Jon Garland
| IP | 2151 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 4.372 |
| WHIP | 1.387 |
| BB/9 | 3.025 |
| SO/9 | 4.837 |
- Full name Jon Steven Garland
- Born 09/27/1979 in Valencia, CA
- Profile Ht.: 6'6" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School John F. Kennedy
- Debut 07/04/2000
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Drafted in the 1st round (10th overall) by the Chicago Cubs in 1997 (signed for $1,325,000).
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Garland may be the best pitching prospect ever to come out of the San Fernando Valley, a region that has produced Jack McDowell and Bret Saberhagen. Garland, 17, jumped into the mix as a a potential No. 1 overall pick in February and never wavered, pitching well in marquee matchups. The 6-foot-5 Garland has a lean, loose body with free arm action, plus command of a 91-92 mph fastball and hard slider.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Background: The Cubs drafted Garland 10th overall in 1997 but traded him to the White Sox in July for reliever Matt Karchner. Garland is very young for his class and already is preparing to enter his third pro season. Strengths: In high school, Garland showed a 90-93 mph fastball and the potential for a plus curveball and changeup. He has not shown the same type of ability as a pro, though he will flash it at times, such as his first game with Class A Hickory, when he hit 95 mph consistently. Garland's arm is loose, healthy and still very projectable. Weaknesses: The Cubs were discouraged enough by something in Garland's package to trade him for a middle reliever a year after paying Garland a $1.325 million bonus. The White Sox want Garland to be more aggressive. The Future: The White Sox don't know what they have yet in Garland except that he has excellent potential. They will get a better idea this year at Class A Winston-Salem.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Composed enough to outduel Barry Zito in a Triple-A World Series game last year, Garland dominated the league before being called up to the White Sox during the pennant race. He hasn't been an immediate success in the major leagues, but he hasn't exactly embarrassed the American League Central Division leaders. A calm Southern Californian, Garland has an outstanding sinker that his manager last year, Tom Spencer, compared to Kevin Brown's. "More than that, I was real impressed with his poise," Louisville manager Dave Miley said. "He has a great fastball and a great curveball, and he's in control out there." Garland entered this season with just seven regular-season starts above Class A. Yet just 25 months after the Cubs traded him straight up for reliever Matt Karchner, he was in the big leagues and Karchner wasn't. "He was really a complete pitcher for us," Charlotte manager Nick Leyva said. "I hope we don't get him back." -
The White Sox acquired one of baseball's best young arms when they dealt reliever Matt Karchner to the crosstown Cubs for Garland last summer. "The White Sox took a chance on a young kid and it turned out to be pretty good," Terrell said. Showcasing a low-90s sinking fastball and a pair of reliable offspeed pitches, he sped through the system, moving up to Double-A Birmingham in July and finishing the season with Triple-A Charlotte in the Triple-A World Series. "He has poise and maturity beyond his years on the mound," Garber said. "He came into an experienced league and figured the game out real well," Gideon added.
Top 100 Rankings
Scouting Reports
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Composed enough to outduel Barry Zito in a Triple-A World Series game last year, Garland dominated the league before being called up to the White Sox during the pennant race. He hasn't been an immediate success in the major leagues, but he hasn't exactly embarrassed the American League Central Division leaders. A calm Southern Californian, Garland has an outstanding sinker that his manager last year, Tom Spencer, compared to Kevin Brown's. "More than that, I was real impressed with his poise," Louisville manager Dave Miley said. "He has a great fastball and a great curveball, and he's in control out there." Garland entered this season with just seven regular-season starts above Class A. Yet just 25 months after the Cubs traded him straight up for reliever Matt Karchner, he was in the big leagues and Karchner wasn't. "He was really a complete pitcher for us," Charlotte manager Nick Leyva said. "I hope we don't get him back."
