Doug Waechter

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #3 prospect in 2004
  One of the nation's top high school quarterbacks in 1999, Waechter gave up a football scholarship from South Florida to turn pro for $500,000. In his first big league start last year, he shut out the Mariners with a two-hitter. Waechter has matured into a quality pitcher. He has a fine arm, tremendous makeup and the durability to become a workhorse. His command has steadily improved over the past two years. He moves his 88-94 mph fastball around in the strike zone and has a good slider with a late break. His focus and even-keel approach to pitching are off the charts. An improved changeup would do wonders for Waechter's ability to succeed the second and third time he goes through a lineup. With his tall frame, he must keep his mechanics in check. The St. Petersburg product has a chance to make a major impact on the organization. He'll be a strong candidate for the Tampa Bay rotation this spring.
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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #10 prospect in 2003
  A local product from St. Petersburg, Waechter experienced success at both Class A levels last year before getting a late taste of Double-A. After giving up the most hits and runs in the South Atlantic League in 2001, he led the Rays system with 155 strikeouts in 162 innings. Waechter is a pure athlete who was recruited to play quarterback at South Florida. He has a fastball that sits in the 92-93 mph range and a plus slider that's usually clocked at 82-86. The Devil Rays love his toughness and advanced maturity. Waechter has battled inconsistency throughout his career, especially with his mechanics and his tall frame. His command of the strike zone needs work, and he must be able to place his fastball and slider better. A changeup with more depth will be necessary against more experienced hitters. The Devil Rays say that Waechter can become a power-pitching workhorse once all the refinements are made. He'll open the 2003 season in Double-A.
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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #26 prospect in 2002
  Waechter underwent a learning experience in low Class A last year while pitching for the first time in a full-season league. As he has throughout his professional career, the former South Florida quarterback recruit battled inconsistency with all of his pitches. He has a low-90s fastball, and his curveball and changeup showed some improvement. He upgraded his control sharply from his first two years. Waechter still has work to do, as he was too hittable in 2001 and his mechanics require refinement. He has good size and the Devil Rays hope he can develop into a workhorse. A promotion to high Class A is in his immediate future.
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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #25 prospect in 2001
  Waechter is a former quarterback who would have played at South Florida had he not signed with Tampa Bay. He rebounded from a horrible 1999 debut to rank sixth in the New York-Penn League in ERA last year, when he also threw the first no-hitter in the seven-year history of the Hudson Valley franchise. The owner of a low-90s fastball along with a developing curveball and changeup, he continues to battle inconsistency with all of his pitches. The Devil Rays believe Waechter has a high ceiling and could begin to develop rapidly as soon as the mechanics in his delivery are ironed out. When that happens, his control should improve as well. He should spend most of 2001 at Charleston.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked New York-Penn League #18 prospect in 2000
  A local pick for the Devil Rays out of a St. Petersburg in 1999, Waechter was manhandled in his pro debut in the Rookie-level Appalachian League. This year, though, he looked every bit worth a third-round pick. He threw a no-hitter and showed a nice mix of fastballs and breaking balls. "He has good poise on the mound, a good fastball and an above-average curveball," Stanley said. "I was really impressed with how he pitched."

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  A local pick for the Devil Rays out of a St. Petersburg in 1999, Waechter was manhandled in his pro debut in the Rookie-level Appalachian League. This year, though, he looked every bit worth a third-round pick. He threw a no-hitter and showed a nice mix of fastballs and breaking balls. "He has good poise on the mound, a good fastball and an above-average curveball," Stanley said. "I was really impressed with how he pitched."