Jul 16 2009
Ones To Watch-Pitchers Making ML Debuts, 2009
Pitchers of Note Making Their ML Debut in 2009
Andrew Bailey, RHP, Athletics
Bailey made the All-Star Team, this year, no small feat in one’s debut year. He certainly earned it.
39 G, 1.92 ERA, 10 Saves, 51 2/3 IP, 31 HA, 3 HRA, 19 BB, 60 K
Daniel Bard, RHP, Red Sox
This hard-throwing rookie reliever has barely scratched the surface, as far as potential is concerned. Serious gas and a power slider, along with a bulldog demeanor, make him future closer material.
20 G, 2.55 ERA, 24 2/3 IP, 17 HA, 0 HRA, 29 K (10.6 K/9)
Ronald Belisario, RHP, Dodgers
Yet another young, talented hurler in a system which produces top-notch pitching like noone else, this massively-built gunslinger was originally drafted by Florida in 2001, and even spent two years out of baseball altogether before catching on with Los Angeles this year. He had yet to make it any higher than Class AA before 2009.
43 G, 2.42 ERA, 48 1/3 IP, 46 K
Brad Bergesen, RHP, Orioles
Bergesen has been a bright spot in an otherwise shaky and unremarkable Orioles rotation. This control artist has recorded more than 100 innings and averaged more than 6 per start, and his 2.2 BB/9 places him among the league’s best.
6-3, 3.54 ERA, 16 GS, 104 1/3 IP, 10 HRA, 25 BB, 53 K
Luke Gregerson, RHP, Padres
Along with fellow rookie Greg Burke, Gregerson has given the Padres one luxury they otherwise might not be able to afford: a power arm in the ‘pen.
33 G, 3.35 ERA, 37 2/3 IP, 40 K
Tommy Hanson, RHP, Braves
This top pitching prospect needs no introduction. He is predicted by many to be a harbinger of the next great Atlanta pitching staff, and will doubtless be a rock upon which they can build for years to come. He is on pace for 16-18 wins, though he will likely level out a bit in this, his first ML season.
4-0, 2.85 ERA, 7 GS, 41 IP, 25 K
Kenshin Kawakami, RHP, Braves
The former Japan League starter can hardly be considered a rookie, in the traditional sense, but age aside he’s still had to make the adjustment to ML batters, like any other rookie. Thus far, he does not look at all fazed.
5-6, 16 GS, 88 2/3 IP, 68 K
Vin Mazzaro, RHP, Athletics
Despite poor run support, the latest in an ever-increasing pool of current and former A’s pitching talent has more than held his own, and shows signs of developing into a solid #3.
2-5, 3.59 ERA, 8 GS, 47 2/3 IP, 15 BB, 30 K
Rick Porcello, RHP, Tigers
A regular in the Tigers rotation at the ripe old age of 20, Porcello has pitched brilliantly, at times, and has a very high ceiling.
8-6, 4.14 ERA, 16 GS, 87 IP, 31 BB, 47 K
Ricky Romero, LHP, Blue Jays
He’ll be at least the #2 man in the rotation (if not the ace) when Roy Halladay is traded/dumped/disposed of, and he should be up to the task.
7-3, 3.00 ERA, 13 GS, 87 IP, 69 K
Jordan Zimmerman, RHP, Nationals
A prospect among suspects as a member of the Quadruple-A Washington Nationals, his numbers haven’t exactly set the world on fire. Give him time, though; he’s the real deal.
3-4, 4.50 ERA, 15 GS, 86 IP, 28 BB, 84 K, 3:1 K/BB ratio
