Matt Ginter

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Chicago White Sox #12 prospect in 2002
  While aggressive advancement has created mixed results with many of their young pitchers, Ginter is the White Sox' biggest tease. The 1999 first-round pick has been successful in the minors, posting a 2.60 ERA while doing most of his work at the upper levels, but he frequently has fallen apart when promoted to the big leagues. The difference lies in his ability to throw strikes. Major league hitters aren't as quick to chase Ginter's hard slider, leaving him too often working behind in the count. The slider is a dynamite pitch that he combines with a low-90s fastball to overmatch righthanders. He has developed a decent changeup but he needs to command his fastball better. Ginter has pitched well as a starter in the minors but his future appears to be in the bullpen. He once was viewed as a future closer or middle- of-the-rotation starter, but the Sox will be tickled if he establishes himself in any role. Ginter will go to camp this spring with a chance to win a job as a long man.
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  Ranked Chicago White Sox #4 prospect in 2001
  Ginter ranked second in the Southern League in ERA and was selected for the U.S. Olympic team in 2000, his first full pro season. He withdrew from the team when the White Sox said they wanted to consider him for the postseason roster, which he didn't make. Ginter has a plus fastball that he can throw in the mid-90s, but his best pitch is a tight slider that can overmatch righthanders. He's a versatile pitcher who could project as either a starter or a reliever. He's willing to knock hitters off the plate, which helped him hold Double-A hitters to a .233 average. Ginter seemed almost in awe when he was promoted to the big leagues. He respected big league hitters too much, falling behind in too many counts while nibbling around the edges of the strike zone. He gave up five homers in nine innings. Ginter was on the fast track before his September troubles. The White Sox probably will give him a full season at Triple-A. He projects as a reliever but could fool the Sox and wind up in the rotation in 2002.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Southern League #7 prospect in 2000
  In Lorenzo Barcelo, Jon Garland, Aaron Myette and Kip Wells, the White Sox already had some blue-chip pitching prospects before the 1999 draft. Then they went out and signed Mark Buehrle (see below) as a draft-and-follow, and selected Ginter (first round), Dan Wright (second) and Jon Rauch (third). Ginter would have joined Rauch on the Olympic team had Chicago not decided to promote him in September. He relieved for the Sox after primarily starting in the minors, and the bullpen may be his ultimate destination. With all those arms, Chicago isn't hurting for rotation candidates. Ginter has true power stuff, with a fastball that can reach 95 mph and a hard slider that's nasty when he keeps it down in the strike zone. He also made nice progress with his changeup, which will serve him well if he continues to start.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #44 prospect in 2001

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  In Lorenzo Barcelo, Jon Garland, Aaron Myette and Kip Wells, the White Sox already had some blue-chip pitching prospects before the 1999 draft. Then they went out and signed Mark Buehrle (see below) as a draft-and-follow, and selected Ginter (first round), Dan Wright (second) and Jon Rauch (third). Ginter would have joined Rauch on the Olympic team had Chicago not decided to promote him in September. He relieved for the Sox after primarily starting in the minors, and the bullpen may be his ultimate destination. With all those arms, Chicago isn't hurting for rotation candidates. Ginter has true power stuff, with a fastball that can reach 95 mph and a hard slider that's nasty when he keeps it down in the strike zone. He also made nice progress with his changeup, which will serve him well if he continues to start.