Jason Motte Stats & Scouting Report

IP	397
ERA	3.31
WHIP	1.156
BB/9	2.834
SO/9	8.501

Full name Jason Louis Motte
Born 06/22/1982 in Port Huron, MI
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Iona
Debut 09/03/2008
Drafted in the 19th round (575th overall) by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2003.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Motte's rapid transformation from light-hitting catcher to lights-out reliever is complete. He was a superb defensive catcher, but a .188 average in his first three pro seasons forced him to the mound. He experienced almost immediate success and has gotten better each year, and he blew away big leaguers last September. Motte has the best fastball in the system, sitting at 95-96 mph with the ability to crank it up to 98 consistently. He's relentlessly aggressive on the mound, usually throwing strikes and daring hitters to catch up to his heat. His past life as a catcher adds deception to his delivery, as he cocks his hand near his ear before firing. He has a fresh, resilient arm. Motte showed no effective second pitch during his big league stint. He has worked on a slider, cutter and splitter but none is reliable yet. His fastball is arrow straight, enhancing the need for something with a lower gear. He battles his command on occasion. Spring training will be a laboratory of sorts for Motte to work on expanding his repertoire so he can be a late-inning reliever in St. Louis. Chris Perez may have the edge in experience, but there are some who see Motte as a viable contender for the long-term closer role.
The Cardinals loved Motte's defense behind the plate, but when his career average dropped to .190 in May 2006, they decided enough was enough. He moved to the mound in what has proven to be much more than a desperation move and resulted in his addition to St. Louis' 40-man roster after the 2007 season. In his first full year as a pitcher, he reached Double-A and posted a 1.98 ERA with 69 strikeouts in 59 innings. When he first took the mound, Motte just pulled the ball back to his ear and fired, as if he were still a catcher. The Cardinals added a little arm circle, but that's the only major change they've made to his delivery. He throws a heavy fastball that sits at 95-96 mph and regularly touches 98. He couples it with a slider that's improving, and he plans to add a splitter to the mix. Motte was dominant as a Double-A set-up man, so he'll likely find himself in the same role at St. Louis this season. With not even 100 innings under his belt, he's one step away from the majors.