Chris Withrow

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #6 prospect in 2014
  Withrow signed for $1.35 million as the 20th overall pick in the 2007 draft and reached Double-A two years later. His career entering the year had otherwise been a disappointment, after mediocre performance for three straight years in Double-A and a career 4.87 ERA entering the season. At the end of May 2012, the Dodgers shifted Withrow to the bullpen, where he has found a role that best suits him, and he made his major league debut in June and stayed in Los Angeles the second half of the season. Withrow's power arm plays well in relief, sitting in the mid-90s and reaching 99 mph. One of the keys for Withrow was improved fastball command, which helped him trim his walk rate and work ahead in counts more frequently to be able to get to his sharp, high-80s slider, an above-average pitch with good tilt. While some relievers tend to shelve the rest of their repertoire and stick to a two-pitch mix, Withrow started throwing his curveball more often once he got to Los Angeles than he did when he was at Triple-A Albuquerque. He also throws a firm changeup in the high 80s, but it's below-average and he rarely throws it. Withrow's time as a starter is finished, but he can be an effective reliever. He should return to the Dodgers bullpen next season to pitch in high-leverage situations.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #12 prospect in 2013
  Withrow learned the game from his father Mike, who pitched three seasons in the White Sox organization and was Chris' pitching coach at Midland (Texas) Christian High. The Dodgers gave Withrow a $1.35 million bonus as the 20th overall pick in 2007, and he reached Double-A in 2009, but he has stalled there. He got off to another slow start last year, going 1-1, 5.71 through the end of May, when Los Angeles decided to shift him to the bullpen. He posted his best sustained performance in his three full years in the Southern League after the move, going 2-2, 2.37 the rest of the way. His season was delayed early and interrupted late by muscle strains in his back and oblique. Withrow has a major league arm, pitching in the mid-90s and reaching 98 mph. His curveball had been his best secondary pitch in past years, but it took a back seat to his slider last season. The slider comes in at 85-87 mph with tilt and sharp break, looking like a legitimate big league weapon. He still has the curveball, along with a solid changeup, but he'll focus on the fastball and slider as a reliever. He has a clean delivery and arm action but still lacks command. His walk rate has climbed in each of his years in Double-A, reaching 5.40 per nine innings last year, and it's his biggest obstacle to reaching the majors. Though Withrow could still have potential as a starter, the Dodgers will stick with him in the bullpen, where he has the pure stuff pitch in the late innings. He's on the 40-man roster and will try to take a step up to Triple-A.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #7 prospect in 2012
  Withrow had enough hitting ability to play both ways at Baylor had the Dodgers not signed him for $1.35 million as the 20th overall pick in 2007. He's been stuck in Double-A for three years and led the Southern League with 9.1 strikeouts per nine innings in 2011 but recorded consecutive quality starts once all year. Withrow has a riding fastball that sits at 94-95 mph and can reach 98. When he's on, he's able to spin a sharp, downer curveball that rates as a plus pitch, but he has trouble maintaining its consistency and short-arms it. His changeup has nice fading action at 83-86 mph, and while he shows some aptitude for maintaining his arm speed, it's not always a reliable offering. He also throws an 85-88 mph slider early in counts. Scouts don't question Withrow's stuff, but they wonder how well he'll be able to use it. His control and command still need a lot of work, and at times he looks like he's solely concerned with lighting up radar guns. If he ever figures out command, Withrow can be a quality big league starter. Though he's likely headed back to Chattanooga for a fourth stint, Los Angeles protected him on its 40-man roster in November.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #4 prospect in 2011
  Withrow would have been a two-way player at Baylor had his work on the mound not earned him a $1.35 million bonus as the 20th overall pick in 2007. His father Mike pitched in the White Sox system and was his high school pitching coach. Chris spent 2010 in Double-A at age 21, but he was rarely able to get into any kind of groove and led the Southern League in earned runs allowed (86). Despite of his numbers, Withrow still looked like a future frontline starter when at his best. He pitches in the mid-90s with his sinking fastball and tops out at 98 mph, though he doesn't command it well. His curveball is a legitimate strikeout pitch, featuring sharp, late break and plenty of depth. However, he has trouble staying on top of the ball at times, resulting in too many straight fastballs and inconsistent curves. His changeup is fringy, though his struggles with his other pitches forced him to develop a better feel for it. The Dodgers have tinkered with Withrow's mechanics a bit, trying to stop him from tilting his head toward third base and give him more balance over the rubber. Withrow still has a ceiling as a No. 2 starter, but he still needs to refine his pitches and learn to deal with adversity. He'll get another crack at Double-A in 2011.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #2 prospect in 2010
  The 20th overall pick in the 2007 draft, Withrow pitched just 13 innings in his first two pro seasons after signing for $1.35 million. He sustained a deep cut on his right index finger in a snorkeling accident during spring training in 2008, then was bothered by elbow tenderness for most of that season. Healthy again, he rocketed to Double-A Chattanooga as a 20-year-old in 2009. Withrow has a live arm, routinely throwing his fastball in the 92-96 mph range while being clocked as high as 99. His curveball is an above-average pitch with good late bite. He has very good mechanics, which he learned from his father Mike, who pitched in the White Sox system and coached him in high school. Withrow's changeup is a work in progress, and he needs to throw it more consistently for strikes. He also will have to command his fastball and curve better to reach his potential. He's prone to the occasional big inning because he tends to press with men on base. Withrow fared well in his late-season promotion to Double-A and will begin 2010 there. Despite his lack of experience, he's on track to reach the major leagues by the second half of 2011 and looks like a potential top-of-the-rotation starter.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #9 prospect in 2009
  Withrow, whose father Mike pitched professionally and coached him in high school, signed for $1.35 million as the 20th overall pick in the 2007 draft. He has pitched just 13 innings since, however, missing most of 2008 with a tender elbow. He managed to get back on the mound for four innings in August and took part in instructional league. Withrow hit 98 mph with his fastball in the 2007 Gulf Coast League championship game and sat at 92-94 mph in 2008. He has a power curveball and a clean delivery. He's a solid athlete who would have been a two-way player at Baylor if he hadn't turned pro. Because he was away from pitching so long, Withrow needs to regain his command of the strike zone. While he has shown a feel for a changeup, it's not reliable yet. He hasn't had a serious injury, but his health has to be a concern. The Dodgers remain high on Withrow but also will continue to monitor his workload closely. They may have him open 2009 in Inland Empire so he can avoid the cold climate of the Midwest League. Getting in a full, healthy year would be a step in the right direction.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Dodgers #6 prospect in 2008
  A year after taking Clayton Kershaw with their first-round choice, the Dodgers went back for another Texas high school pitcher and drafted Withrow at No. 20. Withrow's father Mike pitched in the minors with the White Sox and was Chris' pitching coach in high school. Signed for $1.35 million, Withrow was used sparingly in his debut but touched 98 mph in the Gulf Coast League playoffs while striking out five in two innings. A pure projection pitcher, Withrow steadily gained velocity as an amateur and there's likely more to come. Last spring his fastball sat between 88-92 with good life when it was down in the strike zone. His 74-78 mph curveball has 11-to-5 shape with tight spin. He has feel for his changeup. His crisp, compact delivery is picture-perfect and his arm works easily. He's athletic and would have been a two-way player had he attended Baylor. In his first pro season, Withrow will focus on consistency with his secondary stuff and command. His feel for pitching is rudimentary at this stage of his development. Withrow projects to pitch with above-average command of three solid-average to plus pitches. He won't zoom through the minors, but he can become a future No. 2 or 3 starter. He'll most likely start 2008 in extended spring training but could make his way to low Class A Great Lakes sometime this summer.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Southern League #18 prospect in 2011
  Since signing as a first-round pick in 2007, Withrow has combined quality stuff with mediocre results. He led the SL with 9.1 strikeouts per nine innings, but his erratic control prevented him from working deep into games. He recorded consecutive quality starts only once all year. Withrow has plenty of arm strength, with a sinking fastball that sits at 90-94 mph and can touch 98. His curveball shows flashes of becoming a plus pitch with hard downward bite. Both his fastball and curveball are inconsistent and can flatten out, and his fringy changeup is a distant No. 3 pitch for now. Withrow's main need is to develop better control. He doesn't throw enough strikes, leading to too many walks and allowing hitters to sit on his fastball. His athleticism should help him make adjustments and repeat his delivery, but so far he hasn't been able to do so.
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  Ranked Southern League #11 prospect in 2010
  Withrow's stuff has impressed scouts since he entered pro ball as a first-round pick three years ago, and with good reason. He features a mid-90s fastball that bores and sinks, and he also spins a plus curveball in the mid-70s. But his stuff and smooth delivery haven't translated to positive results, as his 5.97 ERA this year ballooned his career mark to 5.27. He struggles with his fastball command, and his overall control always remains an issue. His changeup continues to be a work in progress. While Withrow has the arsenal to become a front-of-the-rotation starter, he needs to start refining his pitches and having sustained success at the minor league level. He lost most of 2008 to elbow trouble and his development is taking longer than the Dodgers had hoped.
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  Ranked California League #4 prospect in 2009
  A first-round pick in 2007, Withrow worked just 13 innings in his first two pro seasons because he had elbow problems. His rust showed this year, but he wowed scouts with his pure stuff. Withrow averaged 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings with Inland Empire before his promotion to Double-A Chattanooga. His 92-96 mph fastball and curveball are both plus pitches, and his heater was clocked as high as 99. He throws with an easy arm action, which bodes well for his future health. Withrow needs more command to be a front-line starter, and he'll have to hone his changeup to give him something to play off his power stuff.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #48 prospect in 2010

• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: Withrow had enough hitting ability to play both ways at Baylor had the Dodgers not signed him for $1.35 million as the 20th overall pick in 2007. He first reached Double-A as a 20-year-old in 2009 but has been stuck there ever since, going 12-17, 4.98 in 58 starts. He led the Southern League with 9.1 strikeouts per nine innings in 2011 but recorded consecutive quality starts only once all year. Scouting Report: Withrow has a riding fastball that sits at 94-95 mph and can reach 98. When he's on, he's able to spin a sharp, downer curveball that rates as a plus pitch, but he has trouble maintaining its consistency and short-arms it. His changeup has nice fading action at 83-86 mph, and while he shows some aptitude for maintaining his arm speed, it's not always a reliable offering. He also throws an 85-88 mph slider early in counts. Scouts don't question Withrow's stuff, but they wonder how well he'll be able to use it. His control and command still need a lot of work, and at times he looks like he's more concerned with lighting up radar guns. The Future: If he ever figures out command, Withrow can be a quality big league starter. But he's been surpassed by other pitchers in the system and is likely headed back to Chattanooga for a fourth stint.