Jake Westbrook Stats & Scouting Report

IP	1747
ERA	4.322
WHIP	1.406
BB/9	2.942
SO/9	4.971

Full name Jacob Cauthen Westbrook
Born 09/29/1977 in Athens, GA
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Madison County
Debut 06/17/2000
Drafted in the 1st round (21st overall) by the Colorado Rockies in 1996 (signed for $750,000).

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Cleveland is Westbrook's fourth team in five years. The Rockies drafted him in the first round in 1996, then traded him to the Expos as part of a Mike Lansing deal a year later. In 2000, he was used in packages to acquire Hideki Irabu from the Yankees and David Justice from the Indians. Westbrook has yet to pitch for the Tribe, as a fractured rib had sidelined him before the trade. He has a big, strong body and an average fastball with hard sink. He complements it with an occasionally plus slider and average changeup. He's intelligent and has a feel for mixing his pitches. Some see him as a Chad Ogea with better stuff. Lacking an overwhelming pitch, Westbrook hasn't shown any signs of dominating hitters since pitching in short-season ball in 1996. The top concern at the moment is getting him healthy again after he averaged 172 innings in the three previous seasons. His breaking ball could be more consistent. Westbrook joins the roll of candidates for Cleveland's Opening Day rotation. More likely, he'll begin the season in Triple-A.
Background: Although it may sound trite by this point, Westbrook is with his third organization. A 1996 first-round pick of the Rockies, he went first to the Expos in the Mike Lansing deal, then to the Yankees for Hideki Irabu and two players to be named. Strengths: Westbrook's bread-and-butter pitch is a hard, sinking two-seam fastball he throws in the 89-92 mph range. When he's down in the zone and busting hitters inside, he's capable of getting 15-18 ground ball outs per game. As a fastball pitcher with excellent command, he's durable, throwing 170-plus innings each of his three full pro seasons without missing a start. Weaknesses: Westbrook's low strikeout totals indicate a lack of an effective breaking ball. He throws both a slider and curveball, but they're complimentary pitches. Both must improve before he can take the final step to New York. The Future: Westbrook is likely a year away from challenging for a big league job, but he fits perfectly into the Yankees' plans to supplement their aging starting rotation.
Background: Westbrook and fellow pitching prospects Mark Mangum and John Nicholson joined the Expos in the Mike Lansing trade last winter. Down the line, the Rockies might regret losing any arms that could have helped tame Coors Field. Strengths: Just two years removed from high school, Westbrook is a polished, mature pitcher. He throws strikes with three pitches--a low 90s fastball, a curveball and a straight change. He could be a workhorse for the future, having never missed a professional start. He's averaged almost six innings an outing. Weaknesses: Westbrook's minor league strikeout totals are mediocre, especially for a top prospect, and call into question his deception. He may need more life and crispness on his pitches to make hitters swing and miss at the upper levels. The Future: Westbrook has a lot of pluses in his corner and is more advanced than most of the Expos cadre of young, talented arms. He'll face an important test at Double-A this year.