Tony Sipp

Tony Sipp: Left-handed Pitcher

Age: 23 Height: 6’0” Weight: 190 Bats: Left Throws: Left

Stats & Stuff: The Indians gambled when they selected Sipp in the 45th round of the 2004 Draft. Coming out of Clemson, Sipp had only pitched in 22 career games and many felt he would be too costly to sign. But, the Indians found a diamond in the rough and after he impressed the Indians in the Cape Cod League they gladly paid him an unheard of $130,000 (for a 45th rounder) to sign. It didn’t take long for Sipp to impress. In his professional debut in 2004 at short-season Mahoning Valley Sipp went 3-1 with a 3.16 ERA, but more impressive were his 74 strikeouts in only 42.2 IP. In 2005, Sipp went 6-3 with a 2.40 ERA and 130 strikeouts in 116.1 IP in 35 combined appearances (17 starts) at Lake County and Kinston. Last year, Sipp went 4-2 with a 3.13 ERA in 29 appearances (4 starts) with 80 strikeouts in 60.1 IP with Akron. In his minor league career, Sipp has 343 strikeouts in 266.1 IP, good for an outstanding 11.60 strikeouts per nine innings average and also has a low 6.49 hits per nine innings average. Sipp also held batters to a .202 BAA in 2006, and while he did well against left-handers (.226 BAA), he dominated right-handed hitters in holding them to a .191 BAA.

The Good: Sipp is a power-armed pitcher who has an impressive three-pitch arsenal. His stuff is big-time, fronted by a fastball and slider that both grade out as plus pitches, with the slider being a plus-plus pitch. Both the fastball and slider are considered out pitches. His fastball has good movement and consistently sits in the 91-94 MPH range, although his quick arm action and excellent deception makes it look a lot faster.

He is still developing a changeup and has a good feel for it, but even after only over a year of using it, Indians Scouting Director John Mirabelli commented that the changeup is Sipp’s best pitch. With the changeup, hitters can’t sit on his slider and fastball. The development of his changeup has jumped him into an elite level of relief prospects, so much so, that Baseball America ranked him as the #2 closer prospect in all the minors. With three very good pitches, a player of Sipp’s caliber would normally project as a reliever. But, the Indians love his potential as a dominant late-inning reliever. Sipp is also extremely athletic, and his athleticism allows him to consistently repeat his delivery well. He is a very aggressive on the mound, and has prodigious aptitude.

The Bad: While he has made great strides with the changeup, he still is working on maintaining consistent command with it. He also is a little undersized, and lacks pinpoint control. Sipp also missed some time due to injury last year, going on the disabled list for two months first with an oblique injury and then later with left elbow inflammation.

The Outlook: Sipp could be a candidate for the closer’s job in Cleveland in 2008 and beyond. For now, Sipp is a candidate to fill the left-handed pitching void in the Indians bullpen in 2007. But, unlike Rafael Perez, he has yet to pitch any innings at Triple-A or in the majors, so he probably won’t be a bullpen option until mid-season. If he is lights out and impressive in Spring Training, it is possible the Indians may go with him, but considering how conservative the Indians tend to be with their prospects, he’ll likely open the year as the Buffalo closer.

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