Mike Nannini

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Houston Astros #17 prospect in 2002
  Nannini was hurt more than any other player by Houston's lack of a high Class A club in 2001. He had spent parts of two seasons in the Midwest League and had pitched well in 12 high Class A Florida State League starts in 2000. But when the Astros parted ways with their Kissimmee affiliate and were loaded in Double-A, Nannini had to go to the South Atlantic League, which he led in innings. He had thrown in the low 90s in the past, but last year he operated mainly at 88-89 mph. While his velocity dipped, he did a fine job of improving his secondary pitches. His curveball is the better of his two breaking balls, and his changeup is now trustworthy. Nannini has no trouble throwing strikes but may have to stop pitching up in the zone with his four-seam fastball against better hitters. He was left off the 40-man roster mainly because of the depth of the organization, a decision that will stoke his considerable competitive fire. If Nannini's velocity bounces back in Double-A, he could be special.
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  Ranked Houston Astros #9 prospect in 2001
  At Green Valley High, Nannini threw back-to-back no-hitters as a senior and was part of four straight Nevada state championships. He broke into pro ball with 16 consecutive scoreless innings in the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League in 1998. He has moved quickly, reaching high Class A at age 19 last season. He finished strong there, going 5-1, 2.37 in his last seven starts. Though he lacks size, Nannini doesn't lack stuff. He can touch the mid-90s with his fastball, and he has a plus slider and a decent changeup. He didn't allow a home run in 256 at-bats against lefthanders in 2000. His competitive makeup has spurred the Astros to challenge him with promotions more than they usually do with a young pitcher. Like Roy Oswalt and Tony McKnight, Nannini gets into trouble when he thinks he's a power pitcher. At times he'll overthrow, and he'll lose command and movement on his fastball. His heater usually arrives in the low 90s, but occasionally it will dip into the high 80s. His secondary pitches could use more consistency. After the progress he showed in the Florida State League in 2000, Nannini could move up to Double-A to begin this season. At this rate, he'll be pushing to arrive in Houston by late 2002.
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  Ranked Houston Astros #10 prospect in 1999
  Background: Nannini's approach has already earned him a special place among Astros development people. They love his bulldog approach, which walks the line between cocky and "Get out of my way, I'm going to get this done." The Astros drafted him in 1998 with their compensation pick for losing free agent righthander Darryl Kile. Strengths: Despite his size, which is closer to 5-foot-9 than the listed 5-foot-11, Nannini has a fastball that sits in the 94-95 mph range from first pitch to last pitch. He already has outstanding control of the pitch. Weaknesses: Nannini's curveball and changeup are still in their developing stages and he will have to be pushed to throw them enough to master them. The Future: Two of the Astros top pitchers are Mike Hampton and Billy Wagner, neither of whom stands taller than 5-foot-10. So Houston could be the ideal organization for Nannini. Astros executives already have referred to him as a "righthanded Billy Wagner," a high compliment.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked South Atlantic League #16 prospect in 2001
  The horse of Lexington's stellar staff, Nannini led the SAL in innings as well as homers allowed (17). He finished 2000 in the Florida State League, but took a step back to work on his secondary pitches after the Astros lost their high Class A affiliate. Because he's 5-foot-11 and has a live arm, Nannini draws comparisons within the organization to Houston ace Roy Oswalt. Like Oswalt, he's a gritty battler with a mid-90s fastball. One manager thought Nannini's slider was the best breaking pitch in the league. "I saw him in 1999 and his fastball and his command have improved considerably," Legg said. "He's throwing in and out, up and down, using the other pitches behind in the count and was just very consistent very deep into games."
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  Ranked Midwest League #10 prospect in 2000
  The Astros tested Nannini by sending him to the MWL at age 18 last season, and he couldn’t quite make the grade. He had no such difficulty in 2000, earning a promotion to the Florida State League after 15 starts. Managers remembered his low-90s fastball from the year before. What made the difference the second time around was improved secondary pitches. He mixes his changeup well with his fastball, and he also has a plus slider. Nannini didn’t allow a homer to a lefthanded batter all season in 270 plate appearances between the two leagues. He’s very aggressive, sometimes to the point where he overthrows and loses command.
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  Ranked New York-Penn League #5 prospect in 1999
  Nannini pitched in the Midwest League the first half of the season as an 18-year-old, and was 4-10, 4.43 when the Astros moved him down to Auburn when the short-season leagues opened. He dominated the older but less experienced hitters in the NY-P with a low-90s fastball, a sharp-breaking slider and an improving changeup. Nannini aggressively comes right after hitters with his plus fastball. The Astros have worked with him to change speeds and use his excellent command to get hitters to swing at pitches at the edge of or out of the strike zone. "He's a short young guy," one manager said, "but he's very mature and poised for his age and really has good stuff. He improved a lot during the season."

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  The Astros tested Nannini by sending him to the MWL at age 18 last season, and he couldn’t quite make the grade. He had no such difficulty in 2000, earning a promotion to the Florida State League after 15 starts. Managers remembered his low-90s fastball from the year before. What made the difference the second time around was improved secondary pitches. He mixes his changeup well with his fastball, and he also has a plus slider. Nannini didn’t allow a homer to a lefthanded batter all season in 270 plate appearances between the two leagues. He’s very aggressive, sometimes to the point where he overthrows and loses command.
• December, 1998 Scouting Report
  Background: Nannini's approach has already earned him a special place among Astros development people. They love his bulldog approach, which walks the line between cocky and "Get out of my way, I'm going to get this done." The Astros drafted him in 1998 with their compensation pick for losing free agent righthander Darryl Kile. Strengths: Despite his size, which is closer to 5-foot-9 than the listed 5-foot-11, Nannini has a fastball that sits in the 94-95 mph range from first pitch to last pitch. He already has outstanding control of the pitch. Weaknesses: Nannini's curveball and changeup are still in their developing stages and he will have to be pushed to throw them enough to master them. The Future: Two of the Astros top pitchers are Mike Hampton and Billy Wagner, neither of whom stands taller than 5-foot-10. So Houston could be the ideal organization for Nannini. Astros executives already have referred to him as a "righthanded Billy Wagner," a high compliment.