Lars Huijer Stats & Scouting Report

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The Mariners signed Huijer for $170,000 in 2011 after he served as the top pitcher on the Dutch junior national team. He spent his two first years in Rookie leagues before acquitting himself well at short-season Everett in 2013, showing three effective pitches that all have a chance to be average to a tick above as he continues to develop. His fastball ranges from 85-90 mph now, and he does a good job keeping it in the bottom half of the zone, making it difficult for hitters to square up. Huijer also figures to add a little more velocity as his body fills out. He has good feel and deception on his changeup and a slow curveball that he is able to throw consistently for strikes. Though he showed some signs of fatigue late in 2013, Huijer has the poise and polish to make the jump to low Class A Clinton in 2014. He projects as a back-end starter now, but he has the potential to be more than that.

Huijer signed for $170,000 after being a stalwart of Dutch junior national teams, then spent two years in Rookie ball before the Mariners stuck him in Everett?s rotation this summer. Huijer ran out of gas late, but pitching the whole season at age 19, he tied for fourth in the league in strikeouts (61) and ninth in the ERA race (3.03) despite lacking a big fastball. He pitched mostly at 84-90 mph but backed it up with an effective changeup with late action and a slow, low-70s curveball that has potential thanks to its good shape. Hitters have trouble squaring up his pitches, especially his two-seamer that sinks with good angle from his tall frame. ?He has above-average control,? Salem-Keizer?s Davenport said. ?Probably the biggest thing is that he pitches inside. He has command of the zone.?