Auburn Doubledays Pitching Prospect Review

We take a look at the peripheral stats of the Auburn Doubleday pitchers as a review of this past season, and as a method of analyzing their future. The Auburn pitchers finished with a season ERA of 3.40 which was good enough for fourth in the NY-Penn League.

Kristian Bell : RHP

Bell did not have a successful 2004 campaign with the Auburn Doubledays after being selected in the 11th Round of the 2004 Major League Baseball Draft out of Blinn Junior College. The right hander must learn to keep the ball in the zone, and if he can master his command we feel he will have a chance of being successful as the other factors of his game are just about average.

Level	Team	ERA	IP	WHIP	BB/9	K/9	HR/9	Avg.
A	Auburn	5.85	32.1	1.61	6.1	8.9	0.02	.236

Robert Janssen : RHP

Janssen was the Jays fourth round selection in the 2004 draft, and had a solid debut in professional baseball starting in ten games for the Auburn Doubledays. Janssen’s peripheral stats check out well, however he is 23-years-old, and is expected to post these type of numbers after four seasons at UCLA. In terms of his prospect status, Janssen needs to be challenged at the higher levels. He probably will begin 2005 with Lansing, however, Dunedin will be the level he will be challenged mostly, and the level we would like to see him spend a significant portion of the year at.

Level	Team	ERA	IP	WHIP	BB/9	K/9	HR/9	Avg.
A	Auburn	3.48	51.2	1.11	1.76	7.9	0.35	.240

Chris Leonard : LHP

Leonard was the Jays eight round draft choice in the 2002 draft, however, he injured himself that summer and did not pitch in professional baseball until this past summer. The lefty got hit hard a little this summer, however, is still one of the Blue Jays top left hand prospects. He is 24-years-old right now and needs to move up the ladder rather quickly to hold onto the term “prospect.”

Level	Team	ERA	IP	WHIP	BB/9	K/9	HR/9	Avg.
A	Auburn	4.45	60.2	1.48	3.29	9.27	0.75	.286

Michael MacDonald : RHP

The fifteenth round selection of the Jays in 2004 came out of the small college of Maine-Orono, as he made a profound impact in his first season of professional baseball, cruising through Auburn and Charleston. There is not much we don’t like about Macdonald, and we see him playing in the Florida State League in 2005. MacDonald will certainly be watched closely by us in 2005, and he could be a pitcher that begins to make serious noise within the system during the next year or two.

Level	Team	ERA	IP	WHIP	BB/9	K/9	HR/9	Avg.
A	Auburn	1.55	46.1	0.78	1.17	5.9	0.39	.242
A	Charleston	1.93	32.2	1.18	2.52	6.43	0.56	.242

Casey Mckenzie : RHP

The Toronto Blue Jays drafted Mckenzie in the 27th Round of the 2004 draft out of the University of Tampa. The right hander was one of the workhorses in the Doubledays staff, and showed the command needed to begin 2005 at Lansing. If there is one negative in his game, it would be that he tends to pitch high in the strike zone, and is prone to giving up the long ball.

Level	Team	ERA	IP	WHIP	BB/9	K/9	HR/9	Avg.
A	Auburn	3.78	69	1.39	2.6	8.1	0.52	.284

Joey McLaughlin : RHP

The 18th round selection in the 2004 draft out of Oklahoma City University had a solid season coming out of the bullpen for Auburn going 4-1 with a 2.40 ERA. His fifty one strikeouts in forty-five innings pitch does project well for the future, however, we would like Joey to work on his command slightly. He should go past Auburn in 2005, however, we are a little weary of how he will fair with his poor command at the higher levels.

Level	Team	ERA	IP	WHIP	BB/9	K/9	HR/9	Avg.
A	Auburn	2.40	45	1.11	4.20	10.2	0.00	.177

Juan Perez : RHP

The 23-year-old from the Dominican Republic has spent part of three minor league season with the short season clubs, and figures to begin 2005 with Lansing, with an eye at Dunedin. Perez was exceptional for the Doubledays this season posting a 6-1 record with a 2.76 ERA, and showed the control needed to get some recognition in short season baseball. Perez, however, will not overpower you, so maintaining his control will be a key for him as he gets challenged at different levels.

Level	Team	ERA	IP	WHIP	BB/9	K/9	HR/9	Avg.
A	Auburn	2.76	58.2	1.22	1.55	6.19	0.31	.269

Jayson Rodriguez : RHP

The 21-year-old was the Jays 12th round selection in the 2003 draft, and pitched out of the pen for the second straight season. He does have potential for the future, however, cutting down slightly on his bases on balls will only improve his stock.

Level	Team	ERA	IP	WHIP	BB/9	K/9	HR/9	Avg.
A	Auburn	3.28	35.2	1.25	3.84	7.67	0.00	.212