|
|
The Toronto Blue Jays acquired RHP Jason Arnold from the Oakland Athletics in December of 2002 as part of a four team trade. Arnold was drafted by New York Yankees in the second round of the 2001 draft. Arnold, who was traded twice in 2002, ranks as number 26 in our Top 50 list.
|
Vital Statistics:
Name: Jason Arnold
Position: Starting Pitcher
DOB: May 2, 1979
Height: 6’3”
Weight: 210
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Jason Arnold was an unknown commodity coming out of high school, and he felt lucky to even get a scholarship to the University of Central Florida. Even at Central Florida, Arnold was not expected to do much, that is until one of his coaches spotted a flaw in his mechanics, and upon correcting it – adding 30 more pounds of body weight – and dedicating himself to working as hard as he could, Arnold began to contract serious attention from scouts. He was drafted in the 16th round by the Reds after his junior season, however Arnold did not like the financial terms they were offering, and went back to finish his degree. The choice paid out tremendously for Arnold as he went 14-3 with a 1.97 ERA, and being selected in the 2nd Round by the New York Yankees.
Arnold had an impressive debut in his first professional season pitching in the spotlight of New York, with the Staten Island Yankees. He won seven of his ten games that summer, posting a 1.50 ERA, and allowing just 35 hits in 66 innings while striking out 74 batters.
In 2002 Arnold started at high A with the Tampa Yankees, and finished at AA, after being traded to Oakland in midseason. Arnold started 26 games that year and posted a combined 2.61 ERA. In 2003, Arnold began the season with New Haven of the Eastern League (AA), and after posting a 3-1 record, and a 1.53 ERA in six starts, he was promoted to AAA Syracuse. There, he appeared in 21 games totaling 120 innings and showed his first signs of weakness going 4-8 with a 4.33 ERA. It was also the first time his strikeout ratio fell, as he struck out just 82 batters in 120 innings.
This season, Arnold began at AAA Syracuse again, however spent most of the season on the disabled list, before being sent to the Arizona Fall League to catch up on his
development.
Dick Scott, the Jays Director of Player Development, believes Arnold needs to get more serious on his work ethic, and can’t rely just on his stuff. “I think one of the things he has learned the last year was that you need to have the work ethic to go along with your ability. There are not too many guys that can just throw it up on the table and compete, and everyone needs to work hard. Major league players like Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens have legendary work ethics and minor league players need to do the same thing, and that is something Jason has learned the hard way. With that being said I think he is now working harder, and will need to be ready to step it up. He has done well at Double-A and has shown flashes at Triple-A, but in order to be a big leaguer you need much more consistency and that is what he has been lacking.”
Year |
Team |
W-L |
ERA |
IP |
H |
BB |
SO |
|
2001 |
Staten
Island |
7-2 |
1.50 |
66 |
35 |
15 |
74 |
|
2002 |
Tampa |
7-1 |
2.48 |
80 |
64 |
22 |
83 |
|
2002 |
Norwich |
1-2 |
4.15 |
17.1 |
17 |
5 |
18 |
|
2002 |
Midland |
5-1 |
2.33 |
58 |
42 |
24 |
53 |
|
2003 |
New
Haven |
3-1 |
1.53 |
35.1 |
18 |
11 |
33 |
|
2003 |
Syracuse |
4-8 |
4.33 |
120.2 |
121 |
48 |
82 |
|
2004 |
Dunedin |
1-1 |
4.35 |
10.1 |
13 |
2 |
11 |
|
2004 |
New
Hampshire |
0-1 |
3.15 |
20 |
17 |
5 |
14 |
|
2004 |
Syracuse |
1-3 |
3.65 |
37 |
40 |
12 |
15 |
Repertoire: Fastball, Slider. Changeup, Splitter
Fastball: Arnold has an average major league fastball, sitting in the 89-91 MPH range, however did flash a fastball as high as 93-94 MPH at times before getting injured. He needs to work on controlling his fastball and get back that sinking movement he had in 2002.
Other Pitches: Arnold has a slider that has potential to be a good out pitch for him, however he has yet to master it. The Blue Jays wanted Arnold to try a splitter in hopes of having it develop as his out pitch. Reports from the AFL were that Arnold did show a positive development with his splitter.
Pitching: Arnold needs to develop an out pitch to have a chance of success in the major leagues. Arnold will not be a strikeout pitcher in the major leagues, however needs to find his sinking fastball, as well as master the splitter and slider to cause groundball and increase his chances of success.
Projection: Arnold was once considered a top prospect, however one could have foreshadowed what teams really thought of him back in 2002 when he was traded by the Yankees in July and then by Oakland in December. Arnold, however, is still relatively young enough to re-establish himself as a factor with the Blue Jays. Right now it does not look like Arnold will be a major league starter, and figures to have more of a future in the bullpen. The upcoming season will be a make or break year for him as far as his future as a starter is concerned.
ETA: 2005 – Arnold is expected to begin 2005 at Triple-A. If he does not progress as good as the Jays think he should, then a transition to the bullpen should occur. Either way, Arnold is expected join the Blue Jays sometime in 2005.
|