Frankie Piliere
Date: Aug 12, 2006



With so much attention given to breaking down prospects piece by piece,
looking at their strengths and weaknesses with great detail, we present
Scouting Analysis here at CapitolDugout.com.  Using the valuable input of
professional scouts, we take an advanced look at lefty pitching prospect,
Jack Spradlin.


Present/Future Scouting Grades

Fastball - 3/4
Slider - 5/5
Changeup - 5/6
Overall Future Potential - 50
Adjusted Overall Future Potential - 55


Explanation.
Jack Spradlinis not out to overpower anyone, and if he did try to, his
84-87 MPH fastball would likely be pounded by advanced hitters. Instead,
he attacks batters with a masterful mix of three pitches.  In terms of
velocity, his fastball grades quite low, but he is helped by his outstanding
command and moxie.  Plus, if he's able to add a little bulk to his slight
frame, his velocity may jump.  Jack's secondary pitches are where he make
his living.  He already has a slider that is big league average.  It doesn't
appear to be a true strikeout pitch, but he locates it exceptionally
well and when he's on, it will produce a glut of groundballs to the left
side.  His slider was his go-to pitch in college, but it appears that
Spradlin also has the makings of an excellent changeup that will serve him
well at the pro level.  In time, it may be a plus pitch.

No, he may not have any plus pitches at this point, and, by definition, has
a below average fastball, but that doesn't mean he can't be a steady Major
League pitcher for many years.  Pitchers like Jamie Moyer and in the past,
Denny Neagle, have made great livings by commanding the zone with pedestrian
fastballs.  Spradlin doesn't appear to have the upside of pitchers of that
caliber, but he at least has a chance to be a number four starter.


Physical Description.
Physically, Spradlin resembles Devil Rays' pitcher, Casey Fossum.  He is
listed as 6-foot-2, but like Fossum, doesn't look the size.  He also appears
to have quite a bit of filling out to do, weighing in at 170 pounds.  He
flashes excellent athleticism, getting off the mound to field his position
and showing a powerful follow through.  His natural build is slight, so
putting on extra weight may be somewhat difficult and durability over a
long season may be a significant question as well.


Mechanical Distinctives.
Much of Jack Spradlin's game is centered around deception. In a finesse
pitcher like the former USC Trojan, scouts usually look for a trick pitch
or a quirk in the delivery.  He may not have the trick pitch, but he does
have a "funky" delivery.  For a comparison, look no further than Texas
Rangers' closer, Akinori Otsuka.  Both pitchers share the delay in in
the middle of their leg kick.  At least in the low levels of the minors,
hitters have a tough time regaining their timing after the pause right
before Spradlin delivers the ball.  Once he breaks his hands, he hides the
ball well behind his back, using his long, loose, arm action.


Abilities.
The number one thing that Spradlin has going for him is that all of his
pitches look identical coming out of his hand.  Hitters don't get a good
look at him as he goes through his delivery, and the fact that he commands
all three of his pitches bodes well for his future as a Major Leaguer.
Spradlin can't afford to miss his spots with any of his pitches. Despite
the lack of raw velocity, he does have some late life on his heater and
it comes out of his hand nicely.  Coupled with his deceptive windup,
Spradlin shows swing and miss stuff on occasion.


Summation.
Left-handed pitchers with less than dominating stuff have long had success at
the big league level, and Spradlin could be the type of hurler to follow that
same path.  He profiles as a back end of the rotation starter who has enough
moxie and command of his pitches to keep his team in the game. His
competitiveness and mound aptitude also bode well for his future.