Clayton Mortensen

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Oakland Athletics #14 prospect in 2011
  A supplemental first-round pick who signed for $650,000 in 2007, Mortensen came to the A's along with Brett Wallace and outfield prospect Shane Peterson in the Matt Holliday trade with the Cardinals in mid-2009. Mortensen started out 10-2, 3.57 before the Pacific Coast League all-star break in 2010 before tiring down the stretch, and his .258 opponent average was fourth-lowest among PCL starters. He doesn't blow batters away, but Mortensen can mix four pitches and gets plenty of groundballs. His primary weapon is an 89-90 mph fastball with sink and run, and he can locate it to both sides of the plate. His changeup is the best of his secondary pitches, as he gets great arm action on it and it breaks down and away from lefthanders. He has a solid 83-84 mph slider and started using a high-70s curveball last year as well, though its main function is to just give hitters a different look. Mortensen has a little deception in his delivery, but he also tends to rush, causing his pitches to flatten out. When he's on, he's aggressive and pounds the strike zone. Mortsesen has the ingredients to become a dependable back-of-the-rotation starter and little left to prove in Triple-A. But Oakland's rotation already is crowded with young arms, so he'll have to force his way into the mix this spring.
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  Ranked Oakland Athletics #15 prospect in 2010
  The Cardinals signed Mortensen for $650,000 as a sandwich pick in 2007, then promoted him aggressively, as he reached Triple-A in his first full pro season. He made his big league debut for St. Louis last June, then was shipped to the A's as part of the Matt Holliday deal just before the trade deadline. Mortensen induces plenty of groundballs thanks to his sinker, which sits at 89-91 mph and peaks at 92. His slider gives him a second weapon, rating as a plus pitch at times. He has a changeup as well, but he struggles to throw it for strikes and needs to refine his command with all his pitches. His biggest hurdle to clear is repeating his delivery. His arm action is long in the back and he has trouble staying on top of the ball and finding a consistent release point, causing his pitches to flatten out. He has had maturity issues in the past and that cropped up again in October, when he was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving. Though Mortensen has been used almost exclusively as a starter in pro ball, he might fit better as a set-up man who could focus on using his sinker and slider. After earning his first two big league wins last September, he'll get another chance to make the A's in spring training.
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  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #6 prospect in 2009
  Mortensen became the first Cardinals pitcher to merit an invite to major league spring training the year after being drafted since Braden Looper in 1997. A 2007 sandwich pick who signed for $650,000, he made two spring starts and impressed the big league staff with his diving fastball and his promise. He skipped past high Class A and finished 2008 in the Triple-A rotation. Mortensen operates mainly with a 90-93 mph sinker and a hard slider. His sinker is good enough to induce strikeouts and grounders. He posted a 1.9 groundout/airout ratio in 2008, and righthanders hit .188 against him. He still has room to add more strength to his body and velocity to his body. Propelled to Triple-A in June, Mortensen was too fine around the strike zone and pitched himself into mechanical issues. Control and command troubles cost him late in his college career and returned at Memphis, where he gave up 42 walks and 12 home runs in 80 innings. He needs to improve his changeup to handle lefties, who hit .354 against him last year. Like Jess Todd, Mortensen has been promoted aggressively and will pitch in the Memphis rotation in 2009. The Cardinals believe the kinks in his delivery have been fixed and he'll return to big league camp, this time to leave an impression for a September callup, at the least.
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  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #8 prospect in 2008
  After Tampa Bay drafted him in the 25th round in 2005, Mortensen opted to go from junior college to Gonzaga to boost his draft status. He flopped, going 6-8, 5.89 and undrafted as a junior. Mortensen recovered to win the West Coast Conference's pitcher of the year award as a senior. The Cardinals drafted him 36th overall in June, making him the highest June draft pick in school history, and signed him for $650,000. Mortensen has a biting 90-93 mph sinker and a hard slider. He had an outstanding 3.3 groundout/airout ratio and permitted just two homers in 60 pro innings. He throws with little effort and has ironed out his delivery, reducing the control woes that plagued him at Gonzaga in 2006. His gangly frame can handle increased strength. He had little difficulty throwing strikes in low Class A, but Mortensen still can improve his command. His changeup has some deception and projects as a solid third pitch, but it's a lot like he was until this spring--all promise and sparse effectiveness. Mortensen could begin 2008 in Double-A and will be the quickest climber from his Cardinals draft class. As with Adam Ottavino, he could make an intriguing reliever but will be developed as a starter.