- Full name Geoff Goetz
- Born
- Profile Throws: L
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Organization Prospect Rankings
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Goetz isn't the only one frustrated by his slow development. Despite an organizational commitment to baby his shoulder, he has not been able to stay healthy. He missed 11 weeks in 2001 with shoulder tendinitis. Goetz was effective in a long-relief role in his first full season at Portland but can't pitch on consecutive days without concern. He mixes a 90-93 mph fastball with a plus knuckle-curve and a developing changeup. He could use more consistency with his curve, which has a big hump and rarely gets hit hard. He needs to learn to control his emotions on the mound, where he tends to show his frustrations, sometimes lapsing into the violent delivery of his past. Once considered a future starter, he now projects as a situational lefthander, and even then there are doubts about his durability. -
Nagging injuries slowed Goetz's progress in 1999 but a move to the bullpen restored momentum to his career. Working on a specially designed program that had him pitching two or three innings every third day, Goetz proved dominant at Class A Brevard County. He took to the unusual strategy with enthusiasm and commitment. The diminutive lefthander, acquired from the Mets in the Mike Piazza deal, mixed a 91 mph fastball with a plus knuckle-curve to great effect. He also smoothed out a delivery that used to be violent and previously led to bouts of shoulder tendinitis as well as a strained lat muscle. Promoted in July to Double-A for the first time, Goetz struggled even as he began to ease back into a less structured work schedule. A finalist for the U.S. Olympic team, Goetz reported instead to the Arizona Fall League, where he hoped to position himself as a longshot candidate to make the Marlins bullpen next spring. Instead the advanced hitters knocked him around and likely sent him back to Double-A for more seasoning. His stuff is good but not overwhelming, and there's some concern among scouts about both his durability and his eventual role. -
Background: Goetz, signed by the Mets to a $1.7 million bonus in 1997, was the key to the May 15 deal that sent Mike Piazza to New York, but he could not be identified as the unnamed third player until early July because of the rule that prohibits teams from trading picks until one year after they sign. Strengths: Goetz doesn't have the blazing fastball of some other Marlins prospects, but he's more polished than most 19-year-old lefties. He has a live, loose arm and his fastball tops out at 92 mph with decent movement. His out pitch is a nasty overhand power curvethat he throws with a knucklecurve grip. He's gritty and won't back down from hitters. Weaknesses: His fastball won't bowl you over and his changeup is still developing. Goetz also has a tendency to pitch up in the zone too much, and he gets hit when he does. The Future: Goetz is likely to open 1999 back in the Midwest League, where he struggled last year after being acquired by the Marlins. He projects as a No. 2 or 3 starter.
