Justin James
| IP | 4 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 4.5 |
| WHIP | 2.75 |
| BB/9 | 9 |
| SO/9 | 11.25 |
- Full name Justin Duane James
- Born 09/13/1981 in Oklahoma City, OK
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Missouri
- Debut 09/02/2010
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Drafted in the 5th round (140th overall) by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2003 (signed for $202,500).
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A 2001 sixth-round pick by the Red Sox, James is draft-eligible again as a sophomore. He doesn't have the pure arm strength of Southwest Missouri State's Bob Zimmerman, but he's a better pitcher. Six-foot-3 and 200 pounds, James usually pitches at 88-92 mph and has touched 94. His changeup is his second-best pitch, and he also has a good hard curveball. He's athletic, throws strikes and challenges hitters. If there's a knock on James, it's that his pitches are easy to follow because he lacks deception and that he's around the plate almost too often. He could go as high as the third round, and his best days are ahead of him.
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A sixth-round pick out of an Oklahoma high school by the Red Sox in 2001, James went one round better as a sophomore-eligible coming out of Missouri. He was the highest-drafted Tigers alum since the Astros picked Dave Silvestri in 1988's second round. James cruised through his first two pro stops before stalling in high Class A in the second half of 2004. In order to adjust, he'll need to slow down his mechanics and improve the consistency of his slider, which could become an above-average pitch. James runs his fastball into the low 90s with a maximum-effort delivery that lacks deception. Coming into last season, his changeup was his best pitch. But he didn't fool lefthanders with it as he had previously, and they hit .337 against him. Like many of Toronto's recent picks, he keeps the ball in the yard and throws strikes. He's also aggressive about pitching inside. James could return to high A to open 2005, though he could wind up in Double-A if he has a good spring. He may move to the bullpen in the future. -
James was one of the more intriguing arms in the 2003 draft as a sophomore-eligible just beginning to blossom. A sixth-round pick of the Red Sox in 2001, James struggled mightily as a freshman, when he tried to throw his low-90s fastball by every hitter he faced. He commands his fastball well and used it much more effectively at Missouri in 2003, helping lead the Tigers to their first regional bid since 1996. He was their Friday starter and went 7-6, 4.03, becoming the highest-drafted Missouri player since 1988 (Dave Silvestri, second round) when the Jays took him in the fifth round. James pitches in the 89-90 range most often, though he has touched 94 in the past. His hard curveball remains inconsistent, though at times it has good rotation. James's best pitch is a plus changeup that he throws with a funky grip. One Jays official says he can't describe it "because he won't show it to me." James pitches aggressively, challenging hitters with his fastball, and Toronto likes his competitiveness. He should start 2004 in low Class A but could move quickly.
