Jon Switzer Stats & Scouting Report

IP	69
ERA	6.261
WHIP	1.812
BB/9	4.957
SO/9	6

Full name Jon Michael Switzer
Born 08/13/1979 in Bowling Green, KY
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Arizona State
Debut 08/02/2003
Drafted in the 2nd round (47th overall) by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2001 (signed for $850,000).

View Draft Report

An 11-game winner as a sophomore and a success last summer with Team USA, Switzer struggled to be a .500 pitcher this spring. He lost his spot as Arizona State's No. 1 starter after a string of starts in which he didn't get beyond the fifth inning. All the attention and pressure that accompanies a potential first-round pick--and a drop in velocity to 88-91 mph--affected Switzer's performance. He still made progress in a number of areas. He added a splitter and slider to give him a third and fourth pitch, and the location of his pitches generally was better. In the final analysis, he has a lot of selling points: he's lefthanded with a fastball that has been clocked as high as 93 mph and has big-game experience with Team USA.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Switzer roomed with Dewon Brazelton while with Team USA in 2000 and could join him in the big league rotation at some point this year after impressing Devil Rays manager Lou Piniella last August. After finishing strong in Double-A to earn a brief taste of the majors, Switzer pitched well in Triple-A and fanned 11 while winning the opener of the International League finals. He has good mound presence and commands a lively 88-92 mph fastball. He threw with a stiff wrist at Arizona State but has developed a sharp, late-breaking slider as a pro. His changeup, which was his third pitch last year in spring training, also has shown considerable progress and now possesses excellent depth and fade. The change is a vital pitch for him against righthanders, who teed off on him for a .476 average in the majors. Tampa Bay acquired lefties John Halama and Mark Hendrickson this offseason, increasing the chances that Switzer will begin 2004 in Triple-A.
A projected first-round pick in 2001, Switzer fell to the second round (47th overall) because his velocity dropped from the low 90s to the high 80s. After pitching just 14 innings in the short-season New York-Penn League in 2001, he tied for fifth among starters in the minor leagues last year by averaging 11.24 strikeouts per nine innings. He was shut down in August with elbow tendinitis. Switzer recovered the velocity of his fastball by altering his arm slot and throwing the ball on more of a downhill plane. He mixed a solid 79-81 mph slider and added a straight changeup with good depth and fade. He works both sides of the plate and does a good job of moving the ball around the strike zone. He limited lefthanders to a .216 average, allowing one extra-base hit in 74 at-bats. Switzer's command can become inconsistent during the course of a game. He needs to repeat his mechanics to maintain his velocity while keeping his pitches from flattening out, especially against righthanders. Switzer will climb a step higher to Orlando. Tampa Bay officials say the mature lefthander isn't far from the majors.
The Devil Rays believe they drafted two future members of their starting rotation when they plucked Dewon Brazelton and Switzer with their first two picks in the 2001 draft. They were roommates on Team USA's college squad in 2000 and will be given every opportunity to reach Tropicana Field as quickly as possible. Switzer entered his junior year at Arizona State as a potential first-round pick before enduring a midseason slump. He rebounded in his brief pro debut. Switzer has a low-90s fastball and a good changeup. He added a splitter and a slider during his last season in college and displayed fine location with all of his offerings during instructional league. While he must continue to improve his consistency with his new pitches, Switzer appears ready to jump on the fast track. A solid showing in spring training could lead to a spot in the Double-A Orlando in April.