Casey Janssen
| IP | 533 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 3.63 |
| WHIP | 1.214 |
| BB/9 | 2.178 |
| SO/9 | 6.67 |
- Full name Robert Casey Janssen
- Born 09/17/1981 in Orange, CA
- Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School UCLA
- Debut 04/27/2006
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Drafted in the 4th round (117th overall) by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2004 (signed for $150,000).
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UCLA RHP Casey Janssen was a workhorse starter and should go in the first six to 10 rounds--and more than just as a budget pick for economy-minded teams. Janssen was a two-way player for the first three years of his career at UCLA and has an athletic 6-foot-4, 210-pound body. He gave up hitting this season, and the lesser workload paid immediate dividends as went 9-4, 3.40 after entering the season with a 5.28 career ERA. He has a fastball that at times touches 92 mph. His slider and changeup improved, and he commanded all his pitches well. He walked just 29 in 109 innings, while striking out 96.
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A two-way player at UCLA his first three seasons, Janssen devoted full attention to pitching his senior season. He went from a 49th-round pick by the Orioles in 2003 to a fourth-rounder by the Jays in 2004 to one of the system's best prospects in 2005, when his 2.18 ERA ranked fourth in the minors. Janssen commands four pitches for strikes. He creates good natural cutting movement on his 89-91 mph two-seam fastball. He throws a solid-average slider with good bite, a changeup with tailing action and an average though soft curveball. He follows a gameplan when he pitches, keeps the ball on the ground and is adept at holding runners. None of Janssen's four pitches projects as above average, and it's uncertain how his stuff will play against more advanced hitters who swing and miss less frequently. He wore down a bit as the season progressed, so he needs to get stronger. With his ability to throw strikes, Janssen looks like a future No. 4 starter in the majors. He'll open the season in Double-A. -
Janssen spent his first three years at UCLA as a two-way player, homering in his first college at-bat and seeing time at both first base and on the mound. He became a full-time pitcher in 2004, with promising results, going 10-4, 3.16 as a senior. He also improved his draft stock, going from a 49th-round pick by the Orioles in 2003 to a fourth-rounder who signed for $150,000 last June. Janssen has a lean, athletic body with room for added weight and strength. He has a no-windup delivery with a high leg kick, and easy arm action from a high three-quarters slot. His best pitch is an 89-92 mph two-seam fastball with good command and sinking action. Janssen also throws a changeup with fastball arm speed, a curveball and slider that have good rotation and spin, and a cutter. He commands and mixes all his pitches well. He figures to start 2005 in Class A.
