This is the final installment of Nick Christie's coverage of how the top pitching prospect faired this spring.
Daisuke Matsuzaka
– Everyone’s favorite Japanese sensation pitched pretty well in his
first spring training. While his control deserted him on more than one
occasion, his deception and high-quality offerings generated lots of
strikeouts and very little solid contact. The 26-year-old touched 96
MPH and showed an array of off-speed pitches, his changeup being the
most dominant in his arsenal.
Spring Line: 21.2 innings, 11 hits, 11 walks, 26 K’s, 2.91 ERA, 1.02 WHIP
Kei Igawa
– Overlooked against the Matsuzaka backdrop, the Yankees’ import often
preferred to walk a guy rather than leave anything in the strike zone.
However, Igawa’s six starts saw progressively sharper performance and
increased velocity. While not as electric as his Boston counterpart,
Igawa did exhibit good breaking pitches and a more than respectable
fastball in the low 90’s with movement.
Spring Line: 23.0 innings, 19 hits, 12 walks, 22 K’s, 3.13 ERA, 1.35 WHIP
Mike Pelfrey
– Pelfrey began the spring throwing a very impressive sinker and
recording 80-90 percent of his outs via groundball. However, his 95 MPH
fastball with late downward movement did not dominate anyone his last
two starts. Pelfrey’s changeup and slider remain works in progress, as
evidenced by his very low strikeout total. The 6-foot-7 right-hander
will get at least two minor league starts to hone his stuff before
emerging as the Mets’ fifth starter in mid-April.
Spring Line: 23.0 innings, 33 hits, 3 walks, 5 K’s, 5.48 ERA, 1.57 WHIP
Matt Garza
– Garza produced a fine spring line but ultimately relied too much on
his fastball for the Twins’ liking. The 6-foot-4 right-hander showed a
very live arm, regularly touching 95 MPH, but his secondary pitches
were not outstanding. The Twins made the unpopular move to start him in
Triple-A Rochester, and Garza should stretch out for at least 2-3
starts before the Twins re-examine him. Given the swag currently in the
rotation -- i.e. Carlos Silva and Sidney Ponson -- Garza should be up
by May.
Spring Line: 12.0 innings, 9 hits, 5 walks, 7 K, 1.50 ERA, 1.17 WHIP
Adam Miller
– An unmitigated star of spring training, Miller took reassignment well
two weeks ago despite a near-flawless spring performance. Like Pelfrey,
Miller specialized in pounding the zone with sinking fastballs, but
unlike the Mets’ top prospect Miller exhibited his trademark slider to
good effect. Exactly how much his stock did or should rise is up for
debate, but the 22-year-old looks certain to get an opportunity this
year, probably by the All-Star break.
Spring Line: 14.0 innings, 8 hits, 3 walks, 8 K’s, 0.00 ERA, 0.79 WHIP
John Danks – Danks out-performed Gavin Floyd to catch Manager Ozzie Guillen’s eye and be named 5th
starter for the White Sox. However, the newly acquired lefthanded
prospect did not look especially remarkable. His fastball hovered
around 90 MPH and his command was often mediocre. It will be
interesting to see how he fares against the American League this April.
Spring Line: 21.1 innings, 25 hits, 10 walk, 16 K’s, 5.91 ERA, 1.64 WHIP
Jason Hirsh
– A somewhat controversial prospect – some analysts adore his dominant
Triple-A ERA – Hirsh got pounded this spring just as he got pounded in
his late-summer call-up in 2006. Hirsh has yet to show a true
plus-pitch, as demonstrated by his lack of strikeouts. How he will fare
in Colorado is still unknown, but the indicators are not looking very
good as of now.
Spring Line: 17.2 innings, 17 hits, 8 walks, 5 K’s, 7.13 ERA, 1.42 WHIP
Nick Adenhart
– Adenhart unexpectedly remained in Angels’ camp up to the very last
weekend and looked very mature this spring. The 20 year-old
right-hander exhibited excellent command all spring, but especially in
his final two starts. Should he continue to locate three pitches with
similar effectiveness he could receive a call-up this year despite not
having pitched above the High-A level.
Spring Line: 14.2 innings, 7 hits, 7 walks, 4 K’s, 1.84 ERA, 0.95 WHIP
Brandon Morrow – The 5th
overall selection in the 2006 draft walked into spring training and put
on a pretty decent show. Coming on only in one or two-inning relief
appearances Morrow, 22, lit up radar guns with a high-90’s fastball and
exhibited strong command of a nasty split-fingered fastball. The elbow
scare of J.J. Putz has made Morrow’s stunning spring debut even more
conspicuous, as the Mariners seem convinced that his rifle arm should
be immediately harnessed in the Mariners’ bullpen. Whether Morrow will
get a chance to start again remains to be seen. Should a closer really
be taken 5th overall?
Spring Line: 8.1 innings, 4 hits, 3 walks, 8 K’s, 1.08 ERA, .84 WHIP
Tim Lincecum
– The spring sensation from the 2006 draft was supposed to be Lincecum,
not Morrow. However, the 5-foot-10 right-hander did not fare well, as
despite showing off his rocket arm he endured rebukes for having too
straight a fastball. Lincecum will undoubtedly see San Francisco later
this year, but for now the Giants would like him to work on his command
– his bb/9 rate in college never dipped below 4.50.
Spring Line: 7.0 innings, 8 hits, 1 walks, 7 K’s, 6.43 ERA, 1.29 WHIP
Andrew Miller
– Kenny Rodgers’ surgery to remove a blood clot provoked immediate
calls for Miller to receive a quick call-up to join the Detroit staff.
The Tigers quickly dismissed those cries, however. Miller looked
impressive early on in spring, but he has a lot of work to do on
improving his control and developing a changeup to go with his brutal
slider.
Spring Line: 6.0 innings, 7 hits, 4 walks, 7 K’s, 4.50 ERA, 1.83 WHIP
Nick Christie can be reached at nickchristie@gmail.com.