John Koronka

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Texas Rangers #28 prospect in 2003
  Koronka adds to Texas' lefthanded depth after being plucked from the Reds in the major league Rule 5 draft. He got onto the prospect map last season by winning his first 11 decisions with Stockton, earning California League all-star honors. Koronka was much more hittable after his promotion to Double-A, but the Rangers saw enough potential to merit trying to keep him on their 25-man roster for all of this season. Koronka fits the bill of pitchers Grady Fuson looks for. He throws strikes (with a fastball in the high 80s) and has a good changeup, which Reds officials considered of major league caliber. He was effective with that combination in the Arizona Fall League, where he held hitters to a .212 average. Koronka's chances of sticking in the majors will be coming up with a breaking ball. His fastball/changeup combo doesn't faze lefthanders, who hit .355 against him last year. He'll have to improve on his slurvy curveball to stick as a situational reliever, the usual path for Rule 5 lefthanders.