Trystan Magnuson

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Oakland Athletics #23 prospect in 2011
  Magnuson, whose late uncle Keith was an NHL defenseman for 11 seasons, went to Louisville on an academic scholarship for mechanical engineering and walked on to the baseball team. He became the Cardinals' closer as a redshirt senior and helped them reach the 2007 College World Series. The Blue Jays signed him for $462,500 as a sandwich pick in that year's draft, then dealt him to the A's along with Danny Farquhar in November for Rajai Davis. Toronto tried Magnuson out as a starter in his pro debut, but that experiment flopped and he has been much more comfortable since moving back to the bullpen in 2009. He challenges hitters with his 92-94 mph sinker, with his 6-foot-7 frame giving him deception and excellent downhill plane. He also throws a slider that's a plus pitch at times, as well as a splitter that he uses as an offspeed pitch. The latter has some sink but still needs work. Magnuson led Double-A Eastern League relievers by walking just 1.2 batters per nine innings in 2010, and and his fastball and strike-throwing ability alone should get him to the big leagues. To be more than a middle reliever, however, he'll need one of his secondary pitches to take a step forward. Added to Oakland's 40-man roster after the trade, Magnuson will join Farquhar, his teammate in the New Hampshire bullpen last year, in Sacramento this season.
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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #22 prospect in 2010
  The nephew of former NHL defenseman Keith Magnuson, Trystan walked on the baseball team at Louisville and became the closer on the Cardinals' 2007 College World Series team as a fifth-year senior. The Blue Jays drafted him 56th overall that June and signed him for $462,500, though his pro debut was pushed back until 2008 because he had a sore elbow. Toronto toyed with the idea of making him a starter but kept him on tight pitch counts. He didn't have much success in the rotation, and he looked much more comfortable when he returned to the bullpen last year. With his tall, thin frame, Magnuson generates good velocity. His fastball sits at 90-92 mph and can get up to 94. He throws downhill and has confidence working in relief. Roving pitching instructor Dane Johnson helped him with a two-seam grip, improving the life on his fastball. Magnuson also throws a mid-80s slider that can be a plus pitch but sometimes lack depth. He's also working on a splitter. After reaching Double-A at the tail end of 2009, he'll return there this season and could push for a big league callup in September if all goes well.
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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #25 prospect in 2009
  As a fifth-year senior in 2007, Magnuson would have been free to sign with any club had Louisville not made the College World Series. As it turned it turned out, the Vancouver native signed with the Blue Jays for $462,500 as the 56th overall pick. He signed late, though, and had his pro debut delayed until 2008 by elbow soreness. Magnuson's uncle Keith appeared in two Stanley Cup finals during the 1970s as part of an 11-year career in the NHL. A former walk-on at Louisville, Magnuson thrived when the Cardinals made him their closer in 2007, though Toronto drafted him with designs on developing him as a starter. Because of his limited workloads in college, Magnuson worked on strict pitch counts in 2008, seldom exceeding 65 pitches in an outing. As a result, he completed five innings in a start just four times in 24 tries and still is seeking his first pro victory. Toronto shut him down after his Aug. 11 start because of general fatigue, though he resumed throwing during instructional league. When he starts, Magnuson's fastball sits at 90-92 mph with plus downhill plane--a product of his 6-foot-8 frame--and he still flashes 93-94 mph heat in short stints. His height works against him at times, too, because he doesn't always repeat his mechanics and throw strikes. If Magnuson can harness his 84-87 mph slider, it would give him a second weapon, but it remains inconsistent. He worked on his changeup in a starting role and in regular side sessions, but he lacks feel for the pitch. Because he turns 24 this year and struggled in low Class A, the Blue Jays may be tempted to turn Magnuson loose as a reliever so he can move more quickly.
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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #11 prospect in 2008
  Magnuson walked on at Louisville and helped lead the Cardinals to the College World Series as a closer in 2007. Louisville's postseason success worked against him, because he was a fifth-year senior who would have become a free agent had his season ended before the draft. One of four Canadians drafted by Toronto in 2007, he went 56th overall and signed for $462,500. His uncle Keith Magnuson was an 11-year NHL veteran who appeared in two Stanley Cup finals during the 1970s. The Blue Jays plan to use Magnuson as a starter, but they held him out of action after he signed because of mild elbow soreness. His velocity surged from 88-89 mph into the mid-90s last year. He has learned to take advantage of his 6-foot-7 frame, using it and an easy delivery to drive the ball down in the zone, and he still has room to fill out. He also throws an average slider in the mid-80s. Magnuson will work on sharpening the break on his slider and developing a changeup as he begins his career as a starter in high Class A this year.