Drafted in the 2nd round (38th overall) by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2003 (signed for $900,000).
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Houser originally projected as a first-round pick, but he repeatedly topped out at 88 mph and has a heart murmur that concerns teams. He could last until the end of the second round or even later, which may make it difficult to lure him away from the University of Florida. Houser has hit 91 mph in the past, and there's more velocity in his 6-foot-5, 180-pound frame. He has a better body than Maine or Stevens and more polish than Miller. At times his curveball and changeup are plus pitches, but he has thrown too many breaking balls this spring.
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Houser was following up his solid 2006 showing with a similar performance in Double-A last year, but it came to an abrupt halt when he was suspended for 50 games in August for testing positive for a performance- enhancing substance. He's one of the highest-profile prospects ever nabbed by the minor league testing program. The Rays questioned the results because Houser has a heart condition that requires medication, and he took an amphetamine that resulted in the positive showing. The suspension also prevented him from competing in the Arizona Fall League, which Tampa Bay had hoped would give him a jump on 2008, but didn't stop the club from protecting him on its 40-man roster. Houser throws four pitches for strikes, though none of his offerings is dominant. His fastball touches 91 mph and resides comfortably around 88, and he's able to add and subtract from it while maintaining solid armside run. He has the most confidence in his curveball, which features good tilt. His changeup is solid average, while his cutter sits at 83-85 mph and serves as his out pitch against lefthanders. Houser also unveils a slider on occasion, but he's not consistent with it. His total package may not make him more than a bottom-of-the-rotation starter. After completing his suspension, he'll resume his career in Double-A.
Houser could be close to re-establishing himself as one of the premier prospects in the organization. Lean and wiry when he signed with the Rays as a second-rounder in 2003, Houser dealt with health and durability concerns after pitching just 33 innings in 2004 and missing most of July 2005 with shoulder problems that didn't require surgery. Last year, Houser made every start and tossed a career-high 151 innings at high Class A Visalia. He didn't lose after May 12 and added two more victories in the California League playoffs. Houser has added strength in the past two years. His fastball, once a low-90s offering, now lives at 87-90 mph but features impressive late movement that generates swings-and-misses. He runs his cutter in on the hands of righthanders and away from lefties, and he also throws a sweeping curveball and a straight changeup. The most impressive aspects of Houser's game are his mound presence and his ability to mix all of his pitches. Houser has an easy delivery but struggles on occasion with his release point. He's ready for Double-A.
No. 7 on this list last year and No. 4 two years ago, Houser has fallen because of questions about his health and the projectability of his stuff. He dropped to the second round of the 2003 draft mainly because he has a heart murmur that scared teams off. He made just seven starts in 2004 before he was shut down with shoulder stiffness that didn't require surgery. He came down with shoulder problems again last season, sidelining him for most of July. Houser did manage to toss a career-high 115 innings in 2005, but his pitches and overall strength haven't improved as much as the Devil Rays hoped. He still has plenty of potential, however, and club officials won't be surprised if he has a breakthrough season in high Class A this year. Though he's slender, Houser throws a 91-94 mph fastball from a low three-quarters slot. He needs to develop his secondary pitches, as his curveball and changeup are inconsistent. He throws two versions of his curve, one of which backdoors righthanders. His delivery is smooth and easy, but maintaining his release point is key.
Houser was coming off consecutive scoreless outings in May when his elbow began to bother him. Though he didn't require surgery, the Devil Rays decided to play it safe and shut him down for the rest of the season. They were encouraged with the way he bounced back during instructional league. Houser is a polished lefty with a lean, projectable body and the potential for three plus pitches. He employs a three-quarters delivery to throw a low- to mid-90s fastball with good movement. He also has an above-average changeup and two versions of a curveball, including one that back-doors righthanders. Health remains the biggest concern regarding Houser. A heart murmur scared some teams and caused him to fall out of the first round in 2003. He has made progress with the depth of his changeup and the consistency of his curves, but all of his pitches could use some refinement and more consistency. Provided he remains healthy, Houser could move quickly through the system. If he looks strong in spring training, he could begin 2005 at high Class A Visalia.
Houser was a potential first-rounder who slid to the top of the second round. His velocity was down during the spring, and he has a heart murmur that concerned some clubs. After signing for $900,000, he ranked as the No. 4 prospect in the Rookie-level Appalachian League. Houser lived in the strike zone last summer at Princeton. He throws from a three-quarters slot with the potential to have three plus pitches, including a low-90s fastball, changeup and two versions of a curveball. He throws one curve inside against lefthanders, and another over-the-top curve that breaks straight down and back-doors righties. Well-coached as an amateur, Houser takes instruction well, but he sometimes worries too much about the intricacies of pitching instead of letting his ability take over. He still needs better feel and more consistency with his curveballs. By signing Houser, the Rays were able to justify wasting a third-round pick on high school lefty Andrew Miller, who had firstround talent but was considered unsignable and chose to attend North Carolina. Houser should jump to low Class A in 2004.
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Houser might have been a first-round pick, but teams backed off because he has a heart murmur and rarely topped 88 mph during the spring. The Devil Rays were glad to make him the first choice in the second round, even if like Miller he went winless in his pro debut. He lived in the strike zone while mixing his fastball, curveball and changeup well. He throws two curves: one that he uses inside against lefthanders and another that falls straight down and back-doors righties. Houser hit 91 mph and managers said he could get more heat from his 6-foot-4, 195-pound body. More than one skipper compared Houser to Frank Viola. "He's had a lot of solid coaching prior to signing," Princeton manager Jamie Nelson said. "He takes instruction very well and he's extremely observant. The only thing you might say negative about him is he sometimes experiences 'paralysis by analysis' when he would be better off just going with the situation and letting his natural abilities take over. But his intelligence and his ability are going to take him a long way."
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