Jordan Tata Stats & Scouting Report

IP	28
ERA	7.071
WHIP	1.607
BB/9	4.821
SO/9	4.5

Full name Jordan A. Tata
Born 09/20/1981 in Plano, TX
Profile Ht.: 6'6" / Wt.: 220 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Sam Houston State
Debut 04/06/2006
Drafted in the 16th round (460th overall) by the Detroit Tigers in 2003.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

After making the Tigers' 2006 Opening Day roster after an injury to Todd Jones, Tata began last year on the disabled list in Triple-A with shoulder inflammation. He joined Detroit's rotation in late July, when Kenny Rogers went on the disabled list, and earned his first big league win at Oakland. But Tata wasn't as sharp in his second start and a quick exit from the third sent him back to the minors. Still, there's hope for him to reach his ceiling as a fifth starter or long reliever. His best pitch is a natural cut fastball that runs from 89-93 mph, which he could have success with out of the bullpen. He throws it frequently, but predictability wouldn't be a problem if he commanded it better. He has incorporated a two-seam fastball, which he throws in the high 80s with some armside run, and a slurvy breaking ball at 79-80 mph. The breaking ball has good depth when Tata is throwing well but is average at best on most days. The Tigers didn't bring Tata back as a September callup last year, casting some doubt on his chances to make the club this spring.
Tata hadn't pitched above Class A, but he made the Opening Day bullpen after an injury to closer Todd Jones in Detroit's final exhibition game. Tata looked comfortable in Detroit before returning to the minors in May. He rejoined the Tigers in September. Tata's fastball, usually clocked from 89-93 mph, has natural cutting action. He also throws a good knuckle-curve. A good athlete who was a two-way player at Sam Houston State, he has a nice frame and sound delivery that allow him to throw strikes. He's not overpowering, so Tata must to refine his repertoire in order to be a big league starter. The Tigers have worked with him on developing a sinker, and he also could use a better changeup to use against lefthanders. Tigers manager Jim Leyland says Tata's future appears to be as a starter, but the Tigers don't have any obvious openings and plenty of internal competition for any vacancy that arises. Tata may have to start in Triple- A or relieve in the majors for most of 2007.
A two-way player at Sam Houston State, where he also played the outfield, Tata first opened the Tigers' eyes when he touched 93 mph in his first instructional league in 2003. He flew under the radar on West Michigan's 2004 championship club, before breaking out as the Florida State League's 2005 pitcher of the year. Tata has good size and good arm speed, giving him an above-average 90-93 mph fastball with excellent sink. He complements it with a cut fastball that he throws just as hard as his fastball, and one club official said he saw Tata throwing 94-mph cutters late in the year. He can pitch to all four quadrants of the strike zone using his fastball and cutter 90 percent of the time. Cleaner mechanics gave him much better control last year than he had in the past. At 24, Tata has yet to pitch above Class A. His slurvy curveball lags behind his other offerings, but when he throws it for strikes, it's usually an effective change of pace. Tata's breakout year was rewarded with a spot on the 40-man roster. The organization's faith in his sinking and cutting fastballs will be tested when he takes his first spin through Double-A this year.

Minor League Top Prospects

There were guys who threw harder, but Tata had the pitch that FSL hitters least wanted to face. His fastball sat between 90-93 mph, touching 95 at times, but it was the pitch's movement that drew raves. It's a heavy, heavy sinker that he can locate on both sides of the plate, and it enabled him to lead the league in wins and earn the FSL pitcher of the year award. Tata's secondary pitches, a 12-6 curveball and a straight changeup, are both average. He throws all three offerings with a nice loose arm action.