Brian Slocum

Brian Slocum - Right-handed Pitcher
Age: 27 Height: 6'3" Weight: 210 Bats: Right Throws: Right

	W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	K	BB9	K9	WHIP
2007 Buffalo	2	2	4.15	5	5	0	26.0	21	12	3	16	28	5.54	9.69	1.42
Career	41	25	4.00	111	95	2	519.7	491	231	38	185	430	3.20	7.45	1.30

History: The Indians drafted Slocum in the 2nd round of the 2002 Draft out of Villanova University. He came into the draft as a highly touted player where Baseball America ranked him as the #1 prospect in Pennsylvania and 40th overall nationally.

Strengths & Opportunities: When he came out of college, Slocum threw the ball in the mid-90s, but his velocity dipped to the upper-80s when he mistakenly took part in an upper body lifting program not authorized by the Indians after the 2002 season. The Indians put him on a proper program and after a few years, Slocum once again is throwing a lively low-to-mid 90s fastball. He compliments his fastball with a changeup and slider, where the changeup is an above average pitch, but while his slider has shown improvement it still needs work to be more effective. He is an aggressive pitcher on the mound and attacks hitters.

In 2005, the Indians moved Slocum to the bullpen and he stayed there until the second half of the 2006 season when the Indians decided they felt he best suited the team as a depth starter. Slocum has shown the versatility to where he can be a swing guy in that he can fill a need in the bullpen or as a starter when needed by the Indians in the future. Slocum needs to continue refining his delivery, and he needs better command of his off-speed pitches. He struggled in his first call to the big leagues in 2006, but some of it was due to over-thinking and things speeding up on him.

The real problem with Slocum is he has had a hard time staying healthy. In 2001 he had a sore shoulder, in 2002 he had bicep tendonitis, in 2005 he had a ganglion cyst in his right wrist and a blister on his throwing hand, and in 2006 he injured his elbow while warming up to pitch. Last year he made his first five starts at Buffalo, and then was sidelined with irritation in his elbow in May and never returned. He was ready to come back in August, but the Indians did not activate him because they sided on being cautious. Reportedly, he is healthy and ready to resume his role for the Indians in 2008 as a depth starter. In the Venezuelan Winter League this offseason, in four starts Slocum went 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA and in 21.2 innings allowed 12 hits, 6 walks and struck out 16.

Outlook: At age 27, Slocum is what he is and is no longer much of a prospect. But, considering he still is rookie eligible and is a part of the organization's farm system, he still has to be considered one. The Indians showed a lot of confidence in Slocum's ability to be a contributor with the major league club when they kept him on the 40-man roster this offseason. While he will not be an impact player by any means, the Indians appear to have faith that if a rash of injuries befalls the Indians starting rotation or bullpen that Slocum could step in and adequately fill the void. Slocum will return to Buffalo in the starting rotation.

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