Wednesday,
November 3, 2010
Get to Know: Kyle Waldrop
In a matter of minutes after Buster Posey caught the
Brian Wilson pitch that missed a big Nelson Cruz swing and ended the World
Series, eligible players started declaring their free agency. That list
included World Series participants like Cliff Lee, Pat Burrell and Aubrey Huff.
In previous years, players (And their agents!) would have 15 days to file for
free agency. This year, the clock has been moved up. Free agents have just five
days from the completion of the World Series to file.
Names like Jayson Werth, Carl
Crawford and Derek Jeter will likely dominate the headlines… But along with the
Major League Free Agents, there are a lot of free agents that may not get as
much publicity, the Six-Year Minor League Free Agents. 2004 is a big year as it
relates to the minor league free agents. Those players drafted in 2004 are now
six-year free agents. Most international players actually get a seventh year,
so players like Deibinson Romero and Jose Lugo would
also have to be added.
The Twins had three first-round picks (and two
supplemental first-round picks) in 2004 thanks to the losses of Type A free
agents Eddie Guardado (to Seattle) and LaTroy Hawkins (to the Cubs). With their third, first-round
pick, the Twins drafted a right-handed pitcher from Farragut High School in
Knoxville, Tennessee, Kyle Waldrop. In his high school career, Waldrop’s team
finished second in the state his sophomore year, and won a state title the next
two years. The team was 94-3 in those three years. Many passed on him because
it was believed that he would not sign and accept a scholarship to Vanderbilt.
But he signed quickly for a $1 million bonus and began his pro career.
So, why should we get to know Kyle Waldrop? As a 2004
draft pick, Waldrop would become a free agent if he is not added to the 40 man
roster in the next four days. After a tremendous 2010 season in the Rochester
bullpen, I expect that we will hear in the next couple of days that he has been
added to the Twins 40 man roster. Also, Kyle is a terrific person who has
overcome a serious shoulder injury. He has also been a participant in the NFL “Expert”
Picks on this site for five years, winning the title once!
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Waldrop started
his career in 2004 with a seven game stint with the GCL Twins. He went 3-2 with
a 1.42 ERA. He walked just four and struck out 30 in 38 innings. He then made
four starts at Elizabethton where he went 2-0 with a 3.24 ERA. In 25 innings,
he walked three and struck out 25. Just to recap... in 63 innings that year, he
walked just seven hitters while striking out 55.
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In 2005, he was 19 and spent the entire season
at Low-A Beloit of the Midwest League. On the season, he was 6-11 with a 4.98
ERA. He made 27 starts and threw 151.2 innings. He walked just 23 and struck
out 108.
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In 2006, he went
a combined 9-5 between Beloit and Ft. Myers. In 155.1 innings, he walked just
34 and struck out just 87.
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In 2007, he split
time between Ft. Myers and New Britain, he was 7-5 with a 3.40 ERA at Ft.
Myers, but went just 3-6 with a 5.34 ERA at New Britain.
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Then in spring of
2008, Waldrop had shoulder surgery. He had been unable to achieve a full range
of motion and despite a successful surgery, he missed the entire season.
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He came back in
2009, and began the season in the Ft. Myers bullpen. It was a wise decision at
the time because he could stay out of the cold of New Britain’s April, and to
gradually build up his arm after missing a season. It appears it was a great
decision for his career. After a 3.09 ERA through 35 innings with the Miracle,
he moved up to New Britain where he was terrific. In 55.2 innings, he posted a
1.46 ERA.
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It was enough to
earn him a big league spring training invitation, and Waldrop pitched great all
spring. He was sent down to Rochester following the Twins exhibition games at
Target Field in late March. He was about to go back to New Britain until Alex
Burnett was summoned to the big leagues to open the season with the Twins.
Waldrop had a tremendous season pitching out of the Red Wings bullpen. Through
June, Waldrop’s ERA and WHIP were both hovering around 1.00. He threw a lot of
innings, and wasn’t quite as successful in the second half, but still was
pitching well. Overall, he went 5-3 with a 2.57 ERA in 87.2 innings over 59
games. He walked 20 and struck out 60.
Scouting Report – As you can see, Waldrop is not a
strikeout pitcher. He doesn’t throw hard, and tops out around 91. He has a
slider and a changeup, but he also has a good sinker that creates a ton of
ground balls. In Rochester this year, he averaged 2.4 groundouts per fly out.
In 9.2 innings in the Arizona Fall League, he has 3.8 Ground outs per Fly out.
Again, Waldrop is a typical Twins pitcher in that he isn’t a big strikeout
pitcher. He also doesn’t walk batters. He pitches to contact, but induces a ton
of ground balls.
There are many who believe that Kyle Waldrop may have
the most upside of any of the Twins minor league relievers who spent time in
Rochester this year. That is not a knock on Anthony Slama
and Rob Delaney and Alex Burnett, who are all good relief pitcher prospects.
But Waldrop may be the best of them. Despite being drafted 6 ½ years ago,
Waldrop turned just 25 years last week.
Why do I mention Kyle Waldrop today? Why did I post a long
blog about him today? I fully expect that we will hear in the next couple of
days that the Twins have added Waldrop to the 40 man roster before he can become
a free agent. Of course, I don't know. I don't have any inside information. I
would be very surprised if Waldrop is not added to the 40 man roster... but
what do I know?
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Other players
drafted in 2004 that would need to be added to the 40 man roster or could
become free agents: Juan Portes, Tim Lahey
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Players from the
2004 draft that are already on the 40 man roster: Trevor Plouffe,
Glen Perkins, Anthony Swarzak, Matt Tolbert.
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Players I project
will be added to the 40 man roster by November 20th (learn more
about each by ordering your copy of the TwinsCentric Offseason GM Handbook), but would not
be able to become a free agent for at least two years: David Bromberg, Joe
Benson, Chris Parmelee, Rene Tosoni,
Tyler Robertson, Steve Singleton (I am probably alone in this one).
Any thoughts on Waldrop, the 40 man roster, six-year
minor league free agents, or anything Twins-related, please feel
free to e-mail me or leave
comments here.