Doug Slaten

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #18 prospect in 2008
  Slaten was inconsistent as a starter, and more significant, he couldn't stay healthy, battling shoulder problems in his first few seasons in the system. He moved to the bullpen full-time in 2004, then made the major league club out of spring training last year. He was the primary lefty in an unheralded bullpen that helped carry the Diamondbacks into the playoffs. He still qualifies for this list because he amassed just 36 innings in his 61 appearances. Slaten attacks hitters with a fastball that ranges from 88-92 mph and a slurvy breaking ball. The breaking ball has good depth, and he can add and subtract from it. Both pitches become more effective because he throws them on a good downward plane and he locates well to both sides of the plate. He also improved his focus and confidence last season. Slaten must slow down his changeup to establish himself as more than just a situational lefty. His change runs in the mid-80s now, and he uses it only as a chase pitch for righthanders. He may also add a cut fastball to combat righties. Arizona used him in more than just left-on-left situations last year, and he pitched anywhere from the fifth inning to the end of the game, though the bulk of his appearances were in the seventh and eighth. Slaten will return to a setup role in 2008, and the Diamondbacks hope he's not done improving.
• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #28 prospect in 2001
  When the Diamondbacks took Slaten last June, they quickly learned how serious he was about pitching at UCLA. He already had spurned a significant offer from the Orioles as a draft-and-follow, and Bruins coach Gary Adams does an exceptional job of recruiting, so the Diamondbacks decided to do so as well. They flew Slaten and his family to Phoenix to attend a game at Bank One Ballpark, let him throw a bullpen session under the watchful eye of then-pitching coach Mark Connor and introduced him to some of the Arizona players. The capper came when Slaten walked into the Diamondbacks clubhouse and found a jersey with his name on the back hanging in one of the empty lockers. He signed soon after his visit. He has the frame to get stronger and add velocity to his 90 mph sinker. He also throws a nifty curveball and added a circle changeup as a sophomore at Pierce. Slaten stands a reasonable chance to start the season at Lancaster, about an hour's drive from where he grew up in Southern California.