Drafted in the 1st round (20th overall) by the Los Angeles Angels in 2000 (signed for $1,800,000).
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Bootcheck surfaced in early May as a favorite to be the first college player drafted. The teams picking in the top five or six positions began having uneasy feelings about him as he didn't consistently dominate anybody--though he was 9-0, 3.42 on the season. They also questioned his makeup, wondering if he's tough enough to stand up to the challenge of being a No. 1 or 2 starter. There's little else not to like about the 6-foot-5, 195-pound righthander. His slender build will enable him to add weight and increase his velocity from its present 90-92 mph. He projects to have four solid pitches, with a cut fastball his best now.
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Bootcheck reached the big leagues last September, when Ramon Ortiz was on bereavement leave because of his father's death. Bootcheck, whose father Dan pitched in the Tigers system in the 1970s but never reached the majors, hasn't lived up to the projections he had coming out of Auburn as a first-rounder in 2000, however. He nearly pitched his way into Anaheim's plans last spring before being optioned to Triple-A, where he again struggled to put hitters away. He was bothered by forearm stiffness before finishing strong. Bootcheck was clocked as high as 97 mph in college, touching 94 on a regular basis, but he has backed off his power and sits at 89-93 with cutting action now. He has been reluctant to adapt to the Angels' organization pitching preference for a full windup. Pitching coordinator Mike Butcher has spent extensive time working with Bootcheck to hone his mechanics. Bootcheck's slider isn't quite the power pitch it was at Auburn, either, though it's still of major league quality with good depth and velocity. His changeup is decent and he incorporates an average curveball to complete his four-pitch mix. He does a good job of throwing strikes. Unless he somehow bumps John Lackey from the rotation in spring training, Bootcheck will head back to Triple-A.
Bootcheck, whose father Dan pitched in the Tigers system in the 1970s, started 2002 in Double-A. Despite a subpar performance, he earned a promotion to Triple-A Salt Lake, where he improved under pitching coach Mike Butcher. Bootcheck was at his best in the Pacific Coast League playoffs, fanning 16 in 11 innings. A good athlete, Bootcheck could have played Division I basketball. He's lean and loose on the mound, with a sound delivery and an arm that works well. He regained some velocity and established a two-seam fastball while tightening his cutter. His fastball touches 94 mph and sits in the 89-92 range. Bootcheck fell in love with his changeup after relying heavily on an 86-87 mph darting slider in college, and it cost him some of his aggressiveness. His breaking ball isn't as sharp as it was at Auburn. Bootcheck will return to Triple-A, where the Angels hope he'll maintain a power mindset while working with Butcher for a full season. Bootcheck could be a solid No. 4 starter in the big leagues.
More colleges recruited Bootcheck to play basketball out of high school, though the Devil Rays did draft him in the 17th round. He made steady progress throughout his Auburn career, prompting Tigers coach Hal Baird to say Bootcheck has the highest ceiling of any pitcher in the program's history, including former big league all-star Gregg Olson. His father Dan pitched in the Tigers system in the 1970s. Though Bootcheck has a long and loose body, he never has been an overpowering pitcher. He commands four pitches to both sides of the plate and induces groundballs with his sinking, 93-94 mph two-seam fastball. He always has relied on his darting 86-90 mph cutter, and his curveball and changeup are weapons hitters have to be aware of. His Double-A struggles show he still needs an out pitch. He has faced questions about his durability, and they won't stop after a sore shoulder stalled his pro debut last spring. He needs to add weight to his slender build. Bootcheck is headed back to Arkansas, where he finished his first pro season with seven shutout innings in the Texas League playoffs. He could reach Anaheim by the end of 2002.
Bootcheck was considered a potential top-five pick last June, but like all of agent Scott Boras' clients he declined to agree to a predraft deal. The Angels considered him with the 10th pick and got him 10 picks later with a choice from the Athletics for the loss of free agent Mike Magnante. He held out all summer before signing for $1.8 million. Bootcheck has the stuff and command. He is long, lean and projectable, and his fastball already tops out at 94 mph. His most devastating pitch at this point is an 86-90 mph cut fastball with slider action, and it works against both lefthanders and righthanders. He used a curveball in college, and he showed a solid average changeup in instructional league. He has smooth mechanics and throws strikes. He'll need to get stronger, though he put 15 pounds back after losing 10 while being inactive during negotiations. If there's a knock on him, it's that he did not dominate college hitters as much as he should have. The Angels expect Bootcheck to advance rapidly through the minors. They'll wait until spring training before determining where he makes his pro debut, but the Cal League is a decent bet.
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After holding out all last summer before eventually signing for $1.8 million, Bootcheck never really wanted to be in Class A. When he heard that Angels broadcasters were talking about him during one telecast, he asked, "Did they say anything about Double-A?" Bootcheck moved up after a dominating July in which he went 4-0, 1.63 with 39 strikeouts in as many innings. He had struggled early, possibly putting too much pressure on himself, and landed on the disabled list in late April with shoulder stiffness. Managerial reviews were a bit mixed, though his stuff is obviously there. Bootcheck owns a low-90s fastball, a nasty cutter, a curveball and a changeup. "He figured out how to use his fastball better later in the season," Colbert said.
Scouting Reports
More colleges recruited Bootcheck to play basketball out of high school, though the Devil Rays did draft him in the 17th round. He made steady progress throughout his Auburn career, prompting Tigers coach Hal Baird to say Bootcheck has the highest ceiling of any pitcher in the program's history, including former big league all-star Gregg Olson. His father Dan pitched in the Tigers system in the 1970s. Though Bootcheck has a long and loose body, he never has been an overpowering pitcher. He commands four pitches to both sides of the plate and induces groundballs with his sinking, 93-94 mph two-seam fastball. He always has relied on his darting 86-90 mph cutter, and his curveball and changeup are weapons hitters have to be aware of. His Double-A struggles show he still needs an out pitch. He has faced questions about his durability, and they won't stop after a sore shoulder stalled his pro debut last spring. He needs to add weight to his slender build. Bootcheck is headed back to Arkansas, where he finished his first pro season with seven shutout innings in the Texas League playoffs. He could reach Anaheim by the end of 2002.
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