Jesse Harper
| IP | 424 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 3.163 |
| WHIP | 1.186 |
| BB/9 | 2.229 |
| SO/9 | 7.557 |
- Full name Jesse Andrew Harper
- Born 11/11/1980 in Clute, TX
- Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Galveston College
- Drafted in the 21st round (628th overall) by the Toronto Blue Jays in 2000.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Harper doesn't have the stuff of the pitchers ahead of him, but he knows how to pitch and established himself as a prospect with a consistent 2003 season. He ranked second in the low Class A South Atlantic League in ERA in 2002, then earned a spot on the 40-man roster after leading Dunedin in wins, innings and strikeouts while finishing fourth in the Florida State League in ERA. Tall with a projectable frame, Harper was a 13th-round pick out of high school by the Diamondbacks and signed for a six-figure signing bonus after a year of junior college. His velocity hasn't caught up with the projections, but he has a high-80s fastball that scrapes 90-91 mph at times. He commands his fastball well and uses his height to throw with a good angle to the plate. Harper uses his heater to set hitters up for his slider, changeup and splitter. None stands out as more than average, and he seems to prefer the slider. Harper has room to get stronger, and if one or two of his pitches pick up a grade, he could be a factor in the rotation. He'll try to maintain his success this year at Double-A.
