Age: 24
ETA: 2011
Potential: Solid bullpen arm
2010 outlook: Spend season in AAA bullpen
Kyle Waldrop was taken 25th overall in the first round of the 2004 draft by the Twins. He came straight out of high school from Tennessee. Waldrop climbed up the lower levels of the minors in his first few years, posting an ERA that typically was around 3.50. In 2008 Waldrop missed the season due to shoulder surgery. Kyle came back and had a very strong 2009 season. He had been a starter his whole career until last year when they moved him to the bullpen. He split time in A Fort Myers and AA New Britain. In 20 games at A he had an ERA of 3.09 in 35 innings pitched. In 31 games at AA this year (55.2 innings) he had a 1.46 ERA. He had a very low strikeout rate at just 5.0 per nine innings for the year. You’d like to see your bullpen pitchers be able to strike out at a good rate and 5.0 per nine innings isn’t very good.
Maybe he can have success as a bullpen arm, but he has a few guys ahead of him waiting for a job in the Twins bullpen (which suddenly has become a little crowded) and there are a few higher upside bullpen arms below him in the system as well. However, a solid 2010 season could earn him a shot. I’d like to see him make it; it would mean the first round draft pick wasn’t a total bust.
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