Asher Wojciechowski

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Houston Astros #28 prospect in 2015
  Wojciechowski had two plus pitches while in college, reaching 96 mph with his fastball and flashing a plus slider. His stuff has backed up as a pro, and the Blue Jays traded their 2010 sandwich pick to Houston in the July 2012 deal that sent J.A. Happ to Toronto. The 2014 season was a lost one for Wojciechowski, who appeared on the precipice of his big league debut after a fine 2013. He pitched just 76 innings because of a lat-muscle injury, then pitched for Licey in the Dominican League in winter ball to make up for lost time. At his best, Wojciechowski has average 90-93 mph velocity with an average slider and changeup. He can show his fastball to both sides of the plate and keep it down. He's competitive and polished and on the 40-man roster, so he'll compete for a major league job--bullpen or rotation--in the spring, given good health. Because of limited relief experience, he could wind up at Triple-A Fresno in 2015
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  Ranked Houston Astros #10 prospect in 2014
  Timing may be everything for Wojciechowski. Selected as part of the Blue Jays' pitching-rich 2010 draft that also included the likes of Aaron Sanchez and Noah Syndergaard, he joined the Astros along with six other players at the 2012 trade deadline in the deal that sent J.A. Happ and Brandon Lyon to Toronto. Wojciechowski gets outs by locating an average 90-93 mph fastball to both sides of the plate and mixing in an average slider and changeup with a tick-above-average control. Since joining the Astros, he's learned to get more downward plane on his fastball, in part because he made tweaks to lead more with his hips in his delivery. Wojciechowski does a good job of helping himself by controlling the running game, and just two of seven basestealers succeeded against him in 134 innings at Triple-A Oklahoma City in 2013. While he doesn't have the high ceiling of other pitchers in the system, Wojciechowski is a relatively polished candidate to contribute to the rotation, and he has the advantage of reaching Houston before the next pitching wave crashes. Now a member of the 40-man roster, he could reach his ceiling as a reliable, durable No. 4 starter beginning in 2014.
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  Ranked Houston Astros #14 prospect in 2013
  The Blue Jays drafted righthanders with each of their first four picks before the second round of the 2010 draft. Two years later, they have cast their lot with the high schoolers (Aaron Sanchez, Noah Syndergaard) while souring on college picks Deck McGuire and Wojciechowski. They included the latter along with big leaguers Francisco Cordero and Ben Francisco and prospects Kevin Comer, Joe Musgrove, Carlos Perez and David Rollins to get David Carpenter, J.A. Happ and Brandon Lyon from the Astros in July. Wojciechowski had struggled through 43 outings and two seasons in high Class A, then threw well after the trade in his first action at Double-A. Corpus Christi was making a playoff run, and the Astros believe the winning atmosphere brought out the best in him. Wojciechowski throws a 90-94 mph fastball that touches 96. He has worked hard to command his fastball as a pro but has lost a bit of feel for his slider. He leaned heavily on a plus slider in college, but it's now more of a cutter in shape. He throws the cutter at 87-88 mph. He now uses a solid curveball as his breaking ball and can get swings and misses with it. His changeup can be too firm but has some run and can be effective. Wojciechowski has a durable starter's body and throws strikes but lacks pitch efficiency, working more than six innings just twice all season. He's likely to start 2013 back in Double-A.
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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #10 prospect in 2012
  The second-highest draft pick in Citadel history, Wojciechowski went 41st overall after finishing second in NCAA Division I with 155 strikeouts in 126 innings in 2010. Signed for $815,400 and assigned to high Class A for his first full pro season, he posted a 0.87 ERA in April, but it ballooned to 5.42 over the final four months. He lost fastball velocity and battled his secondary offerings and command while getting used to pitching every fifth day. After dealing at 92-94 mph and touching 96 with his fastball in college, Wojciechowski worked at 89-93 in 2011. His 80-85 mph slider has hard break and can be a plus pitch at its best, but it flattened out too often at Dunedin. He didn't have much use for a changeup as an amateur and has made strides with the pitch since signing. Wojciechowski is a high-intensity pitcher, and the Blue Jays are trying to slow things down for him. He can rush his delivery, causing his arm to drag behind. Like many big-body pitchers, he needs to work on repeating his mechanics. If his velocity returns and his secondary pitches improve, Wojciechowski has the ceiling of a No. 2 starter. Otherwise, he could fit well in a late-inning relief role, where he could just attack hitters with his fastball and slider. Despite his struggles, he'll likely start 2012 in Double-A.
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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #7 prospect in 2011
  Wojciechowski benefited from a stint with Team USA in 2009, working off his fastball more often at the urging of pitching coach Mike Kennedy (Elon). His velocity increased, and he ranked second in NCAA Division I in strikeouts with 155 in 126 innings last spring. He also became the highest draft pick in the history of The Citadel, going 41st overall and signing for $815,400. The Blue Jays limited him to 12 innings in his debut to keep his workload down. After throwing his fastball more frequently and refining his mechanics, Wojciechowski now pitches at 92-94 mph and touches 96. He maintains his velocity into the late innings and controls his heater well. Before his velocity spiked, he was known for his big, durable frame and his slider. It's a hard-breaking pitch that grades out as above-average. Wojciechowski had little use for a changeup in college, but he has made some strides with it since turning pro. He has similar stuff to Zach Stewart and likewise could develop into a quality starter if he can refine his changeup. Stewart is a little more polished, but Wojciechowski has a slightly higher ceiling as a potential No. 2 starter. Even without the changeup, he could be a mid-rotation innings eater. He should start 2011 in high Class A.

• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: The highest draft pick in Citadel history, Wojciechowski went 41st overall after finishing second in NCAA Division I with 155 strikeouts in 126 innings in 2010. Signed for $815,400 and assigned to high Class A for his first full pro season, he posted a 0.87 ERA in April, but it ballooned to 5.42 over the final four months. He lost fastball velocity and battled his secondary offerings and command while getting used to pitching every fifth day. Scouting Report: After dealing at 92-94 mph and touching 96 with his fastball in college, Wojciechowski worked at 89-93 in 2011. His 80-85 mph slider has hard break and can be a plus pitch at its best, but it flattened out too often at Dunedin. He didn't have much use for a changeup as an amateur and has made strides with the pitch since signing. Wojciechowski is a high-intensity pitcher, and the Blue Jays are trying to slow things down for him. He can rush his delivery, causing his arm to drag behind. The Future: If his velocity returns and his secondary pitches improve, Wojciechowski has the ceiling of a No. 2 starter. Otherwise, he could fit well in a late-inning relief role, where he could just attack hitters with his fastball and slider. Despite his struggles, he'll likely start 2012 in Double-A.