Erick Threets

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #20 prospect in 2008
  Threets finally climbed the mountain in 2007, earning a September callup after pitching effectively out of the Triple-A bullpen for a second consecutive season. He sat and waited nearly two weeks before making his major league debut, and his nerves probably contributed to a 19.29 ERA over three appearances with the Giants. But his promotion was a success story nonetheless, considering his colorful seven-year ride through the minors. Threets once was clocked at 104 mph, and while he jokes that "those days are long gone," there are plenty of major league lefthanders who would kill for his 95-mph fastball. Shoulder and back injuries derailed Threets in the past, but he finally got enough consistent mound time to address his once-considerable command issues. He still doesn't throw enough strikes, but he pitched effectively and showed improved command in the Mexican Pacific League this winter. While learning to pitch without his old velocity, he has gained a better feel for his cutter, and he also flashes a plus changeup. If Threets has a consistent spring, he'll be a candidate for the major league bullpen.
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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #24 prospect in 2007
  It seems the whole organization is rooting for Threets, a one-time Nuke LaLoosh story who was on the verge of making his major league debut last September. After years of erratic command and injury problems mixed with incendiary stuff--including a fastball that legend holds once hit 104 mph--Threets began throwing strikes in Triple-A. He had a 2.87 ERA in 49 games, kept his fastballs from sailing to the screen and got over a changeup and little cut slider with consistency. The Giants were giddy with his progress. Then he sustained a severe tear in his lat muscle on his throwing side on Aug. 27--the same day Merkin Valdez tore an elbow ligament. While his velocity wasn't in the triple digits, Threets was consistently in the upper 90s last year and was gunned at 97 mph on the day of his injury. He spent the winter rehabbing his side and was expected to be healthy when he reports to spring training. He could be a candidate for the Opening Day roster, but more likely the Giants will want him to repeat Triple-A.
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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #30 prospect in 2005
  Giants fans have been teased by rare Threets sightings since he reportedly reached 103 mph in instructional league following the 2001 season. Command and injury problems have limited him to 89 innings over the last three years, and he missed all of 2004 after May surgery to repair a small labrum tear in his shoulder. Threets was able to throw in the bullpen last fall, and his fastball was back in the mid- to upper 90s. That was enough for San Francisco to protect him on the 40-man roster for a second straight year. With his fastball and a power slider, Threets has the raw stuff to become a premier reliever. But the emphasis is on the word "raw." He has walked nearly a batter per inning as a pro and has little feel for the strike zone. He also throws across his body, which doesn't bode well for his health. The Giants have tinkered with his delivery to try to smooth him out, but Threets hasn't stayed on the mound enough to put his new mechanics to use.
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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #13 prospect in 2004
  One of the most enigmatic prospects in baseball, Threets may be the game's hardest thrower. He reportedly has been clocked as high at 103 mph. But one San Francisco official compares him to Steve Dalkowski, a minor league legend in the 1950s and '60s. While Dalkowski also was a wild, flamethrowing lefty, that's not a flattering comparison--he never reached the majors. Threets has shown flashes of control in the past, and finally started to do so in games that count in the second half of 2003 at low Class A. In one August outing he needed just 54 pitches to work five innings, his longest stint of the season. He worked closely with Hagerstown pitching coach Bob Stanley, who lowered Threets' hands in his delivery and tried to get him to relax. Late in instructional league, Threets lowered his arm slot a bit, and the results continued to be encouraging. After signing him out of the Cape Cod League in 2000, the Giants immediately raised his angle from his natural slot, which was nearly sidearm. That jumped his fastball from the low 90s range to triple digits. If Threets ever throws consistent strikes, he could be the game's premier lefthanded reliever, combining intimidating size, unhittable heat with movement and a power slider. He'll try to put it all together at Double-A in 2004.
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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #10 prospect in 2003
  Threets comes from Randy Johnson's hometown of Livermore, Calif., and has more heat than the five-time Cy Young Award winner. He reportedly hit 103 mph in instructional league following the 2001 season, and regularly reached triple digits last year. Poor mechanics have contributed to a sore arm and shoulder bursitis, limiting him to 150 innings as an amateur and pro over the last three years. Threets throws harder on a consistent basis than anyone in baseball, including the majors. He has a perfect build for a pitcher, at 6-foot-5 with wide shoulders and narrow hips. At times he'll show a nasty slider. At this point, Threets doesn't have much going for him besides velocity. He may have to sacrifice a few ticks to get more life and command. His delivery still needs smoothing out and his lack of control precludes using him as a starter. His slider is inconsistent and he has no semblance of an offspeed pitch. The Giants see Threets as a guy who can come in for an inning and blow hitters away. He'll advance quickly if he can lock in his mechanics and learn how to subtract a little when he gets behind in the count. If he can develop a second reliable pitch and throw more strikes, he has closer potential.
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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #8 prospect in 2002
  A sore arm thanks to poor high school mechanics limited Threets to the bullpen and just 38 innings in 2000 between the juco ranks and the Cape Cod League, where the Giants signed him. He hails from Randy Johnson's hometown of Livermore, Calif., and if instructional league radar guns are to be believed, Threets has staked his claim as Livermore's hardest thrower. He could have the hardest fastball in the minors as club officials insist he threw four pitches in the 102-103 mph range. Threets' wide-shouldered, powerful build and narrow hips provide a perfect pitcher's frame. His slider is a work in progress but can be nasty when he stays on top of the pitch. Still raw, he doesn't have an offspeed pitch. His delivery tends to get stiff if he doesn't relax and let it go. Threets reacted well to the situation he was put at high Class A last year, where an 85-pitch limit and his lack of polish contributed to him going winless. He shook it off by dominating instructional league. A return to San Jose as a starter is in the offing, but a move to the bullpen could come eventually.
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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #28 prospect in 2001
  Threets was part of the Giants' bountiful draft haul in 2000 and is among the biggest, hardest throwers in the system. The organization was able to sign him despite his commitment to Louisiana State, where he would have competed for the Tigers' closer role. The Giants aren't quite sure what they have in Threets, who spent the summer pitching in the Cape Cod League. After a long season, he took instructional league off. In the spring and summer, Threets showed a fastball that touched the mid-90s, a low-80s slider and excellent athletic ability. He may not be done growing, which may mean that he'll add more velocity. The Giants will see what he shows them in his first pro spring training, and he likely will start his career as a starter at Hagerstown. He has a chance to move up this list quickly.