Basic Info
Age (Opening Day 2011): 24
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 180 lbs
How Acquired: 2009 draft, 15th round
2010 Stats
Two stats stand out for me here. His age (24, very old for the level he was at) and the K/9 (11.1, the best mark in the Phillies system for a starter, and one of the best in all the minors). So of course that makes me somewhat conflicted when ranking him. For me, whether or not a pitcher can miss bats is the most important thing in the minors, and Hyatt was dominant in that respect. Sure the fact that he was old for his league hurts him, but it doesn’t change the stats.
Hyatt struggled when he moved up to Reading from an ERA standpoint (4.91), but continued with his quality strikeout rate (25 K’s in 22 IP). This gives me hope that he can pitch well in a full season at Reading.
Hyatt won the FSL Pitcher of the Year award for his line in Clearwater (3.04 ERA, 156 K’s in 124.1 IP).
Scouting Report
Hyatt mainly features a fastball/change-up, with a slider mixed in. His fastball can reach 94mph and the Phillies assistant GM Chuck LaMarr called his change-up an above-average MLB pitch.
LaMarr compared him to a better version of Carlos Monasterios, who had a 4.38 ERA in 32 games for the Dodgers last year.
He throws harder, he’s taller, has every bit the change-up. He’s a major-league prospect. He’s got that above-average pitch in that change-up, and his breaking stuff is still a work in progress. He’s going to show a fastball with enough velocity to pitch in the major leagues … and that breaking pitch will determine where in the rotation that he will pitch.
What to Look For in 2011
I had Hyatt pegged as a reliever because he seemed to be a 2-pitch guy. However, the emergence of a slider last year makes him a lower-end starter prospect.
However, at his age, it might be now or never this year in Reading. Can he keep his K/9 rate high in Reading while limiting his baserunners? If he can put together a solid season, he could be a rotation candidate as soon as 2012.
Grades (Out of 10)
Upside – 6
Solid all around, but nothing dominant
Production – 7
Fantastic in Clearwater, so-so in Reading.
Proximity to Majors – 7
Might just need one more full season in the minors.
Video
Note: Austin is very annoying to find stuff on, because there is indeed a Hyatt hotel in Austin, TX, and that is the only stuff that comes up when you search “Austin Hyatt.”
Also, I couldn’t find any video…
For all posts on Phillies’ Prospects, including the rest of the top-20, visit our Top Prospects Page
Read a little more on the young man, including John Sickels review…
Despite these numbers, Hyatt doesn’t show up on many hot prospect lists. His fastball and breaking ball are just average, but he has a killer changeup that fools inexperienced hitters, and sometimes even experienced ones.>>
The fastball being average isn’t that big a deal, he needs to get the curve to where his change is, and he might have a shot at max potential. Also found his K ratio when younger (college) to have been far more normal than that electrifying rate of last year. Born in Atlanta, but passed on signing with Braves who drafted him to pursue education at Bama.
Sounds like enough tools are there that if the mental and emotional channels are good, he could rack up some pension time.
Spanning (The Boston) Globe
The Red Sox will be getting a day off before Opening Day.
The March 31 game at Houston against the Astros was canceled. The teams will play only game at Minute Maid Park, that on March 30. The shift was made when MLB scheduled six regular-season games on that date.
The Sox open April 1 in Texas.>>
And guess who the Houston club faces on April 1? Da Phils.
John Heyman has a piece on the never ending Andy Pettitte saga in which he lists other players considering retirement. The list includes Benji Molina, and 2 guys who didn’t play last year, Pedro Martinez and Jermaine Dye.
Not mentioned there, or anywhere in the rumor mills this winter is ex-Phil Pedro Feliz.
The case for Feliz being washed up is pretty obvious. Despite defending well for the Phils 2 years ago now, his offense was never an endearing factor, despite 82 ribbies in a then productive offense. Or more productive than last year.
So I don’t know that it’s other than expected that his name hasn’t come up, certainly for everyday play. Norr do I know if he even wants to play. He managed to get a few mil out of Houston last year running his career earnings to a sum of 25 mil, and has about 10 years in the game, and a ring from 2008 here. I’d kinda guess there’s be a place somwehere on an MLB roster for Feliz if he wanted. But very possibly not, particularly on his terms. But that’s a good career to look back on, particularly having racked up 25 million bucks off non star level skills. Maybe Pedro, at about 35-36 feels within himself it’s enough, because we don’t even hear that he’s looking.
I can’t help but get the feeling that at such time as the Orioles offer Vlad Guerrero an acceptable contract, it will be 2 exhausted parties glad it’s over.
It’s a shame this isn’t 5 years ago, because I’m sure I’m forgetting someone since it’s been so long, but this would be the biggest power hitter acquisition by the Birds since Frank Robinson Triple Crowned his way over from Cincy.
And could the Orioles ever use that type of skill and intangible boost.
So long gone are the glory days of the Orioles it’s ridiculous. Add the ongoing and seemingly forever challenge of divisional play with the Yanks and BoSox, and Baltimore’s back to lack of enthusiasm levels not seen since early thrills off a relocation from St. Louis Brown days ran dry. That’d be circa 1958-74 or so when despite the inclusuion of a marverlous run, their attendance was lousy.
The Orioles case is not a lost one. They have young pitching, a manager who always converts losing franchises to winning cultures, and while Vlad can’t live off his 2nd half droppage of last year, or his 5 year ago greatness, his experience is priceless on top of a certain amount of skill that I suspect remains in his body.
I guess the O’s are hesitant to give him a 2nd year. All the mistakes that have led to a Piratesque 13 straight losing seasons. And now they want to fool around with a would be Hall of Famer by being so fine as to time the length of a deal perfectly.
It’s not a long list of players anxious to relocate to Baltimore anymore. If the neighboring Washington Nationals at least in principal get it, and realize they have to overpay to get Jayson Werth, surely the Orioles can see where modest compromise on length and money are reasonable to at a minimum show their roster they are serious.
Who knows if anyone other than the Yanks or BoSox win the East again for the next 20 years. But ya gotta keep trying, or this once enthusiastic baseball town will slip even further into oblivion.
Cliff Lee will be appearing at the Philadelphia Auto Show for a Q&A session Wed., Feb. 2>>
Thanks to T-Rangers President Chuck Greenberg for setting that up.
It’s really tempting to call Sportsradio 66, WFAN, New York, tell em its Anthony from Philly, nah, let’s go with Charlie, Anthony didn’t go over so wel last time, and tell the producer my question is how many days til aces and catchers report.
marti chuck please draft ryan wright 2nd baseman from louisville. i watch college ball and he is the best player i have seen.