Tim Spooneybarger

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Atlanta Braves #11 prospect in 2002
  Spooneybarger placed himself in the running for a job in the Atlanta bullpen in 2002 with a dominating performance at Richmond last year. The Braves saw similar progress from him the year before at Myrtle Beach, and they were impressed with the adjustments he made against tougher competition after a slow start at Greenville last spring. After failing to look comfortable as a starter in the Carolina League two years ago, Spooneybarger has blossomed by showing a reliever's mindset. He also has the physical ability to succeed with regular use, as his stuff improves the more he takes the mound. Spooneybarger has a deceptive delivery that helped him hold opponents to a .205 batting average last year. His best pitch is an outstanding hard curveball. He also mixes in a two-seam fastball that acts like a splitter and a four-seam heater that consistently clocks at 93-95 mph. Confidence remains the key to his long-term success, though he has improved immensely in that area over the past two years. He was shut down in winter ball because of concerns he was overworking his arm while also on a weight-training regimen, but he is expected to be healthy and ready to compete for a big league job in spring training.
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  Ranked Atlanta Braves #15 prospect in 2001
  Spooneybarger was a 1998 draft-and-follow who showed glimpses of potential after signing in 1999 before blossoming last season. Hitters rarely get good swings against him because of the movement on his pitches and his deceptive delivery. He limited opponents to a .110 average last year after allowing them to bat .179 in 1999. Spooneybarger has good command of his two fastballs. His four-seamer averages 90-91 mph and has great movement with a natural cutting action. His two-seam fastball looks similar to his four-seamer before diving just prior to reaching the plate. He complements both fastballs with a good, hard curveball. He has spent the past two instructional leagues focusing on improving his changeup, which continues to need work. Spooneybarger also needs innings after working just 50 last year while missing more than a month with a minor shoulder ailment. The Braves are uncertain what role fits Spooneybarger best. He prefers to relieve, but Atlanta officials believe he has the arm as well as the athleticism to be a dominating starter. Either way, he's scheduled to open 2001 in Double-A.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked International League #6 prospect in 2001
  Spooneybarger is flat-out untouchable. He held opponents to a .179 average in 1999, .110 last year and .205 in his first taste of Double-A and Triple-A ball this season. He shows good command and movement with his two-seam and four-seam fastballs, with the latter pitch arriving in the low 90s. His velocity should pick up when he throws out of the windup, something he's planning on working on in Puerto Rico this winter after working out of the stretch all season. But his out pitch is a slurve that ranked as one of the best breaking balls in the league by anyone's reckoning. "I call it a power curveball," Tosca said. "We rated it as a 70 on the 20-to-80 scale. It has good, late, hard bite and he complements it with a fastball that's above average. If his breaking ball is in the strike zone, it's not so hard and so big where he fools the umpire, but it's unhittable."
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  Ranked Carolina League #11 prospect in 2000
  A strength-building program helped Spooneybarger battle through a bout with shoulder tendinitis that cost him a couple of months on the disabled list. He returned to the Pelicans in time to help them clinch the league title. Spooneybarger has exceptional life on his pitches. His best is his fastball, which has outstanding velocity and movement. His curveball also is considered above average, and he has consistently improved his control of both pitches. "He's got an exploding fastball. It's electric," Garber said. "His ability to command his pitches will dictate his future success."

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  A strength-building program helped Spooneybarger battle through a bout with shoulder tendinitis that cost him a couple of months on the disabled list. He returned to the Pelicans in time to help them clinch the league title. Spooneybarger has exceptional life on his pitches. His best is his fastball, which has outstanding velocity and movement. His curveball also is considered above average, and he has consistently improved his control of both pitches. "He's got an exploding fastball. It's electric," Garber said. "His ability to command his pitches will dictate his future success."