IP 650
ERA 3.932
WHIP 1.288
BB/9 3.295
SO/9 6.715
  • Full name Joseph Cameron Gardner
  • Born 03/18/1988 in Santa Clara, CA
  • Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 220 / Bats: R / Throws: R
  • School UC Santa Barbara
  • Drafted in the 3rd round (94th overall) by the Cleveland Guardians in 2009 (signed for $363,000).
    View Draft Report
    Gardner first gained traction as a draft prospect with an excellent showing in Alaska last summer. A tall and lanky 6-foot-5, 220 pounds with a near sidearm delivery, Gardner is somewhat reminiscent of Tyson Ross, drafted last year out of Cal. His best pitch is his 91-93 mph fastball, which has natural heavy sinking action. His secondary pitches lag behind. He has some sink on his changeup but has trouble locating the pitch, and his curveball and slider have been mostly flat and rarely find the strike zone. Mechanics are also a concern with Gardner, who has a tendency to open up his front side too quickly and then land on a stiff front leg. If he improves his mechanics and secondary stuff, he could easily profile as a middle-of-the-rotation starter, though many scouts feel he fits best as a reliever, able to use his nasty sinker to induce groundballs.

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