Drafted in the 2nd round (73rd overall) by the Baltimore Orioles in 1997.
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Douglass projected as a first-round pick before quitting his high school team midway through his senior year. He jump-started his pro career by beating the three first-round picks the Orioles took ahead of him--sincetraded Jayson Werth, Darnell McDonald and Papy Ndungidi--to Baltimore. None of Douglass' pitches knock hitters out, but taken together they give him a quality repertoire. His fastball sits in the low 90s, and he also has a good slider and changeup. He has an effortless delivery, and the ball comes out of his hand easily and gets on hitters fast. His demeanor and presence on the mound are also positives. When Douglass struggles, it's because of problems with his command, which is very good when it's on. Because he lacks an out pitch, he has to be precise and keep the ball down to succeed. Douglass has the frame and ability to become a solid No. 3 starter in the big leagues, an innings-eater who takes the ball every five days. He should make the Baltimore staff this spring, possibly as a member of the rotation.
Douglass is part of the corps of pitchers from which the Orioles hope to draw the bulk of their future pitching staffs. He has proceeded quietly through the organization a step at a time, and that's the kind of pitcher he projects as: a dependable, middle-of-the-rotation starter who won't get a lot of attention but can eat innings. He has the potential to have three solid major league pitches, including a 90-mph fastball with good sink. His breaking ball, an inconsistent slurve, needs refinement. He also has to establish consistency from inning to inning and start to start to take the final step up. After his solid performance in Double-A, Douglass will move up to Triple-A and could contribute in Baltimore sometime in 2001.
Best Tools List
Rated Best Curveball in the Baltimore Orioles in 2001
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