Josh Rainwater
| IP | 712 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 3.956 |
| WHIP | 1.416 |
| BB/9 | 3.463 |
| SO/9 | 6.788 |
- Full name Joshua Paul Rainwater
- Born 04/09/1985 in Deridder, LA
- Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 220 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Deridder
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Drafted in the 4th round (100th overall) by the Detroit Tigers in 2003 (signed for $300,000).
View Draft Report
RHP Josh Rainwater's season began with consecutive 1-0 losses to top pro prospects LeBlanc, Byrd and Kelly Shearer (Elkins High, Missouri City, Texas). But he established his credentials by fanning 17 and 18 in back-to-back starts against national high school powers Barbe and Elkins. He topped out at 95 mph against Elkins, the defending national champion, and competes well. Rainwater needs to firm up his 6-foot-2, 225-pound frame and refine his slider. His finish was happier than his start, as he led DeRidder to its first-ever state 4-A championship. He tossed a no-hitter in the semifinals and struck out six of the seven batters he faced to close out the finals the next day.
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Organization Prospect Rankings
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The Tigers look at getting a high school prospect with Rainwater's arm strength in the fourth round of the 2003 draft as a pleasant fallout of the "Moneyball" craze for college players. Detroit officials said in past years, Rainwater could have gone as high as the second round. Rainwater capped his high school career by tossing a no-hitter in the Louisiana 4-A semifinals and then coming back the next day to strike out six of the seven batters he faced to save the finale. Because he worked so hard, the Tigers kept him on tight pitch counts in the Gulf Coast League. He reached 95 mph during the spring but sat at 89-92 mph in his pro debut. He's relatively refined for a high school pitcher, but his fastball command and his offspeed pitches are inconsistent. There's some concern within the organization about his lack of athleticism, and Detroit would like him to shed weight and get in better condition. He could start this year in low Class A.
