Chad Billingsley Stats & Scouting Report

IP	1212
ERA	3.72
WHIP	1.37
BB/9	3.705
SO/9	7.812

Full name Chad Ryan Billingsley
Born 07/29/1984 in Defiance, OH
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 240 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Defiance
Debut 06/15/2006
Drafted in the 1st round (24th overall) by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2003 (signed for $1,375,000).

View Draft Report

Though rivals have emerged to challenge Billingsley in becoming the first Ohio high school player drafted, the 6-foot-1, 200-pounder has been consistent for two years. He did not do anything to hurt--or help--himself this spring. He competes hard and showed above-average arm strength, touching 95 mph on occasion. He also has a hard slider. Not everyone sees Billingsley as a premium pick, though. He pitches on a flat plane and his body might be close to maxing out. If he falls, he will probably end up at South Carolina.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Billingsley was just 13 when parents of teammates gasped in disbelief--not over his pitching prowess, but because of the amount he was throwing. After reading "Nolan Ryan's Pitching Bible," Billingsley's father Jim began playing catch and long-tossing with his son before and after games, even if he was pitching that day. The routine helped Billingsley build the arm strength that led to mid-80s velocity by the time he was 15. A talented three-sport athlete, he ruptured his spleen during football practice as a freshman in high school, prompting him to concentrate on baseball. He and Dodgers lefty Chuck Tiffany were USA Baseball teammates in 2002, when Billingsley won the bronze-medal game at the World Junior Championships in Quebec. Two more top Dodgers prospects, catcher Russell Martin (Canada) and shortstop Chin-Lung Hu (Taiwan) also played in the tournament. One of just two high school righthanders taken in the first round of the 2003 draft, Billingsley has justified his $1.375 million bonus. He skipped past low Class A and has ranked as the top pitching prospect in his league in each of his three pro seasons. He first reached Double-A as a 19-year-old in 2004 and excelled there in 2005, combining with Jonathan Broxton on a no-hitter in the opening game of the Southern League playoffs. Outside of being a couple of inches shorter than the blueprint, Billingsley is the prototypical power pitcher. He attacks hitters from a high three-quarters arm slot that he repeats well and allows him to pitch downhill. His frame is rigid and durable in the mold of Tom Seaver's. Billingsley made progress with his command, approach and all of his pitches in 2005. His 92-95 mph fastball has good life. Coming into the season, his 85-86 mph slider was considered the best in the organization, but his 82-84 mph curveball gives him a second plus breaking ball and could become Billingsley's primary out pitch. He made strides in 2005 repeating his arm slot on both breaking balls, allowing him to more consistently command them. He works diligently on all phases of pitching. Billingsley has a tendency to overthrow, causing his fastball to straighten out and miss up in the zone. His arm occasionally struggles to catch up with his lower body, which results in a flatter slider. His changeup, which he grips like his fastball except for sliding his index finger to the side of the ball, improved but remains rudimentary. He can improve on his game management, as he occasionally allows the pace of a game to dictate his rhythm instead of slowing down when runners are on base. Billingsley profiles as a No. 1 or 2 starter, something Los Angeles desperately needs. The big league pitching staff is littered with holes, and he'll get a chance to show what he can do in big league spring training. Depending on the philosophy of new general manager Ned Colletti, the Dodgers could start Billingsley in the back of their Opening Day rotation.
Teams shied away from high school righthanders in the first round of the 2003 draft, with only two chosen, but the Dodgers don't regret spending their first-rounder and $1.375 million on Billingsley. His stock soared in his first full season, as he was rated the top pitching prospect in the Florida State League before earning a promotion to Double-A before his 20th birthday. Billingsley attacks hitters with plus power stuff. He shows good control of an explosive fastball that sits at 94 mph and tops out at 97. His slider has depth and late life, and he throws a hard curveball. Strong and durable with calves like Mark Prior's, he also has tremendous makeup. While Billingsley has a good idea on the mound, he has a tendency to try to overpower every hitter, which leads to too many walks. He needs to improve his offspeed stuff to keep hitters off balance, but he doesn't have a great feel for his changeup yet and hasn't been forced to use it much. The Dodgers might slow the pace of Billingsley's development after watching Edwin Jackson and Greg Miller get hurt when they were rushed. He'll probably go back to Double-A in 2005.
A preseason All-American, Billingsley entered last spring as one of the hottest high school prospects in the 2003 draft class. Clubs' wariness of drafting prep righthanders, combined with his slow start in the cold Midwest, contributed to his stock sliding. But the Dodgers watched all of his outings and didn't hesitate signing him for $1.375 million. A power pitcher built along the lines of Jaret Wright or Jeremy Bonderman, Billingsley runs his fastball up to 97 mph, sitting at 90-94 with average riding action. He throws both a late-breaking 86-87 mph slider and a hammer curveball, and he also shows a good feel for a changeup. He commands all four pitches well. Billingsley has advanced mechanics and pounds the strike zone, but he needs to become more consistent in repeating his arm slot. He tends to get under his slider, causing it to flatten out. He also can improve his pitch selection. One of just two high school righties drafted in the first round, Billingsley will move fast for the Dodgers. He'll spend 2004 in Class A.

Minor League Top Prospects

Billingsley's overall stuff may have been the best in the PCL. He displayed improved command of his 92-95 mph fastball, which made his mid-80s slider and low-80s curveball that much more effective. "He's very aggressive and an intimidating guy on the mound," Nashville manager Frank Kremblas said. "He's a big guy who's coming at you hard. But what also makes him so effective is the way he keeps the same arm speed and angle with all of his pitches, which makes things real tough on the hitter." Billingsley's overall control, however, couldn't compare to Weaver's. He had problems with walks in both Las Vegas and Los Angeles, and while he pitched well in the majors none of his pitches were as sharp as they had been in the PCL. His changeup still needs improvement.
Outside of getting shelled in three starts against Montgomery in May and June, Billingsley easily handled Double-A hitters at age 21. He finished strong, ending the season with six straight quality starts in which he allowed five runs in 40 innings. Billingsley has a power arm and works off his live 92-94 mph fastball. He also features a plus curveball and a plus slider, and he occasionally uses a developing changeup. Sometimes Billingsley gets into trouble by thinking too much about the strengths and weaknesses of his opponents instead of just pitching his game, but his preparation and makeup is outstanding. "What's not to like? This guy has everything," Shines said. "There are times when his command is a little off, but his arm strength, demeanor on the mound, presence--everything is good. He has a chance to be a dominant starter in the big leagues."
Billingsley stood out most among the FSL's many pitching prospects. Managers and scouts loved his stuff, his command, his approach and his projectable build. Not surprisingly, the Diamondbacks reportedly wanted him as part of the package in a potential trade of Randy Johnson to the Dodgers that didn't quite get consummated. Billingsley fills the zone with an exploding 93-94 mph fastball and a hard curveball. Both are strikeout pitches, and his late-breaking slider also can be a plus pitch. He can throw all three pitches to spots, showing the ability to pound batters on the hands and then sit them down by painting the outside corner. He didn't have to use his changeup too much this season, as he was dominant with his other three pitches. "He's the kind of guy who before he throws a pitch, you say, "He's a big league pitcher,' " Tampa manager Billy Masse said. "And when he throws a pitch, you say, "This guy is really a big league pitcher.' "
A bit of a surprise when the Dodgers drafted him 24th overall in June, Billingsley backed up his draft status. He showed a fastball in the 90-94 mph range with the ability to hit 96, and he tended to get stronger as the game progressed. He reminds scouts of Jaret Wright. Billingsley wasn't intimidated when facing more experienced hitters. In addition to his fastball, he threw a hard slider and a decent changeup. Managers loved his mound presence. "He dominated at times this year, which is pretty remarkable for a kid from Ohio who's just out of high school," Ogden manager Travis Barbary said. "He's a guy who's going to get better at every stop as his experience and talent come together."