Tyler Lumsden Stats & Scouting Report

IP	659
ERA	4.889
WHIP	1.583
BB/9	4.247
SO/9	4.862

Full name Tyler Ryan Lumsden
Born 05/09/1983 in Roanoke, VA
Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Clemson
Drafted in the C-1 round (34th overall) by the Chicago White Sox in 2004 (signed for $975,000).

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An unsigned sixth-round pick of the Marlins out of a Virginia high school in 2001, Lumsden has one of the nation's best power arms for a southpaw and has earned comparisons to Andy Pettitte for his size and aggressiveness. Lumsden usually works with a fastball in the 89-92 mph range and can touch 94. His curveball is a power pitch that he commands sporadically, but his cutter and changeup have a chance to be plus pitches. The cutter, a true power slider that he has developed this year, has made some lefthanded hitters look foolish. Lumsden still walks too many hitters and needs to be more efficient with his fastball. Opponents say he's prone to giving up the big inning; if he wiggles off the hook, he often settles in and dominates.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Lumsden appeared on the verge of the major leagues after a stellar 2006 campaign, and he was the key component of a midseason deal that also brought Daniel Cortes from the White Sox for Mike MacDougal. But he unraveled last season, frustrating team officials by occasionally showing off the best stuff in the system but often struggling with his command. Lumsden has an easy and seemingly effortless delivery. His fastball clocks at 91-92 mph, and he has a legitimate 12-to-6 curveball and a changeup that he can throw for strikes. Locating his pitches on a consistent basis was a challenge last season, however, particularly his fastball. He also was hesitant to throw his fastball inside to righthanders. In general he was too concerned with strikeouts and didn't pitch enough to contact. While he missed all of 2005 after arthroscopic surgery to remove bone chips from his elbow, Lumsden has shown no ill effects and his mechanics are fine. His command should improve as he matures. Lumsden will be a longshot to make the major league rotation out of spring training, but Kansas City did put him on the 40-man roster in November.
In his first summer as Royals general manager, Dayton Moore made it a goal to acquire as many pitching prospects as possible. The best he got was Lumsden, who came from the White Sox along with righthander Daniel Cortes in exchange for Mike MacDougal. A supplemental first round pick in 2004, Lumsden missed all of 2005 following arthroscopic surgery to remove bone chips in his elbow. Lumsden had no physical problems and showed three quality pitches in 2006. His fastball sits at 90-93 mph and tops out at 95. He also features a hard 12-to-6 curveball and a solid changeup. His delivery is sound and balanced. Lumsden sometimes has trouble repeating his mechanics, landing too hard on his front foot and throwing across his body. When that happens, he gets under his pitches and leaves them up in the strike zone. That's why he was more hittable than a southpaw with three legitimate pitches should have been in 2006. Developing pitchers has been problematic for the Royals, who have far more openings on their big league staff than the White Sox did. Lumsden's elbow problems appear behind him, and he could grab a spot in Kansas City's rotation with a strong spring training. More likely, he'll head to Triple-A for a few starts.
The first of four lefthanders the White Sox took in the 2004 draft--ahead of Gio Gonzalez (since traded), Wes Whisler and Ray Liotta--Lumsden signed for $975,000 as a supplemental first-round pick. Scouts see some Andy Pettitte in him, but they didn't see Lumsden at all in 2005. He had pitched with pain in his elbow for a year, and missed the entire 2005 season after arthroscopic surgery to remove a bone spur in January. He generally worked with a 90-92 mph fastball at Clemson, but it jumped into the mid-90s when Chicago sent him straight to high Class A for his debut. Before he got hurt, he had a power curveball that was almost unhittable when he located it in the strike zone. He also had a tough cut fastball and a promising changeup. A good athlete who played basketball in high school and can throw 80 mph righthanded, Lumsden will be handled carefully when he returns. He'll be 100 percent for spring training.
The White Sox can't wait to see what they can get from a rested Lumsden. A fifth-round pick by the Marlins out of high school, he went four rounds higher after three years at Clemson. Signed for $975,000, he spent most his first pro summer in the bullpen to give his arm a break. He draws comparisons to Andy Pettitte with his size and aggressiveness. Lumsden usually throw his fastball at 91-92 mph but can get up to 95-96. He even has been clocked at 80 mph throwing righthanded. Lumsden throws a sharp-breaking curveball, though it usually moves out of the strike zone and he has to rely on hitters to chase it. He also has a cut fastball with slider action that makes lefthanders look silly, as well as a decent changeup. Lumsden could move quickly if he throws strikes. He'll move back to the rotation this year, which he may begin by returning to high Class A.

Minor League Top Prospects

Lumsden missed all of 2005 after having a bone spur removed from his elbow, but he put himself back on the map in a big way--enough to be included in a midseason trade to Kansas City for reliever Mike McDougal. While he had endurance questions coming off surgery, Lumsden showed 90-93 mph velocity on his fastball, topping out at 95. He features a power curveball that he locates exceptionally well. His changeup also emerged as a third plus pitch, with good depth and fade. Lumsden wasn't rocked, but for a lefty with three quality pitches, he was easier to hit than he should have been. He dropped his arm during his delivery early in the season, but he repeated his mechanics better and worked into the seventh inning regularly by June. He has a quick, easy delivery with good balance. "We hated to lose him," Cron said. "He made some real strides to get back to where he needed to be. He's so advanced in terms of understanding situations. He's a piece of the puzzle, no doubt."