- Full name Jimmy Journell
- Born 12/29/1977 in Springfield, OH
- Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- Debut 06/29/2003
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Just when it looked like Journell had found a role that suited him mentally and physically, he encountered another major setback. He pitched just three innings in Triple-A last year before getting shut down with a sore shoulder that required season-ending surgery to repair a torn labrum. He ranked No. 1 on this list three years ago as a starter but showed better stuff when he moved back to the bullpen in 2003. He pitched in relief in college at Illinois and likes that role. When he's healthy, Journell can show electric stuff--a mid-90s fastball and a sharp slider. His mechanics are inconsistent, however, affecting his control and limiting his durability as a starter. The Cardinals hoped he would be in their big league bullpen last year, but his shoulder short-circuited that plan. He's supposed to be at 100 percent in spring training and should open the season in Triple-A. He needs to show he's sound because time is running out for him at age 27. -
After two years as a starter, Journell went back to his college roots and returned to the bullpen in 2003. The results were dramatic, as his ERA was three runs lower as a reliever and batters hit .225 against him, as opposed to .311 as a starter. He made his big league debut in June. Journell has dynamic stuff when he's on, and that occurred much more regularly in relief. His fastball touched 96 mph out the pen, compared to 88-91 when he was starting, and his slider was much more effective. He likes relieving, and it's more comfortable for him physically as well. What ultimately drove Journell out of starting was his inconsistent mechanics, which affected his location and durability. He moves his arm slot and release point when he doesn't need to, which has been an issue throughout his career. Journell is at the age and stage of development where he needs to establish himself in the majors. The move to the bullpen gives him a good opportunity, and he'll get a long look in spring training. -
Journell bounced back beautifully from Tommy John surgery just before the draft in 1999, becoming the organization's pitcher of the year in 2001 and top prospect a year ago. He took a small step back last year, opening the season in extended spring after having bone chips removed from his elbow, then getting shut down at Triple-A Memphis because of weakness in the back of his shoulder. Journell still has the great arm and pitches that made him a prospect: an electric fastball that was 91-94 mph last year, a hard slider and an improved changeup. He goes after hitters and showed good command in Double-A before his shoulder started bothering him. The Cardinals just want to see consistency from Journell. His arm slot has moved between where he's comfortable (low three-quarters) and where the organization would like him (a bit higher). When the old mechanics caused him pain and the new ones didn't, he went back where the Cardinals moved him. The higher arm slot also keeps Journell on top of his slider. The organization doesn't want to rush Journell and would like to see him stay healthy and dominate at Triple-A for a season before he breaks into the big leagues. But if he pitches well early and there's a need, he could be the first pitcher called. It's still possible he could end up in the bullpen if his arm doesn't hold up to starting, but that's on the back burner for now. -
Like a lot of organizations before the 1999 draft, the Cardinals loved Journell's arm but didn't know what to make of the Tommy John surgery he had a week before the draft. Before that, he had been a dominant closer at Illinois and projected him as a first-round pick. They took him in the fourth round, signed him for $250,000 and tried to be patient. He didn't pitch at all in 1999 and worked out of the bullpen in 2000, in what has become an organization practice for pitchers in Tommy John recovery. His breakout came in 2001, as his stuff was back and he lit up the high Class A Carolina League before earning a promotion to Double-A New Haven, where he threw a seven-inning no-hitter in his only start. He ended up as the CL player of the year, the organization's minor league pitcher of the year, and Baseball America's Class A Player of the Year. Journell has everything you could ask for in a big league pitcher. He throws an electric fastball that can touch 97 mph and sits at 93-94. He has good command of it and works it inside and out on hitters. He has a hard slider that's sharp when he stays on top of it, and he made great strides with his changeup in 2001. His arm problems actually helped his development of those two pitches and helped him become more of a pitcher, rather than just trying to blow hitters away with his fastball. Journell has big league makeup, and he's not afraid to go after hitters. The Cardinals raised his arm slot from low three-quarters to keep him on top of his breaking ball and reduce the stress on his elbow. He went back to a lower slot, where he's more comfortable, during the season. The hope is that Journell and the Cardinals have found a happy medium. Beyond that, he needs to continue his evolution from thrower to pitcher. He can be stubborn at times. It's possible Journell could show up in St. Louis in 2002, but the organization really just wants to see another healthy, successful year. The larger question is whether he's a starter or closer. The signing of free agent Jason Isringhausen may push Journell closer to the rotation. -
Journell is another Tommy John surgery survivor. The Cardinals drafted him knowing he had arm problems but took a chance that his stuff would return. He didn't throw a professional pitch until the 2000 season, and even then he was limited to three innings every four days in the New York-Penn League. The organization was happy with his progress. Journell was the most intimidating closer in college baseball at Illinois in 1999, and when healthy he has explosive velocity. He reaches the mid-90s with his fastball. He threw from a low three-quarters slot in college, which made his fastball almost frightening for righthanders, but the arm angle flattened out his slider and put strain on his arm. The Cardinals moved his arm slot up and saw positive results, especially with the slider. They're excited about seeing Journell in spring training, and he could move fast if his arm is all the way back.
Minor League Top Prospects
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In his first start for New Haven, at the end of the 2001 season, Journell tossed a no-hitter. It took a while for him to provide an encore, as he missed April after having a bone chip removed from his elbow in January. Almost immediately after being promoted to Triple-A in late June, he sat out another month, this time with shoulder stiffness. And that's the problem with Journell: injuries. He had Tommy John surgery while at Illinois, and physical concerns continue to dog him. His stuff is fine, as he throws in the low to mid-90s and has a hard slider--when he's healthy. "I've been watching him since high school," an AL scout said. "He has good stuff, but he scares the heck of me with his body. His delivery puts an awful lot of stress on that arm. "He's already had surgery, but he's added velocity since then. I still believe he's going to break down. It's just a matter of when. Of course, when might not be for 20 years down the road." -
After working nearly two years to come back from Tommy John surgery, Journell was one of the minors' most dominating pitchers in 2001. His 42 1/3-inning streak without an earned run was the longest in the minors. He won the Carolina League ERA title and shared the pitcher-of-the-year award. In his lone start in Double-A, he tossed a seven-inning no-hitter. At the University of Illinois and last summer at short-season New Jersey, Journell's success came in relief. The Cardinals envisioned him as a big league closer, but his path to St. Louis may have been altered a bit following a 14-win season as a starter. Journell had one of the league's premier fastballs. He complements that mid-90s offering with a nice slider. All of his pitches have life. "Anybody who throws as hard as he does will be in the big leagues quickly," Snitker said.
