Chad Durbin

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #10 prospect in 1999
  Background: Durbin was an obscure third-round pick in 1996 out of a Louisiana high school but has moved quickly through the Royals system. Projectable out of high school, Durbin has grown into a solid pitcher and has not missed a start in three years. Strengths: Durbin's fastball is solid average and peaks around 93 mph. He throws a hard curveball as his primary strikeout pitch and also improved his changeup in 1998. The Royals like the maturity and rhythm that he shows on the mound for a young pitcher. Weaknesses: Durbin just has to keep working on his pitches and continuing to learn the art of pitching. He doesn't have the above-average out pitch that top prospects have, but the Royals believe he still has some projection left in him. The Future: The Royals will start Durbin at Wichita in 1999. With his solid pitches across the board and the lack of established starting prospects ahead of him, Durbin should get a chance to break into the Royals rotation sometime during the 2000 season.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Pacific Coast League #19 prospect in 2000
  Durbin made Kansas City’s rotation out of spring training and pitched six one-hit innings to beat the Blue Jays in his first major league start. He didn’t win again in his next eight outings, earning a demotion to Omaha. While most managers tabbed George as the Golden Spikes’ top pitching prospect, Roof dissented and chose Durbin. Roof rated all three of Durbin’s pitches as average to above average, and liked his hard curveball the most. Mizerock and many managers point to Durbin’s changeup as his best pitch. And his fastball arrives in the low 90s, so hitters can’t sit on his offspeed stuff. Durbin throws strikes but must refine his command within the strike zone to become less hittable. He projects as a No. 3 starter.

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  Durbin made Kansas City’s rotation out of spring training and pitched six one-hit innings to beat the Blue Jays in his first major league start. He didn’t win again in his next eight outings, earning a demotion to Omaha. While most managers tabbed George as the Golden Spikes’ top pitching prospect, Roof dissented and chose Durbin. Roof rated all three of Durbin’s pitches as average to above average, and liked his hard curveball the most. Mizerock and many managers point to Durbin’s changeup as his best pitch. And his fastball arrives in the low 90s, so hitters can’t sit on his offspeed stuff. Durbin throws strikes but must refine his command within the strike zone to become less hittable. He projects as a No. 3 starter.