Chris Jensen
| IP | 988 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 4.527 |
| WHIP | 1.39 |
| BB/9 | 3.124 |
| SO/9 | 6.085 |
- Full name Christopher Philip Jensen
- Born 09/30/1990 in Gilbert, AZ
- Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School San Diego
-
Drafted in the 6th round (198th overall) by the Colorado Rockies in 2011 (signed for $135,000).
View Draft Report
Jensen has spent most of his college career as a reliever thanks to inconsistent command, but he made 11 starts in his 17 appearances this spring, going 3-6, 3.84 with 70 strikeouts and 34 walks in 75 innings. He has a strong arm, regularly sitting 92-93 mph and touching 94-95 now and then. He flashes a good power slurve, though it flattens out at times, and he mixes in an occasional split-finger. Scouts say his short, rigid arm action and high slot hamper his command.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
-
Jensen came to the Athletics along with Drew Pomeranz when Oakland sent Brett Anderson to Colorado in December 2013 and dominated in the second half at Double-A Midland, going 8-2, 2.26. Jensen pounds both sides the plate with 88-93 mph fastballs and can reach 95. Toying around with two-seam grips last offseason, he found one he was comfortable with that gave him a much-improved sinker. He gets good arm speed on his changeup and it has developed into his most useful secondary pitch. His curveball needs more work and will go a long way to determining whether he can be more than a backof- the-rotation starter. The pitch gets slurvy at times and isn't anything more than a get-me-over breaking ball at this point, its velocity ranging from the high 60s to low 70s. Jensen also lacked extension in his delivery, though the A's believe he made improvements by the end of 2014, and he will try to keep the momentum going at Triple-A Nashville in 2015. -
Jensen signed for $135,000 in 2011 after being taken in the sixth round out of San Diego, where he primarily relieved before starting in 12 of 18 appearances as a junior. He has proven to be a durable starter in pro ball, logging 145 innings at low Class A Asheville in 2012 and 152 at high Class A Modesto in 2013. He has above-average command of a fastball that ranges from 92-95 mph and sits at 93. Because he doesn't have a great feel for his secondary stuff, he regularly throws at least 70 percent fastballs. Jensen throws a hard, sharp curveball that grades average when he throw it for strikes, which isn't often enough. He adds a fringy changeup and needs a pitch to rely on besides his fastball. The Rockies want that pitch to be a slider, and Jensen is receptive to learning to throw one, though he preferred to wait until the offseason to begin his crash course. He ought to pitch at Double-A Tulsa in 2014. Whether he develops a feel for his secondary stuff will determine whether Jensen moves to the bullpen, where he had ample experience in college.
Scouting Reports
-
Jensen came to the Athletics along with Drew Pomeranz when Oakland sent Brett Anderson to Colorado in December 2013 and dominated in the second half at Double-A Midland, going 8-2, 2.26. Jensen pounds both sides the plate with 88-93 mph fastballs and can reach 95. Toying around with two-seam grips last offseason, he found one he was comfortable with that gave him a much-improved sinker. He gets good arm speed on his changeup and it has developed into his most useful secondary pitch. His curveball needs more work and will go a long way to determining whether he can be more than a backof- the-rotation starter. The pitch gets slurvy at times and isn't anything more than a get-me-over breaking ball at this point, its velocity ranging from the high 60s to low 70s. Jensen also lacked extension in his delivery, though the A's believe he made improvements by the end of 2014, and he will try to keep the momentum going at Triple-A Nashville in 2015.
