Well, if you throw in a herky-jerky delivery and the face of a guy who looks no more than a day over fifteen, you’re left with quite possibly the most unlikely phenom in all the land: Tim Lincecum.
The San Francisco Giants made Lincecum the number 10 overall selection in last year’s draft, and after the first impression he made in the minors last season, it’s safe to say that nine other teams wouldn’t pass on the Renton, Washington native today.
Lincecum got off to such a fast start that he needed only four innings of experience at Low-A Salem-Keizer before earning his first promotion.
The University of Washington product finished out the campaign by making six starts at High-A San Jose, where he continued to dominate, posting ridiculous 16.73 K/9 and 0.83 WHIP numbers to go along with a 2-0 record and a 1.73 ERA in 31.2 innings of work over the two levels.
Lincecum literally hurls every part of his body towards the plate with every pitch, creating a blazing high-90’s fastball to go along with his knee-buckling curve. The torque put on his arm every time he releases the ball has left questions in the past regarding a spot in the starting rotation versus a role in the back of the bullpen for the Giants.
Just know this: Lincecum was ready to make an impact in the big league pen last season.
San Francisco is taking the time to develop their prized righty in order to turn him into the major league starter that they know he can be. If the Giants wanted Lincecum in the pen, he would be there right now. Mark it down: Tim Lincecum will start for the San Francisco Giants.
While he will never be confused for the largest of pitchers in stature, there’s no reason not to look at Tim Lincecum as “the next big thing.” His boyish charm and unique delivery may have scared some teams of on draft day, but the baseball world now knows that Lincecum will be arriving on the major league scene shortly to take the mound by storm in the city by the bay.
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