Brett Sinkbeil Stats & Scouting Report

IP	2
ERA	13.5
WHIP	3.5
BB/9	22.5
SO/9	4.5

Full name Brett Allen Sinkbeil
Born 12/26/1984 in Tulsa, OK
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Missouri State
Debut 09/15/2010
Drafted in the 1st round (19th overall) by the Miami Marlins in 2006 (signed for $1,525,000).

View Draft Report

The Cardinals drafted their home state's top two 2006 prospects, Missouri's Max Scherzer and Sinkbeil, out of high school three years ago. Scherzer has kept a higher profile in college, while Sinkbeil has become more of a stealth first-rounder. He first hinted at that status by following a 7-9, 4.84 sophomore season with a standout performance in the Cape Cod League last summer, and solidified it this spring--before straining an oblique muscle in mid-April. He went just 1 1/3 innings in his next start and missed his next three turns in the rotation. Before he got hurt, Sinkbeil's fastball was sitting at 91-92 mph, reaching as high as 95 and showing plenty of sink. His slider is a good second pitch, and his changeup has improved. Not only does he throw strikes, but he also locates his pitches well within the zone. On his best nights, area scouts say Sinkbeil has outclassed any college pitcher in the Midwest, including No. 3 overall prospect Brad Lincoln of Houston. Some of them would take him over the region's other top college-age arms (Scherzer, Joba Chamberlain and Luke Hochevar). While that won't happen, Sinkbeil still should go in the bottom of the first round if he can show he's healthy.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Having invested $1.525 million and the 16th overall pick in the 2006 draft in Sinkbeil, the Marlins still hope to see some return. A series of nagging injuries have slowed him through the years, including a strained oblique, a minor elbow problem and a herniated disk in his back. His fastball velocity dropped all the way down to 90-93 mph before a move to the bullpen last May in Triple-A seemed to revive him. Soon he was back to touching 96 mph with his fastball and his 86-87 mph slider got tighter and harder. He struggled with the slider out of the full windup, but he stopped getting around the pitch once he opted for the stretch on a full-time basis. He still throws from a high three-quarters arm slot, but his simplified delivery allows him to stay more on target with his body. He still needs to cut down on his walks and miss more bats, but with his work ethic and new momentum, Sinkbeil could bid for a role in the big league bullpen sometime in 2010. Florida added him to its 40-man roster for the first time in November.
Signed for $1.525 million after going 19th overall in the 2006 draft, Sinkbeil has had a hard time staying healthy. A strained oblique caused him to drop slightly in the draft, and he missed time in his first full pro season with an elbow issue and a herniated disc in his back. He managed to make all of his starts in 2008, but his performance in Double-A was disappointing. His fastball velocity dropped a tick, though he still has a 90-93 mph heater with good late life. His hard slider is the best in the system, and he throws it at 84-87 mph. No one questions his work ethic, and his changeup has shown signs of improvement. For someone with his stuff, Sinkbeil doesn't miss a lot of bats, which puts a premium on having quality defenders behind him. If he's not getting his slider over, his fastball can be hittable, and he works up in the strike zone too much. Scouts aren't enamored with his pendulum-like arm action. Sinkbeil must re-establish himself in 2009, and some believe a move to the bullpen could do just that. His sinker-slider repertoire profiles well in a set-up role, though the Marlins figure to keep him in the rotation for now.
Because Sinkbeil missed three weeks with a strained oblique, he slipped to the 19th pick in the 2006 draft, where he signed for $1.525 million. He missed time with elbow and lower back concerns in his first full pro season, the latter a herniated disc suffered in weight training that cost him six weeks at the end of the year. It responded well to rest and rehab and he headed to Hawaii Winter Baseball. A hard worker, Sinkbeil has two plus pitches. His fastball sits between 91-94 mph with late life and his slider is the best in the system. He has made significant strides with his changeup, especially after Marlins officials felt his early elbow troubles were the result of leaning too heavily on his slider. Sinkbeil's injuries have led to concerns about his durability, and some see him as a future reliever as a result. Some scouts don't like his pendulum-style arm action and feel that could contribute to his physical problems.He has to be careful to work down in the zone because his stuff tends to straighten out when he elevates his pitches. After missing 10 weeks at Jupiter, Sinkbeil figures to return to high Class A for the start of 2008. His strong showing in Hawaii indicates he should get to Double-A at some point this season.
Sinkbeil established himself as a possible first-round pick in the Cape Cod League in the summer of 2005 and backed that up with a strong spring at Missouri State. The only hurdle he had to overcome was proving was healthy after missing three weeks with a strained oblique. The Padres and Phillies showed some interest just ahead of the Marlins, who took him 19th overall and quickly signed him for $1.525 million. Sinkbeil's fastball sits at 89-93 mph and tops out at 95 mph, showing late life that often overwhelmed New York-Penn League hitters. His tight slider is a legitimate out pitch and he feels confident throwing it in any count. He throws strikes with both pitches. Driven and focused, he tries to pattern himself after Roger Clemens in terms of work ethic and preparation. He packed on 35 pounds of muscle in three years at Missouri State. His changeup was weak in college and still needs work. Sinkbeil has yet to find a comfortable grip and match the same arm speed of his fastball. If he can't, he'll be a reliever down the road. Though he's a strong competitor, some wish he would be a little more outgoing. After holding his own at low Class A Greensboro late in the summer, Sinkbeil might return there to begin his first full pro season. However, it won't be long before he joins the Class of '05 in high Class A. He projects as a solid No. 3 starter, possibly a No. 2, and could be ready in 2008.

Minor League Top Prospects

Sinkbeil made just 14 starts in his first full pro season. He missed five weeks early in the season with elbow tendinitis, and he didn't pitch in August because he came down with a herniated disc in his neck. When healthy, Sinkbeil worked to both sides of the plate with a 92-93 mph fastball and a heavy sinker. His average slider also has some potential, but he has yet to show much feel for a changeup. He needs the changeup to battle lefties, who hit .306/.341/.476 against him.