49. Austin Adams - Right-handed Pitcher
Born: 08/19/1986 - Height: 5'11" - Weight: 185 - Bats: Right - Throws: Right
| Year | Age | Team | Lvl | W | L | ERA | G | GS | SV | IP | H | ER | HR | BB | SO | AVG | BB/9 | K/9 | WHIP |
| 2009 | 22 | Mahoning Vy | A- | 3 | 1 | 4.86 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 37.0 | 39 | 20 | 4 | 15 | 29 | .269 | 3.6 | 7.1 | 1.46 |
| Totals | 3 | 1 | 4.86 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 37.0 | 39 | 20 | 4 | 15 | 29 | .269 | 3.6 | 7.1 | 1.46 |
History: The Indians selected Adams in the 5th round of the 2009 Draft out of Faulkner University (AL). He was originally drafted as a shortstop in the 27th round of the 2008 Draft by the Milwaukee Brewers, but he did not sign. The Indians scouted him heavily during his college career, having seen him for the last three years prior to drafting him. He was an honorable mention NAIA All-American in 2009.Strengths & Opportunities: After being drafted as a shortstop in 2008, Adams returned to school and made the conversion to a pitcher and did some incredible stuff in the short time he was on the mound. His fastball consistently sat at 94-96 MPH and he touched 98 MPH, and also showed a plus power curveball and average changeup. While he started in college, the Indians immediately moved him to the bullpen as a professional because they believe his stuff and power will play up in such a role.
Adams has incredible arm strength but little experience pitching, so the Indians view him as a risk-reward guy. While he is still transitioning to being a full time pitcher, they feel that because of his athleticism he should be able to adapt quicker and better learn to repeat his delivery. He is still learning to pitch within himself as his stuff has a tendency to flatten out when he overthrows. Also, his velocity was down almost the entire season at short-season Single-A Mahoning Valley last year where he was pitching more at 90-93 MPH, a sign he was fatigued from his first exposure to pitching. At the tail end of the season and in Instructional League his velocity kicked back up to 97 MPH and he was dominant.
Outlook: Adams is a power pitcher that the Indians plan to develop as a reliever, and he profiles as a middle reliever in the big leagues. If the relief pitching gig doesn't work out, he could always move back to shortstop where he had surprising power and was originally drafted. He should open the 2010 season in the Single-A Lake County bullpen, but could move quickly to High-A Kinston.
Photo courtesy of Tony Lastoria
Austin Adams MinorLeagueBaseball.com page
Austin Adams Baseball-Reference page
Austin Adams MinorLeagueSplits.com page
Austin Adams Pitching Video:
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7 comments:
Sounds like a lot of upside. A good minor league system needs goes like this with a high ceiling
Yeah, he could bust or boom. The stuff is certainly intriguing so it will be interesting to see how it translates as he moves to LC/KIN.
Gotta say, it is damn hard to limit these lists. About 20 guys I would have considered in Top 50 who won't be in it. In year's past I had problems finding 50, but not this year!
It isn't a perfect parallel but Adams reminds me of Moncrief in his abililty to play the field and a very live arm. Little older and probably not as rough but there are similarities.
yeah, Adams may be what we all aspired Moncrief last year to become. Adams already shows way better command. Gotta love that power fastball-breaking ball combo! We can dream.
Any chance he grows about 6 inches and adds about 30 pounds and becomes Roger Clemens?
No? Yeah didn't think so =(
i watched this guy closely from the stands at Faulkner... its amazing the strides he made with so little time on the mound... he has great potential and very little risk considering he was a small-college signee with little/no leverage to demand more money... he's a hard worker with a high drive to succeed, and theres no doubt in my mind he'll keep progressing both on the mound and through the majors... I'm really looking forward to becoming an Indians fan when he reaches Cleveland down the road
Thanks for the comment and 411 on Austin. He should be an exciting arm to watch next season that's for sure.
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