Ryan Edell

Ryan Edell - Left-handed Pitcher
Age: 24 Height: 6'1" Weight: 215 Bats: Left Throws: Left

	W	L	ERA	G	GS	SV	IP	H	ER	HR	BB	K	BB9	K9	WHIP
2007 Kinston	11	6	3.70	31	17	1	121.7	122	50	12	31	109	2.29	8.06	1.26
Career	14	11	3.44	51	34	1	204.0	206	78	19	54	183	2.38	8.07	1.27

History: Edell was taken in the 8th round of the 2005 Draft out of The College of Charleston. Edell missed most of the 2006 season with a sprained ulnar collateral ligament, pitching in only six games and going 0-1 with a 3.44 ERA. The injury Edell suffered in 2006 is the same injury which sidelined left-hander Tony Sipp last season and ultimately led to Tommy John surgery for Sipp. Edell was fortunate to avoid the surgery to correct the "Tommy John ligament", which is what the ulnar collateral ligament is commonly called these days.

Strengths & Opportunities: Edell was having a breakout season last year in the starting rotation as he was 9-4 with a 3.21 ERA as a starter, but was moved to the bullpen with a few weeks left in the season. The move to the bullpen was not performance or injury related, it was just a way to limit his innings pitched since he had piled up a lot of innings on the year and was coming off a year in 2006 where he threw only 18.1 innings.

Edell has a three pitch mix of a fastball, curveball and changeup. His bread and butter pitch is a devastating curveball which was rated the best in the 2005 Draft. His fastball only sits around 90-91 MPH, but he piles up strikeouts, pitches effortlessly and is composed when pitching in tight spots. Edell is versatile enough where he could remain a starter or move to the bullpen depending on where the Indians need him as his curveball can attack lefties and his changeup is good enough to be effective against righties. He has a very professional delivery, repeats his delivery well, and drives his fastball into the zone and in on the hands of the batter with ease.

Outlook: The Indians feel Edell certainly will play in the majors someday, but the question is whether he sticks as a starter or is made into a reliever. It is not known whether the move to the bullpen will carry over to next season or not. Edell has some bullpen experience during his early days at college, and he could become a permanent fixture in the bullpen because of the starting pitching depth in the system. For now, it appears he will start the year in the Akron rotation.

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