For the remainder of Spring Training, Project Prospect will be taking notes on how top pitching prospect are faring in their spring appearances.
Friday
Matt Garza – Following up Sydney Ponson, a main rival in the competition to be the Twin’s 5th
starter role, Garza threw two scoreless innings against Baltimore. He
gave up just two hits and struck out one. Ponson looked good too, but
the USA Today’s 2006 Minor League Player of the Year had little trouble
keeping up despite pitching on only three days rest.
Spring Line: 6.0 innings, 4 hits, 3 walks, 2 K, 1.50 ERA, 1.17 WHIP
Yovani Gallardo –
After a truly wild performance last week it was good to see the
normally reliable 20-year-old regain his form – albeit in just one
inning of work. Gallardo pitched a scoreless seventh inning against the
Angels. He allowed two hits but recorded two groundballs outs and a
strikeout.
Spring Line: 7.2 innings, 7 hits, 3 walks, 6 K’s, 4.70 ERA, 1.30 WHIP
Tim Lincecum –
It’s been an up-and-down spring for the 5-foot-10 right-hander, as he
followed up a flawless outing with a mediocre one against the Rockies.
Lincecum struck out a batter and induced four ground ball outs in his
two innings of relief but yielded two runs on two hits and a walk. Jeff
Baker’s two-run home run did the damage.
Spring Line: 7.0 innings, 8 hits, 1 walks, 7 K’s, 6.43 ERA, 1.29 WHIP
Sunday
John Danks – Last week Danks went head-to-head with Gavin Floyd for the 5th
starting sport and looked superior. This week saw exactly opposite
results. While Floyd came on in relief to pitch solidly, the Padres
knocked around Danks for six runs in 3.2 innings. Although the
21-year-old lefty struck out four and walked none, he did allow 9 hits.
Spring Line: 12.2 innings, 16 hits, 1 walk, 10 K’s, 5.68 ERA, 1.34 WHIP
Henry Owens –
Florida’s off-season acquisition from the Mets has brought
99-mile-per-hour heat this spring and looked good doing it. He threw
two more scoreless frames Sunday against the Nationals, striking out
three batters in the process. Owens turns 28 this April, however he has
just four career major league innings under his belt.
Spring Line: 9.0 innings, 7 hits, 2 walk, 6 K’s, 0.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP
Matt Lindstrom –
Florida’s other off-season acquisition from the Mets has also brought
99-mile-per-hour heat this spring and looked good doing it. Lindstrom
threw a scoreless ninth inning against the Nationals, striking out one.
The former Mormon Missionary turned 27 in February but has yet to throw
in the big leagues.
Spring Line: 7.1 innings, 6 hits, 2 walk, 4 K’s, 1.23 ERA, 1.13 WHIP
Nick Adenhart –
Surprisingly still around in Angels camp, Adenhart struggled with his
command versus the A’s. The 20-year-old issued three walks and gave up
three hits while allowing his first two runs of the spring.
Spring Line: 9.2 innings, 4 hits, 5 walks, 2 K’s, 2.79 ERA, 0.93 WHIP
Kevin Slowey –
Minnesota’s command specialist finally hit a speed bump Sunday, as the
Phillies knocked him around for three runs in his lone inning of work.
Slowey struck out two but yielded four hits and a walk.
Spring Line: 7.0 innings, 5 hits, 3 walks, 8 K’s, 0.00 ERA, 1.14 WHIP
Note: The Twins assigned Slowey to Triple-A Rochester Sunday evening.
Monday
Adam Miller –
Another week passes but the same question persists: Has there been
anyone more dominant then this guy? Miller threw five more shutout
innings in his last start of the spring, giving up just three hits and
a walk while striking out four.
Spring Line: 14.0 innings, 8 hits, 3 walks, 8 K’s, 0.00 ERA, 0.79 WHIP
Brandon Morrow – An elbow injury to J.J. Putz has made Morrow’s stunning spring debut even more conspicuous. The 2006 5th
overall draft pick struck out two more batters and walked just one in
his 1.1 inning relief appearance. He has exhibited strong command of
both his high-90’s fastball and secondary stuff.
Spring Lines: 6.1 innings, 2 hits, 2 walks, 8 K’s, 0.00 ERA, 0.63 WHIP
Note: The Indians assigned Miller to Triple-A Buffalo Tuesday.
Tuesday
Mike Pelfrey –
Pelfrey continues to grind out excellent performances. He’s been a
ground ball machine this spring, even if he’s not striking out a lot of
guys. Another solid five-inning outing yielded just one run on seven
hits, four of them bloop shots or misplayed fly balls. He’s become the
favorite for the 5th spot in the Mets’ rotation.
Spring Line: 14.0 innings, 17 hits, 1 walk, 3 K’s, 1.29 ERA, 1.29 WHIP
Kei Igawa –
Igawa has started showing his deception his last two starts. Five
shutout innings against the Phillies included just two hits and three
walks. The import has shown a preference to walk a guy rather than
leave anything in the strike zone all spring. Each start has seen a
sharper performance and increased velocity – he’s looking like the
seasoned veteran he is.
Spring Line: 12.0 innings, 10 hits, 10 walks, 15 K’s, 5.14 ERA, 1.67 WHIP
Wednesday
Matt Garza –
Another excellent outing will probably not keep Garza from starting the
year in Triple-A Rochester, but it does bode well for his future. Three
more scoreless innings add to his résumé, but the Twins will likely
want him to get a few starts in the minors.
Spring Line: 9.0 innings, 5 hits, 4 walks, 4 K, 1.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP
Daisuke Matsuzaka –
The Japanese sensation inspired all Boston mouths to water with a
stunning seven-strikeout, one hit, and one walk performance against the
Pirates. Matsuzaka yielded a first-inning run but then shut off the
lights, hitting 96 MPH on the gun and showing strong command of his
several pitch arsenal. Pirates’ hitters were seen crowding around
monitors to see what they struck out on, and were giggling in post-game
interviews.
Spring Line: 12.2 innings, 9 hits, 2 walk, 13 K’s, 2.84 ERA, 0.87 WHIP
Nick Christie can be reached at nickchristie@gmail.com.