at home instead of in Phoenix. I have never felt so strong and prepared as I did last spring training and it showed. I feel like if I come in to camp as strong and in shape as I was last year, I will get some consideration for the 5th spot in the rotation.
PP : Though you weren’t promoted after the minor league season, in early September, Rangers owner Tom Hicks said that you will probably make the 2007 Ranger rotation. What do you think you’ll have to do in spring training to earn a spot?
JD : I think I need to pretty much be perfect. I feel like if I pitch like I did – aside from the Barry Bonds home run – I will get a legit look at the 5th spot in the rotation.
I know there are some other guys in the same boat as me and probably some they would prefer to use, so all I can do is keep the pressure on them and make it a tough decision.
Denny Foster can be reached at denny.foster.gmail.com.