Nick Neugebauer

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #1 prospect in 2002
  The Brewers hoped to get Neugebauer to the big leagues in 2001, and that mission was accomplished with a September callup. A wonderful debut was overshadowed, however, by shoulder problems that were diagnosed as slight tears of his labrum and rotator cuff. The injuries were repaired with arthroscopic surgery. Doctors saw no reason Neugebauer would lose his chief asset--the ability to throw very hard--but whether he'll be back to 100 percent by spring training is in question. Because Neugebauer is a horse with a solid work ethic, there's every reason to believe he'll work to regain the form that made him one of the most feared pitchers in the minors. Neugebauer spun his wheels for a while at Double-A in 2001 but was dominating at Triple-A when the Brewers summoned him. The ability to throw hard can't be taught, and that's what sets Neugebauer apart. He once threw consistently in the high 90s but didn't always know where the ball was going. Instructors taught him the value of throwing 95 mph in the strike zone as opposed to 98 mph to the backstop. He made big strides in that department in 2001, more than doubling his strikeout-walk ratio from the year before. On days when he gets his slurve over the plate, Neugebauer is nearly unhittable. He has the frame of a power pitcher and can be an intimidating presence on the mound. He doesn't overthrow as often as he once did, but when he does his mechanics get out of whack and leave him prone to injury. Now he'll have to prove he can stay healthy and consistent enough to warrant a spot in the Brewers rotation. Health is the only real roadblock to a solid major league career. He's working to become more consistent with his changeup. If Neugebauer is healthy in spring training, look for him to win a spot in Milwaukee's rotation. If not, he'll have to regroup. One way or the other, Neugebauer should spend most of 2002 in a Brewers uniform. Ben Sheets and Neugebauer would give them a legitimate 1-2 pitching punch.
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  Ranked Milwaukee Brewers #2 prospect in 2001
  In an effort to protect the strongest arm in the organization, the Brewers kept Neugebauer on a strict pitch count at the outset of the 2000 season. Because he continued to battle control problems that plagued him the year before, he rarely qualified for a win. But he wasn't intimidated and continued to show progress, so he was elevated to Double-A Huntsville in the second half of the season. The Brewers then pushed his development even further by sending him to the Arizona Fall League, where he finished well with eight hitless innings in his last two outings. Simply put, Neugebauer has a blazing fastball. When he really rears back, he can approach 100 mph, though instructors have tried to show him the value of backing off a bit to achieve better control. He has a nasty slider that makes him nearly unhittable when he gets it over the plate. He continues to work on a changeup that could be a devastating pitch in combination with his heater. In his first two seasons in the minors, though, Neugebauer has averaged a little more than a walk an inning. He has been able to overcome that wildness by allowing few hits and striking out hitters when he has to. He has worked hard on his mechanics and release point and must continue to do so. Improving his control is all that's holding him back. As with a young Nolan Ryan and Randy Johnson, Neugebauer must harness his pitches to pave the way to a successful major league career. If the Brewers are able to advance him to Triple-A for at least half a season in 2001, Neugebauer could be a very young, very promising pitcher by the time he makes it to Milwaukee.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Southern League #2 prospect in 2001
  No Southern League pitcher was more overpowering than Neugebauer. After battling control problems during his first three professional seasons, he found the handle on his devastating fastball and reached the big leagues by mid-August. Neugebauer is a traditional power pitcher who had a comfort zone of 93-97 mph and was clocked as high as 101 by Mobile. He also reached 90 mph consistently with his hard slider, and showed improvement with his developing changeup. Managers were impressed with how Neugebauer seemed to reach back for a little more when the situation presented itself, usually resulting in a strikeout or double play. "He's learned how to pitch a little bit," Orlando manager Mike Ramsey said. "The command of his offspeed stuff is getting better and that's only going to make him that much tougher, more than just a hard thrower."
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  Ranked California League #7 prospect in 2000
  Neugebauer’s fastball was clocked at 100 mph this season. Does any more need to be said? He was promoted to Double-A in July when Brewers officials became convinced that his season-long progress toward control of his secondary pitches and his development of an 88 mph slider warranted a reward. His unique stat line at Mudville testified to his promise and flaws: 77 innings, 43 hits (including no homers), 87 walks, 117 strikeouts. Neugebauer is likely to be bedeviled by walks for years to come, but he did improve during his stay in the Cal League. "Early in the year, Nick was struggling with control and the batters were starting to get real picky, laying off anything that wasn't a fastball and taking their bases," Mudville manager Frank Kremblas said. "That's when he realized." Neugebauer embraced the changeup he was taught, making his consistent 95 mph fastball even more wicked. He needs to realize that he can’t get too competitive and try to throw too hard, which costs him velocity and control.
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  Ranked Midwest League #6 prospect in 1999
  Neugebauer simply dominated the opposition. He had 125 strikeouts in 81 innings and led minor league starters in strikeouts per nine innings. He held the opposition to a .178 batting average. He was even more impressive during pressure situations, holding the opposition to a .187 batting average with runners in scoring position and a stunning .091 with the bases loaded. He had a season-high 13 strikeouts against Fort Wayne in his final regular season game. "He had the best fastball in the league," Wisconsin mana- ger Steve Roadcap said. "He's a bulldog on the mound. We saw him twice and he was better the second time around. He throws in the high 90s. That's scary because he's only 19." Neugebauer may not be as dominant without better control, however.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #17 prospect in 2002
• Ranked Baseball America's #83 prospect in 2001

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  Neugebauer’s fastball was clocked at 100 mph this season. Does any more need to be said? He was promoted to Double-A in July when Brewers officials became convinced that his season-long progress toward control of his secondary pitches and his development of an 88 mph slider warranted a reward. His unique stat line at Mudville testified to his promise and flaws: 77 innings, 43 hits (including no homers), 87 walks, 117 strikeouts. Neugebauer is likely to be bedeviled by walks for years to come, but he did improve during his stay in the Cal League. "Early in the year, Nick was struggling with control and the batters were starting to get real picky, laying off anything that wasn't a fastball and taking their bases," Mudville manager Frank Kremblas said. "That's when he realized." Neugebauer embraced the changeup he was taught, making his consistent 95 mph fastball even more wicked. He needs to realize that he can’t get too competitive and try to throw too hard, which costs him velocity and control.