REPORT FILED: MAY 19
Several college pitchers are expected to be selected in the early rounds of the upcoming June "First Year Player" Draft. Here are two college guys selected in the first round last year, who have done well professionally so far.
Jason Jennings
Colorado Rockies
Position: RHP Height: 6-2 Weight: 230 Born: 7/17/78
| Year |
Team |
Level |
G |
GS |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
K |
W-L |
ERA |
SV |
| 1999 |
Portland |
A |
2 |
2 |
9.0 |
5 |
1 |
1 |
2 |
11 |
1-0 |
1.00 |
0 |
| 1999 |
Asheville |
A |
12 |
12 |
58.0 |
55 |
27 |
24 |
8 |
69 |
2-2 |
3.70 |
0 |
| 2000 |
Salem |
A |
8 |
8 |
51.2 |
45 |
23 |
20 |
15 |
46 |
2-4 |
3.48 |
0 |
Named the College Player of the Year for 1999 by Baseball America, Jason Jennings' spectacular campaign for Baylor earned him the 16th selection in the 1999 draft. Jennings, a two-way player for the Bears, hit .386 with 17 homers at the plate, while going 13-2, 2.58, with 172 strikeouts in 147 innings on the mound. Scouts felt his best chance to succeed in the pros was as a pitcher. Unfortunately for Jennings, the team that drafted him was the Colorado Rockies.
Jennings has a hard sinker, timed as high as 94 mph. He complements it with a good slider, and has generally solid control. Scouts like his competitiveness on the mound, and he demonstrates an advanced knowledge of pitching. Although he has a tendency to gain weight, he should be a durable pitcher, and could handle a starting or relief role.
His pro performance so far has been fine. Although his ERAs have been decent rather than spectacular, his K/BB marks are solid, and that is the best indicator for future success. He does a great job of keeping the ball down, and has allowed just one homer so far this year.
The Rockies believe that Jennings' solid sinker and strong sense of self-confidence will enable him to survive in Coors Field. Is that true? Perhaps. First let's see how he does in Double-A, and then in the thin air of Triple-A Colorado Springs, before we start projecting how he will do at high altitude.
Fantasy owners have learned to avoid Rockies pitchers, so don't start grabbing Jennings for your farm leagues. Rockies fans can look forward to him, and he is the best bet for pitching help that Colorado has had in recent years.
Kurt Ainsworth
San Francisco Giants
Position: RHP Height: 6-3 Weight: 185 Born: 9/9/78
| Year |
Team |
Level |
G |
GS |
IP |
H |
R |
ER |
BB |
K |
W-L |
ERA |
SV |
| 1999 |
Salem-Keizer |
A |
10 |
10 |
45.0 |
34 |
18 |
8 |
18 |
64 |
3-3 |
1.61 |
0 |
| 2000 |
Shreveport |
AA |
9 |
9 |
52.0 |
37 |
17 |
12 |
22 |
38 |
5-2 |
2.08 |
0 |
A few years ago, "Tommy John Surgery" was a terrifying phrase. That isn't true anymore, as the procedure is becoming almost routine.
Kurt Ainsworth blew out his elbow early in his career at Louisiana State, but emerged from the operation as a better pitcher than he was before the injury. A soft-tosser previously, Ainsworth's surgically-repaired elbow is stronger than it was before he got hurt, helping increase his velocity into the 93 mph range last year. Since he already had good breaking stuff and sharp control, he became a top prospect, and was the 24th-overall selection in last year's draft.
Ainsworth blew threw the short-season Class A Northwest League after signing, and the Giants were confident enough in his ability to give him a chance in Double-A this year. So far, he's been doing extremely well for Shreveport, allowing just 37 hits in 52 innings, with a 2.08 ERA. Giants fans are already salivating over his arrival, and his name is starting to enter the consciousness of many fantasy owners looking to invest in young pitching.
Despite his excellent pro performance so far, I do wish to sound a note of caution about Ainsworth. It has nothing to do with his elbow; that looks like it is going to stay sound. I'm worried about his K/BB ratio. He's been very hard for batters in the Texas League to pick up, as we've mentioned. But his strikeout rate is rather low, and his control hasn't been spotless. K/BB is the best indicator of whether or not a pitcher is ready for the next level, and right now Ainsworth's K/BB isn't great.
Don't get me wrong, here, I think he's a terrific prospect. Anyone with a 2.08 ERA in the Texas League is doing something right. Just hold your horses, Giants fans. He needs more time in the minors, and try not to get too excited until that K/BB mark improves.
John Sickels is the author of the STATS 2000 Minor League Scouting Notebook. You can email your questions to him at JASickels@AOL.com.
| |
ALSO SEE
Down on the Farm archive
 |
