Erik Stiller

Erik Stiller- Right-handed Pitcher
Age: 23 Height: 6'5" Weight: 200 Bats: Right Throws: Right

	W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	K	BB9	K9	WHIP
2007 Kinston	3	6	2.89	25	5	4	62.3	56	20	6	13	49	1.88	7.08	1.11
Career	8	11	3.61	38	17	4	132.0	123	53	13	26	86	1.77	5.86	1.13

History: Stiller signed with the Indians as an undrafted free agent out of Princeton University shortly after the 2006 Draft. At Princeton, Stiller had a career record of 15-14 with a 3.60 ERA in 38 starts. After signing in June 2006, Stiller made his debut that year with the Indians at rookie-level Burlington where he went 2-2 with a 6.45 ERA in four starts. The stay in Burlington was short, as he was moved up to short-season Single-A Mahoning Valley where he went 3-3 with a 3.23 ERA in nine appearances (eight starts).

Strengths & Opportunities: Last year, Stiller did not make a full season club out of spring training and had to stay behind in extended spring training, but he was eventually activated and called up to advanced Single-A Kinston on May 27th. Stiller quickly made an impression in Kinston coming out of the bullpen, and late in the season he was moved into the starting rotation when left-hander Ryan Edell and right-hander Kevin Dixon were taken out of the rotation due to high workload. Stiller participated in the Indians Fall Development Program and then was sent out to the Hawaii Winter League (HWL) to get more innings and work in as a starter, which is where it appears he will stick to start the 2008 season. In the HWL, Stiller went 1-4 with a 5.06 ERA in eight starts, and in 32 innings had a WHIP of 1.44 and struck out 36.

Stiller's fastball typically hovers around 90-92 MPH with the ability to reach back and get it to 93-94 MPH if needed. Last year, Stiller spent a lot of time trying to improve his overall physical strength in order to add a little velocity to his fastball, and he also made a few mechanical adjustments to help his fastball velocity. The work paid off as his fastball went from topping out at 91 MPH in 2006 to topping out at 94 MPH by the end of last season. In addition to the fastball, Stiller also throws a cutter, curveball, and changeup. His best secondary pitch is his changeup, but when he was in the bullpen early last year he rarely used it. Also, with his size (6'5" 200 pounds) it helps him get on top of hitters and his ball moving on a downward plane.

Stiller got a big break in that several of the Indians front office personnel are former Princeton student-athlete alumni, namely General Manager Mark Shapiro and Director of Baseball Operations Mike Chernoff. Chernoff and Stiller were former teammates on the Princeton baseball team, as Chernoff was a middle infielder and team captain his senior year in 2003 when Stiller was a freshman. The Indians want Stiller to continue to work on his fastball command and being more aggressive with it, and also continue developing his changeup now that he is a starter again.

Outlook: Stiller should return to Kinston to start the season and pitch in the starting rotation, although it is possible he could start the year in the Akron rotation as well if he has a great showing in spring training.

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