Ryan Tucker is pitching right in at Carolina
MINOR LEAGUE SPOTLIGHT
Southern California has produced more than its share of major league players. In this space, we'll take a look at how Southland players are faring in the minors. This week: the double-A Southern League.
Last season at Jupiter of the Class-A Florida State League, Ryan Tucker was a member of a rather unusual starting rotation -- all first and supplemental-round draft choices.
As compensation for the departure of type A free-agent pitchers Carl Pavano and Armando Benitez after the 2004 season, the Florida Marlins received four additional high picks in the 2005 draft besides their own at No. 16, giving them five of the first 44 selections. And they used them all on pitchers.
Tucker, a right-hander from Temple City High, was the 34th overall pick. The others were right-hander Chris Volstad (16th overall pick), left-hander Aaron Thompson (22nd), right-hander Jacob Marceaux (29th) and right-hander Sean West (44th). Right-hander Brent Sinkbeil, the 26th overall pick in 2006, rounded out the rotation. West was supposed to be with the Hammerheads but sat out the season after undergoing arm surgery.
This season, Tucker is part of the rotation at Carolina of the double-A Southern League. Joining him are Volstad, Thompson and Sinkbeil. Marceaux also is with the Mudcats, but he's now a reliever. Because West did not pitch in 2007, he was assigned to Jupiter.
According to Baseball America, Tucker is the Marlins' third-best prospect (Volstad is first, Sinkbeil second). His fastball, which has been clocked at 97 mph, is rated the best in the organization. As you might expect, he has an effective change-up and has also been working on a slider.
"His change-up really came along," Jim Fleming, the Marlins' vice president of player development, told USA Today Sports Weekly. "Once he gets a little more consistency with the slider, he should be able to go [move up] pretty fast."
Baseball America's projected 2011 lineup for the Marlins includes Tucker, but as the closer (Volstad and Sinkbeil are listed as the third and fourth starters).
Tucker beat Jacksonville, 11-1, Monday night to improve to 2-1. In seven innings -- his longest outing of the season -- he limited the Suns to three hits while striking out five and walking one.
In all, Tucker has made seven starts. His 0.89 earned-run average is the second-best in the league. In 40 1/3 innings, he has yielded 24 hits while striking out 39 (third-most in the league) and walking 16. Opponents are batting only .168 against him.
