Zack Segovia Stats & Scouting Report

IP	15
ERA	8.4
WHIP	1.733
BB/9	4.2
SO/9	3.6

Full name Zachary Ernest Segovia
Born 04/11/1983 in Dallas, TX
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 245 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Forney
Debut 04/08/2007
Drafted in the 2nd round (58th overall) by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2002 (signed for $712,500).

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On the U.S. junior national team last summer, Segovia was the most effective pitcher who wasn't headed directly for college. Team USA finished second at the world junior qualifying tournament in Cuba, and Segovia worked eight innings without allowing an earned run, fanning 15. He's always had a large body and is listed at 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, but he has done a better job of staying in shape this year. He throws up to 93 mph with nice life on his fastball, and he'll flash a plus slider from time to time. His delivery will need a little smoothing out.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

A classic late bloomer, Segovia is one of the best development stories in the system. After signing for $712,500 as a second-round pick out of high school, Segovia made his debut in the Gulf Coast League and had Tommy John surgery the following season. It took him nearly two years to fully recover, and he easily put up his best numbers last season--finishing it in the Arizona Fall League after winning two games for Team USA in the Olympic Qualifying tournament in Cuba. Segovia's velocity hasn't returned to its pre-surgery form, as his fastball now sits at 88-92 mph, topping out at 93. Without the velocity, Segovia compensated by becoming a more complete pitcher. He can now sink his heater much better, and he'll cut it or run it in to either side of the plate when he needs to. His slider and changeup are at least average offerings. Segovia's best asset is his fastball command, and his secondary stuff needs to improve. He gets around on his slider, which leaves the pitch hanging in the upper quadrant of the zone. While durability is no longer a concern, Segovia must maintain a strict training regimen to keep his weight in check. The Phillies will give Segovia a long look for a rotation spot in 2007, but he likely opens the year in the Triple-A rotation.
Segovia debuted at No. 10 on this list in 2002, but struggled in 2003 when he tried to pitch with a tender arm by not telling the organization. He ended up having Tommy John surgery that fall, missed all of 2004 before returning for four instructional league outings 11 months after the operation. The Phillies wonder if a 150-pitch outing during the Texas high school playoffs contributed to the arm trouble, but credit Segovia's work ethic for his speedy return from surgery. His arm worked--and he said felt--fine in instructs, and his velocity was just under the 92-93 mph he showed prior to surgery. Segovia's fastball also features heavy sinking action, while his hard, biting slider rates as the organization's best. A full year of experience should help his changeup progress to average as he gains a better feel for it. Segovia will start his comeback at high Class A, and could ultimately develop into a No. 2- 3 starter, though his mindset and fastball-slider combination could also yield a closer.
Segovia debuted at No. 10 on this list a year ago, but fell after having Tommy John surgery in the fall. He had a solid showing in spring training, but came down with a tender elbow a few starts into his first full season. He didn't tell anyone and tried to continue pitching. The Phillies knew something was wrong when his velocity dipped from 92-93 mph to the mid-80s. Segovia eventually went on the disabled list to rest his arm and tried to rehab it. He saw several doctors and had a few MRIs, but it took until after the season to find out what was wrong. It's the first arm problem Segovia has experienced, and it left both him and the Phillies puzzled and frustrated. He lost a year of development already, and will now miss a significant portion of 2004 as well, if not the entire season. Before he was sidelined, Segovia used a tight-breaking slider and rapidly improving changeup along with his fastball to dominate hitters. He projected as a solid starter with the stuff and mindset to become a closer if needed in the bullpen. The prognosis remains the same if he can put his elbow woes behind him, though surgery sets his timetable back.
Segovia outpitched Mets first-rounder Scott Kazmir on the 2001 U.S. junior national team, striking out 15 and not allowing an earned run in eight innings at a tournament in Cuba. By getting into better shape as a high school senior, Segovia pitched himself into the second round of the 2002 draft and signed for $712,500. The Phillies hired his high school coach, Ron Ortegon, to manage short-season Batavia in 2002. Segovia's fastball sits at 92-93 mph. His best pitch is a tight-breaking slider, but Segovia used it so much that the Phillies took it away from him in the Gulf Coast League. They wanted him to refine his changeup, which improved rapidly. He got his slider back in instructional league, where he dominated by going after hitters with all three pitches. While the Phillies like Segovia's strength, he's on the thick side and must monitor his weight so he doesn't get soft. He needs to improve his changeup and work off his fastball more often. Segovia will spend his first full pro season at Lakewood. If he gets blocked by the starting pitchers ahead of him, he has the approach and stuff to become a future closer.

Minor League Top Prospects

Going back to his days as a member of Team USA's junior national team, Segovia always has dominated his competition. He did so in the GCL as well, showing command of all his pitches while mixing them well. At times Segovia touches 93 mph, and his slider also has its moments. "He really knows how to pitch," Bushong said. "He pitches well above his age. He runs his fastball up there good and has an excellent changeup. His breaking ball is just an average pitch but he throws it for strikes."