Kris Foster Stats & Scouting Report

IP	10
ERA	2.7
WHIP	1.7
BB/9	7.2
SO/9	7.2

Full name John Kristian Foster
Born 08/30/1974 in Riverside, NJ
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Florida Southwestern State College
Debut 08/03/2001
Drafted in the 39th round (1,079th overall) by the Washington Nationals in 1992.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Foster persevered through injuries to finally reach the big leagues last year after Baltimore obtained him from Los Angeles in a deadline deal for Mike Trombley. Foster hadn't even made it above Double-A until 2001, his ninth pro season, but his blazing fastball kept the Dodgers from giving up on him. He has endured every manner of arm trouble, including surgery in 2000 to remove a ligament in his right shoulder that was cutting into the muscle. He pulled a stomach muscle last season but should be fully healthy for 2002. Foster's calling card is his fastball, which sits in the high 90s and reportedly has been clocked in triple digits. He also throws a slider and has worked with a curveball, but he rarely uses the latter pitch because it has been blamed for some of his arm problems. Foster has simplified his delivery in the last couple of years, which should help resolve his long-term health issues as well as improve his command. If his power arm is 100 percent, he should make the Baltimore bullpen this year.
Shoulder surgery to remove scar tissue cost Foster all but the final few weeks of the 2000 season. After pitching at Double-A for most of 1999, he pitched 12 innings in high Class A before reporting to the Arizona Fall League. Foster is a power pitcher who was clocked as high as 99 mph and consistently at 96 prior to surgery. He was back to 95 last summer and reported no pain in his shoulder after battling tenderness in both his shoulder and elbow in 1997 and '98. The operation doesn't appear to have affected the control of his fastball, which hindered his progress during his early days in the organization. Foster's slider showed impressive improvement prior to his surgery. The development of a changeup would help him immensely. At age 26, Foster is no longer a pup. If he hadn't needed surgery, the Dodgers believe he might have pitched in the major leagues last year. How he pitches this spring will determine his destination, with Triple-A the most likely choice.