Bobby Parnell
| IP | 336 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 3.83 |
| WHIP | 1.443 |
| BB/9 | 3.696 |
| SO/9 | 7.955 |
- Full name Robert Allen Parnell
- Born 09/08/1984 in Salisbury, NC
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Charleston Southern
- Debut 09/15/2008
- Drafted in the 9th round (269th overall) by the New York Mets in 2005 (signed for $65,000).
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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After limited previous experience on the mound, Parnell began pitching regularly at Charleston Southern. He posted 6.82 and 8.86 ERAs in his final two college seasons but has surged ahead as a professional. He earned the trust of Mets manager Jerry Manuel and pitched some critical relief innings in September. Parnell throws a heavy fastball anywhere from 89-97 mph. When he's throwing strikes, he gets plenty of strikeouts and groundouts. His slider and changeup give him the chance to have three plus pitches. While he has a good fastball, Parnell doesn't show his top velocity consistently within games, either as a starter or as a reliever. He lacks a feel for pitching that made it hard to go through a lineup three or four times as a starter, but that won't be a problem if he's a reliever. His lack of confidence in his changeup is another obstacle to starting. Before the Mets signed Francisco Rodriguez, Parnell was a candidate to become their closer of the future. His best chance of breaking camp with the Mets in 2009 is out of the bullpen, though he continued to work as a starter in the Arizona Fall League. -
Parnell has one of the system's best success stories. Though he posted 6.82 and 8.86 ERAs in his final two seasons at Charleston Southern, area scout Marlin McPhail liked his arm strength. Parnell led the short-season New York-Penn League with a 1.73 ERA in his pro debut and finished his second full season in Double-A. A former prep shortstop, Parnell has velocity to spare. His fastball sat in the low 90s and regularly hit 95 mph late in games in August. His heater also has heavy sink and generates plenty of groundouts. His hard slider sits in the mid-80s at times and can be a strikeout pitch. The development of his changeup has been an issue since Parnell became a pro. He still needs to trust the pitch more, but he made significant progress with it in 2007, giving the Mets hope he can remain a starter. Too often Parnell works away from contact while trying to strike every hitter out. Parnell still needs polish, but he has improved his profile from middle reliever to middle-of-the-rotation starter. He'll return to Double-A to begin 2008. -
Parnell burst onto the scene in 2005 when he led the short-season New York-Penn League in ERA in his pro debut, an impressive feat for someone who posted ERAs of 6.82 and 8.86 in his final two years at Charleston Southern. A strained oblique cost him much of spring training in 2006 and he never regained his 2005 form. Parnell has a lively sinker that tops out at 94 mph, but it's more effective at 91-92 because it has more movement when he takes a little off it. He complements it with a nasty 84-86 mph slider that is a swing-and-miss pitch. Because he struggles to throw the slider for strikes, it's more useful when he's ahead in the count and can get hitters to expand their zones. The Mets like his confidence and poise, but want him to throw his changeup more. Because he rarely uses the change, he doesn't throw it with conviction. Despite a poor 2006, he still has one of the stronger arms in the system and the Mets think he'll be fine with a full spring training. He'll probably spend 2007 in high Class A. -
Parnell posted 6.82 and 8.86 ERAs in his last two years at Charleston Southern, yet Mets area scout Marlin McPhail--who signed Ty Wigginton as a 17th-rounder in 1998--had tracked him since high school and liked his live arm and wiry frame. Parnell repaid McPhail's faith by leading the short-season New York-Penn League in ERA. A sinker/slider pitcher, he keeps the ball down and pitches at 88-92 mph with his fastball. He also has a changeup and the confidence to throw any pitch in any count. At Brooklyn, he showed an excellent knack for sticking to his gameplan while being able to make adjustments. Durability is a question for Parnell, who tends to wear down in longer outings. Because of his lack of success in college, he'll need to prove his debut was no fluke. With a strong spring training, he could be fast-tracked to high Class A.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Parnell put up 6.82 and 8.86 ERAs in his last two years at Charleston Southern, yet Mets area scout Marlin McPhail had tracked him since high school and liked his live arm and wiry frame. McPhail persuaded his club to take Parnell in the ninth round in June, and Parnell repaid that faith by leading the NY-P in ERA. Parnell is a sinker/slider pitcher who does a good job of keeping the ball down. His sinker creeps into the low 90s. He also has developed a changeup and the confidence to throw it in any count. Durability is a question for Parnell, who tended to wear down in longer starts.
