Cory Riordan
| IP | 1268 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 4.564 |
| WHIP | 1.378 |
| BB/9 | 1.931 |
| SO/9 | 6.672 |
- Full name Cory S. Riordan
- Born 05/25/1986 in Killingworth, CT
- Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Fordham
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Drafted in the 6th round (192nd overall) by the Colorado Rockies in 2007 (signed for $120,000).
View Draft Report
Riordan impressed scouts last summer in the Cape Cod League, where he went 3-1, 2.70, but he has been inconsistent this spring, as he was a year ago at Fordham. The word "enigma" often comes up when scouts talk about Riordan, who is capable of dominating--he became the first Fordham pitcher to strike out 100 batters in a season since 1939--but has also put together some very bad outings. With a loose arm and a smooth delivery, Riordan works with a four-pitch mix. His 89-92 mph fastball has late movement, and he commands it well. His soft curveball is below-average, but he has relied more heavily upon an 84-86 mph slider with late bite that could be a slightly above-average pitch, and he has feel for a changeup. Despite his stuff, Riordan struggles to put hitters away when he's ahead in the count. Makeup is also a concern. One scout called Riordan a "low-energy, low-enthusiasm guy" whose poor body language turned him off, while another called him hyper.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Riordan had a successful college career at Fordham, becoming the first Rams pitcher with 100 strikeouts in a season since 1939. He has a four-pitch mix and primarily has started in pro ball. He has proven to be a workhorse, throwing 500 innings the last three seasons, and his work in 2010 earned him a spot on the 40-man roster. None of Riordan's pitches stands out from the pack, but he throws strikes with his 87-93 mph fastball, often cruising in the upper 80s with sink on his two-seamer, then reaching back for the 93 with his four-seamer when he needs it. He uses his curveball and slider well, with scouts generally preferring the curve, and he's more effective against righthanders. His changeup is usable but more of a fringy pitch than a true weapon against lefties. Riordan works with a quick tempo but sometimes loses focus and can get homer-prone. He's set to help anchor the Colorado Springs rotation in 2011 and profiles as a back-of-the-rotation starter or long reliever. -
Riordan doesn't grab a scout's attention when he is warming up. He is an acquired taste. The Atlantic-10 Conference rookie of the year in 2005, he attracted the most attention as an amateur when he was one of the top starters in the Cape Cod League in 2006. He became Fordham's highest draft pick since 1966. Riordan has a knack for making the right pitch at the right time. He isn't afraid to pitch backward and catch a hitter off balance. He isn't going to overpower hitters with a fastball ranging from 87-92 mph, but it does tail away from lefthanded hitters. There's a bit of bend in his slider, which currently grades as below-average, but he has a good feel for changing speeds and has a solid curveball that is in the mid-70s. The key is he throws strikes. He not only walked 29 batters in 168 innings at Asheville while ranking second in the league in strikeouts, behind only Giants stud prospect Madison Bumgarner. He could pick up some velocity if he would use his lower body better and lengthen the stride in his delivery. If the slider continues to elude him, he could become a dependable, durable bullpen workhorse. -
Last spring Riordan became just the third Fordham pitcher ever to strike out 100 batters in a season. The first two, Dick Egan and Hank Borowy, went on to long big league careers, and Riordan has the raw stuff to do the same. He was inconsistent in his junior season with the Rams, allowing the Rockies to draft him in the sixth round and sign him for $120,000. He led the Northwest League in ERA until fading late in the summer. Riordan's fastball ranges from 88-94 mph, and when he's on he'll show a hard curveball with good tilt and an average changeup. He has a smooth delivery and throws strikes, but his command comes and goes. Scouts questioned his desire and focus while he was at Fordham, but if Riordan becomes more consistent he can reach his ceiling as a No. 3 or 4 starter.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Because he was inconsistent at Fordham, scouts were divided on Riordan's worth. Those who had seen him at his best, such as last summer when he dealt in the Cape Cod League, had a hunch he might break out after turning pro. That's exactly what happened after the Rockies took him in the sixth round. At times Riordan performed as well as any starter in the league, such as an 11-strikeout performance against Eugene in August during which he had three pitches working for strikes. His fastball ranges from 88-93 mph. His curveball is inconsistent, but at times shows hard, sharp tilt, and he'll mix in an average changeup. Riordan was on track to claim the league's ERA crown before he gave up 14 earned runs in his final three regular season starts. While he'll show stretches where he commands the zone, he also has bouts of erratic control. "You see him and automatically think he was a high pick, but he was a sixth-rounder," a third AL scout said. "He was 89-93 and could absolutely carve with his secondary stuff, kind of like a Jeff Suppan but with better velo."
