Cody Scarpetta

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #24 prospect in 2013
  The 2012 season figured to be a big one for Scarpetta. His original $325,000 deal was voided because he needed finger surgery after the Brewers made him an 11th-round pick in 2007, so Milwaukee had to place him on the 40-man roster when the club re-signed him. As a result, he ran out of minor league options last year, meaning he needed to get as close to big league-ready as possible to make Milwaukee feel good about keeping him. All of that went up in smoke when Scarpetta injured his elbow during spring training and had Tommy John surgery in May, and the Brewers removed him from the 40-man roster after the season. He probably won't be ready to pitch again until mid-2013, but at age 24 he's young enough to bounce back and still make it to the majors. When healthy, Scarpetta has a 90-94 mph fastball and a sharp-breaking curveball. His third pitch is a changeup that still needs work. He sometimes has trouble with his mechanics, which contributes to inconsistent control and may have led to his elbow trouble. Slated to pitch in Triple-A last year, Scarpetta probably will break in at a lower level when he returns to action. If he can stay healthy, the Brewers still see some upside as a No. 3 or 4 starter, but he also could be pegged for bullpen action.
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  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #7 prospect in 2012
  Scarpetta slipped to the 11th round of the 2007 draft because a torn flexor tendon in his right index finger required surgery. He originally signed for $325,000, but that deal was voided when he needed a second operation. Milwaukee re-signed him for $125,000 but had to place him on its 40-man roster to retain his rights. The Brewers used his fourth and what normally would be his final option to send him to the minors in 2011, but he was granted an extra option. Scarpetta has a pair of plus pitches in a 90-94 mph fastball and a sharp-breaking curveball. He has worked on improving his changeup but it's still a work in progress. At times he gets out of whack with his short-arm delivery and his control and command become erratic, resulting in too many walks. He has worked on smoothing out his lower half to be able to locate his pitches down in the zone with more consistency. He has the raw stuff to be a No. 3 or 4 starter, but Scarpetta could wind up in the bullpen if he can't refine his changeup and control. Now that he has the extra option, he'll spend 2012 in Triple-A.
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  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #4 prospect in 2011
  Scarpetta, whose father Dan was a 1982 third-round pick by the Brewers, dropped in the 2007 draft because of a torn flexor tendon in his right index finger. He had surgery before the draft and signed for $325,000 as an 11th-rounder, but that deal was voided when he needed a second operation. He re-signed for $125,000, but to keep his rights Milwaukee had to place him on its 40-man roster. Scarpetta's fastball ranges from 90-94 mph, and he backs it up with the best curveball in the system. His improved changeup gives him a dependable third pitch. He has enough stuff to start, but his command is a work in progress. Scarpetta had a tendency to freeze his front hip and land too hard in his delivery, affecting his ability to locate his pitches. Brevard County pitching coach Fred Dabney worked with him last season to smooth out his lower half, and his mechanical improvements helped his command. Because Scarpetta went on the 40-man roster so early, the Brewers will use their final minor league option on him in 2011. They'll try to advance him as far as possible, probably starting him in Double-A and trying to get him to Triple-A by the end of the season. He's a potential No. 3 starter, but not there yet.
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  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #13 prospect in 2010
  Scarpetta might have been selected higher than his father Dan, a 1982 Brewers third-round pick, had he not torn the flexor tendon at the base of his right index finger six weeks before the 2007 draft. He had surgery before the Brewers made him an 11th-round choice, and he signed for $325,000. Milwaukee voided that deal when he needed a second operation, re-signing him for $125,000. To keep his rights, the Brewers had to put Scarpetta on their 40-man roster last winter, ahead of schedule, but he'll be worth it if he continues to progress as he did in 2009. A big-bodied pitcher, Scarpetta maintains velocity and downward tilt on his 90-94 mph fastball. Managers rated his curveball as the best in the low Class A Midwest League in 2009, and his improved changeup gives him a chance to have three solid or better pitches. Scarpetta isn't athletic and could use better conditioning, which might help him repeat his mechanics more easily. When he doesn't get out in front with his delivery, his pitches come up in the zone and are more hittable. Scarpetta was so impressive in 2009 that the Brewers promoted him to Huntsville for the Southern League playoffs. He could return to Double-A to open this season.
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  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #15 prospect in 2009
  Milwaukee drafted Scarpetta's father Dan in the third round in 1982, and Cody would have factored in a similar area in the 2007 draft if he hadn't torn the flexor tendon at the base of his right index figure in late April. He had surgery in late May, and the Brewers knew he wouldn't pitch any more that year when they took him in the 11th round. They initially signed him away from a Creighton scholarship for $325,000, but when he needed a second surgery, the club voided that deal and swiftly re-signed him for $125,000. Scarpetta stayed in extended spring training last year before making his pro debut in June. Big and strong, he throws a heavy sinker in the low to mid-90s and backs it up with a 12-to-6 curveball that can also be a plus pitch. He's improving his changeup and also throws a decent slider. With a power arm, Scarpetta is aggressive on the mound, pounding strikes at hitters and seldom falling behind in the count. Now that he's past the finger injury, Scarpetta could move quickly through the system. With a thick build, he'll have to watch his conditioning, though that bulk helps produce his power. He's also working to clean up his delivery. Scarpetta was a late addition to Hawaii Winter Baseball but got knocked around, compiling an 8.03 ERA in 12 innings. He'll likely open 2009 in low Class A.
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  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #18 prospect in 2008
  The Brewers drafted Scarpetta's father Dan in the third round out of an Illinois high school in 1982, and later included him and their current manager, Ned Yost, in a trade for Jim Sundberg. Cody figured to match his dad's draft status until he tore the flexor tendon at the base of his right index finger while pitching in late April. He had the finger operated on in mid-May and wasn't able to pitch again before the Aug. 15 signing deadline. An 11th-rounder, Scarpetta initially signed for $325,000, but the Brewers voided their initial deal and re-signed him for $125,000 when he needed to have the surgery. Before he got hurt, Scarpetta showed a plus fastball every time he took the mound during the spring, usually parking at 92-94 mph. He worked hard in the offseason to get in the best shape of his life, which not only added velocity to his fastball but also helped him turn his breaking ball into a true power curve. He also added a changeup, though it's still in the developmental stages. His two plus pitches and his strong 6-foot-2 build have earned him comparisons to John Wetteland, though Milwaukee plans to deploy him as a starter. He should be 100 percent by spring training, though he figures to begin the season in extended spring training before moving to Helena in June.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Midwest League #9 prospect in 2009
  Scarpetta would have been an early-round pick in 2007 if he hadn't torn a tendon at the base of his right index finger that spring, an injury that required two surgeries. The Brewers brought him along slowly in his 2008 pro debut before turning him loose this year, when he showed the best curveball in the MWL. In addition to his hard downer curve, Scarpetta also maintains the velocity on his heavy 90-94 mph fastball into the late innings and has unveiled a vastly improved changeup. His pitches all need more consistency and command, but they all could develop into plus offerings. Scarpetta's biggest need is to tone up his soft body, which will help him do a better job of getting out in front with his delivery. When he doesn't, his pitches tend to sit up in the strike zone.

• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: Scarpetta slipped to the 11th round of the 2007 draft because a torn flexor tendon in his right index finger required surgery. He originally signed for $325,000 out of high school, but that deal was voided when he needed a second operation. Milwaukee re-signed him for $125,000 but had to place him on its 40-man roster to retain his rights. The Brewers used his fourth and what normally would be his final option to send him to the minors in 2011, though they expect he'll be granted an extra option. After ranking second to Wily Peralta among Double-A Huntsville starters with a 3.85 ERA, Scarpetta got knocked around after the season in his Arizona Fall League debut Scouting Report: Scarpetta has a pair of plus pitches in a 90-94 mph fastball and a sharp-breaking curveball. He has worked on improving his changeup but it's still a work in progress. At times he gets out of whack with his short-arm delivery and his control and command become erratic, resulting in too many walks. He has worked on smoothing out his lower half to be able to locate his pitches down in the zone with more consistency. The Future: He has the raw stuff to be a No. 3 or 4 starter, but Scarpetta could wind up in the bullpen if he can't refine his changeup and control. If he gets the extra option, he'll spend 2012 in Triple-A. If not, he'll have to make the big league club or be exposed to waivers.