Chuck James Stats & Scouting Report

IP	326
ERA	4.528
WHIP	1.377
BB/9	3.644
SO/9	6.681

Full name Charles Hamilton James
Born 11/09/1981 in Atlanta, GA
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 190 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Chattahoochee Valley CC
Debut 09/28/2005
Drafted in the 20th round (605th overall) by the Atlanta Braves in 2002.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

The South Atlantic League's most valuable pitcher in 2004, James blazed through three levels in 2005 before his September callup. Along the way, he ranked third in the minors in ERA (2.12) and fourth in strikeouts (193). James' changeup is the best in the system. He has plus command of his 89-91 mph fastball, and he does an excellent job of pitching to both sides of the plate. He keeps hitters off balance by upsetting their timing. James isn't overpowering and his stuff is unlikely to improve. His 0.3 groundball-flyball ratio was the lowest in the minor leagues, and could present problems if he doesn't miss bats in the majors. His slider needs more consistency in order to give him a third pitch as a big league starter. James will compete for a job in Atlanta during spring training, though he most likely will open 2006 with a tuneup in Triple-A. He's capable of developing into a mid-rotation starter.
The Braves were prepared to take James in the third round in 2002, but days before the draft he suffered serious injuries to both of his arms after attempting to jump off a roof into a pool. He hit the ground before the water, and it cost him 17 rounds and a large chunk of bonus money. In his first taste of full-season ball last year, he won the South Atlantic League's most valuable pitcher award. James displays great concentration and moxie on the mound. An aggressive pitcher who keeps hitters off balance, he challenges them with his 89-91 mph fastball. He also has a plus changeup that he'll use at any time in the count. He not only throws strikes, but he also locates his pitches well. Considered undersized by some scouts, James certainly doesn't have a projectable build. To continue to start at higher levels, he'll have to improve his slider. He also must upgrade his stamina, because his fastball dips into the mid-80s when he gets tired. A possible end-of-the-rotation starter in the majors, James will open the 2005 season in high Class A.
James is a stereotypical "little lefty" who knows how to pitch. With his maturity and ability to mix his pitches, change speeds and keep batters off balance, James toyed with the Appalachian League. He limited opponents to a .151 average and never allowed more than two earned runs in any of his outings. His fastball resides in the 89-91 mph range, and his best pitch is his changeup. His third pitch, a slider, is continuing to show improvement. James does an excellent job of hitting his spots, moving all three of his offerings around in the strike zone and employing the same arm action with each of them. He also isn't afraid to throw inside and will saw batters off at the hands. Aside from upgrading his slider, James will need to continue to prove himself against better competition. His next test will come this year in high Class A.

Minor League Top Prospects

All James did at three different levels this year was pile up wins and strikeouts, going 13-7 while finishing third in the minors in ERA (2.12) and fourth in whiffs (193 in 161 innings). He's not overpowering with an 89-91 mph fastball, but he's deceptive and hides the ball a long time, making it seem like he throws harder than he does. "It doesn't seem like he throws hard, but a lot of the swings we took at him were not very good," Perezchica said. "He has a good breaking ball, and our swings on his fastball were off balance." James' command is exceptional and allows him to throw inside against righthanders without fear. He throws a lot of strikes with his plus changeup and his slider has shown flashes of brilliance, though it remains an inconsistent third pitch. He does a good job mixing speeds and working both sides of the plate with all his offerings.
No pitcher received more praise for his performance than James. While many Rookie-league pitchers have raw skills, James stood out with his ability to hit spots and change speeds, producing numerous comparisons to Tom Glavine. A 20th-round pick in 2002 who didn't make his pro debut until this summer, James moves the ball around the strike zone with his fastball, changeup and slider. His heater resides around 90 mph, and he isn't afraid to throw inside or paint the outside corners. "He has the best changeup I've ever seen at this level," Odor said. "His changeup is amazing because his arm action is exactly the same as when he throws the fastball. Guys were completing their swings before the ball reached the plate."