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A New Springs Fresh Batch of Pitchers
It’s the spring, where hope regenerates and positivity begins to vibrate through the entire baseball world. This is where my year begins, the breath of green grass and impeccable infields almost serenade the stands. This is where hope and spring meet, that space between the pitcher and catcher, and on the base paths where it all happens. A time of new possibilities of improvement and milestones that is at the reach of practically anyone. In 2009, we saw some amazing young pitchers excel and just like that, they became the official new class of pitchers. These are now the proven young pitchers that will lead their teams and statistics into the future. Last year at 24 years old, Felix Hernandez was in his 5th year in the majors and made such a huge statement in baseball that Seattle signed him to a 5 year deal. The wisdom of a General Manager interested in winning like Jack Zduriencik kept the city of Seattle strongly competitive in the American League West. In Atlanta, another 24 year old named Jair Jurrejens dropped his ERA a whole point despite increasing his innings by 35 in his third year in the majors. While in Los Angeles, the Dodgers have in their hands Clayton Kershaw. Only 22 years old and only in his second year of major league ball, he showed power on the mound and kept his ERA under 2.80.
No high drafting, massive scout psychosis, or prospect predictions guarantees any players success. For some, it takes a few years after the whole carnival like attention diminishes for the real progress to begin. Still for others that legitimacy never comes and their names and play never really materialize. So, when in Spring I hear the names of new potentials, and unable to truly dissect their past performances, I simply allow their own hopes to become mine. Right now, the name of Stephan Strasburg is being kicked around by the media as the number 1 pitching prospect in baseball. Drafted last year out of San Diego State by the Washington Nationals, he has the size and at only 22 there is much expectation. The buzz is that Strasburg is the best pitching prospect to ever come out of a draft. He had a ratio of 13.9 K/9 during 243.1 innings in college which is a good sign that he’ll be a probable power pitcher. So with scouts adding to that by saying that his curveball’s almost unhittable, let's just say that Stephan Strasburg has a chance to be one of the most feared pitchers in baseball. The number 2 pitching prospect is Brian Matusz and he is now in his second year in the big level. He's also a big kid, a lefty that can throw in the mid 90's with three other above average pitches. If he manages to pitch with great control it makes me wonder if he should not be the number 1 prospect instead. He already has 8 games of experience and 44 innings worth of butterfly killing in the big leagues.
Matusz didn't exactly destroy the competition, but showed signs of being able to take complete control of a game into the seventh inning. He stands as the possible ace of the Orioles rotation if were allowed to let the spirit of spring envelope us and if the Orioles don't gift wrap him to another organization. Then we come down to the third top pitching prospect in baseball. His name is Neftali Feliz and in him we find a young man from the Dominican Republic who last year pitched 31 innings of major league ball (all in relief) in Texas and was able to shine with an ERA of 1.74. Feliz’s fastball alone touching 100 MPH has made him a premier relief pitcher in both Triple A and in the majors last year. Coming out of the bullpen Feliz will surely instill shock in batters who will face a casual almost effortless delivery that stands with the poise of a starter and throws triple digit heat. He can be that guy that comes out and finishes off the last three innings of a game with 7 strikouts. I admit that I fall into the spell of the scouting reports this time of year like everyone else. Why not? It's spring training, and everyone is out there on the field chasing a dream and taking advantage of youth, health, and hope. So regardless what top prospects succeeds or fails, or what unknown unexpected pitcher rises to the elite status of the year, the truth is that it’s Spring, it's baseball, and it’s the kid in all of us that waits anxiously for the first pitch of the year.
By Adrian Nevarez
MLBcenter.com Staff Writer
> View all of the 2008 MLB team previews from Pro Baseball Fans
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