Richard Sullivan

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Atlanta Braves #30 prospect in 2011
  When the Braves selected Sullivan in the 11th round in 2008, he became just the second player ever drafted from the Savannah College of Art and Design, an NAIA school. A two-way player in college, he became a fulltime pitcher in pro ball and reached Double-A briefly in his first full season in the system. When he returned to Mississippi in 2010, he struggled with his command as a starter, going 1-7, 7.17 and allowing opponents to bat .346 against him. Atlanta moved him to the bullpen at midseason and he took to that role, posting 2.72 ERA and limiting the opposition to a .230 average. Sullivan thrives when he pitches down in the strike zone with his heavy two-seam fastball. He adds and subtracts from it, ranging from 87-93 mph and inducing groundball. His second pitch is a hard three-quarters breaking ball that at times has true tilt and is a plus slider. He also has a decent changeup. Sullivan has made rapid adjustments while moving quickly through the minors but still is fine-tuning his ability to set up hitters. He's also susceptible to the running game, especially for a lefthander. He improved his conditioning in 2010 but still doesn't stick out in terms of athleticism or fielding his position. Sullivan's future is as a set-up man or middle reliever. With a strong spring training, he could open 2011 in Triple-A.
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  Ranked Atlanta Braves #22 prospect in 2010
  The Savannah College of Art and Design isn't a hotbed for major league prospects, but Sullivan has displayed promise after becoming just the second player drafted out of the NAIA school. After pitching well at Rome at the end of his 2008 pro debut and the start of 2009, he earned a quick promotion to high Class A. An extreme groundball pitcher, he was victimized by poor infield defense at Myrtle Beach, where he pitched better than his 2-12 record would indicate. He had six quality starts with the Pelicans but won only one of them--a complete game in which he fanned 10. Sullivan employs a heavy 87-93 mph sinker, a plus changeup and an average curveball. He doesn't miss a lot of bats and has to rely on his infielders, but he throws strikes, keeps the ball down and makes it difficult to lift the ball in the air. He does a good job of using his size to his advantage. He's still working on the nuances of pitching, and he's extremely vulnerable to the running game, especially for a lefthander. Sullivan made three starts in Double-A at midseason and will return there in 2010.