Steve Garrison Stats & Scouting Report

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Full name Stevenson Nathaniel Garrison
Born 09/12/1986 in Trenton, NJ
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: S / Throws: L
School The Hun School Of Princeton
Debut 07/25/2011
Drafted in the 10th round (295th overall) by the Milwaukee Brewers in 2005 (signed for $160,000).

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Garrison throws strikes with all his pitches, with command to both sides of the plate. His fastball was mainly in the 86-88 mph range this spring, but it has been 90-91 in the past and scouts have no doubt it will return to that velocity, and possibly exceed it because he is athletic and has good arm speed. He also has a quality slider that he can bury under the hands of righthanded hitters. On talent, mound presence and feel for the game, Garrison would surely go in the first 10 round, but he is a signability risk of a strong commitment to North Carolina, and that could knock him down and possibly right out of the draft.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Garrison's tumble down the prospect list is not a reflection of his ability, but rather of the shoulder surgery he had in October to clean up his rotator cuff and labrum. He'll miss at least half of the 2009 season, with an optimistic return date set for June. Along with Will Inman and Joe Thatcher, he joined the Padres in the July 2007 trade that sent Scott Linebrink to Milwaukee. A smart and crafty lefty, Garrison pitches above his average stuff by quickly dissecting hitters and attacking their weaknesses. He ranked fourth in the Texas League last season in strikeouts per nine innings (7.5), fewest walks per nine (2.5) and opponent average (.249). The strength of his 88-90 mph fastball is his ability to locate it, even inside on righthanders. Garrison's hard 12-to-6 curveball is his strikeout pitch and he used it to limit Double-A lefties to a .189 average. It's a plus offering at times, as is his changeup. A good athlete, Garrison is an adept fielder with a tough pickoff move. Only 13 runners attempted to steal against him in 24 starts, with nine succeeding.
As might be expected from a player who went to the elite Hun School of Princeton in New Jersey, Garrison is a smart, poised pitcher with an effervescent personality. He slipped to the 10th round in 2005 due to signability questions, but agreed to terms with the Brewers for $160,000. The Padres acquired him in July, along with Will Inman and Joe Thatcher, in exchange for Scott Linebrink. One Padres official described Garrison as an artist on the mound, one who pitches well above his average stuff. He works to both sides of the plate and stays out of the middle. His curveball and changeup are plus pitches most of the time. He adeptly mixes his offerings and knows how to attack hitters. A good athlete, he repeats his delivery and controls the running game almost as well as he does the strike zone. With an 86-88 mph fastball, Garrison walks a fine line. Anything he leaves up and over the plate is susceptible to being hit a long way, though he has surrendered just 18 homers in 270 minor league innings. He can't get out of jams with a strikeout and must rely on his defense to make plays for him. Garrison tamed the California League after the trade, suggesting he's quite ready for Double-A in 2008. He projects as a No. 4 starter.
As might be expected from a player who went to the elite Hun School of Princeton in New Jersey, Garrison is a smart, poised, sharp pitcher with an effervescent personality. He slipped to the 10th round in 2005 due to signability questions, because of his commitment to North Carolina. Nevertheless, Garrison signed for $160,000, a bonus commensurate with the middle of the fifth round. Garrison works with a four-pitch repertoire consisting of an 87-89 mph fastball, slider, curveball and changeup, which each rate average to a tick below average presently. The key is, he throws strikes and has an idea of how to attack hitters when he's on the mound. As he matures and gets stronger, he projects to pick up some velocity on his fastball, which has touched 91 from time to time, and slider, his best secondary pitch. He's athletic and has good arm speed. After spending time in extended spring training last year, Garrison pitched the remainder of the season at low Class A. He has a clean, effortless delivery and is a strike thrower who works ahead in the count, and mixes his offerings effectively. Because he doesn't overpower hitters, when Garrison does make a mistake, he can be susceptible to the long ball. The Brewers love the intangibles he brings to the mound, especially at a young age. Already on the fast track, he'll compete for a spot in the high Class A rotation this spring.

Minor League Top Prospects

San Antonio manager Bill Masse described Garrison as someone who will throw 40 pitches in the bullpen and command each one so well that the catcher doesn't have to move. Though he tired down the stretch, he continued to show that he could be the steal of the trade that sent Scott Linebrink from the Padres to the Brewers in mid 2007. Garrison challenges hitters with average stuff, running his 88 mph two-seam fastball in on righthanders. His hard slider is his strikeout pitch, and he also uses a 12-to-6 curveball and a changeup. He does fight his mechanics at times, however, and he needs to get stronger after getting shut down in mid-August with a sore shoulder.