Joel Zumaya Stats & Scouting Report

IP	209
ERA	3.057
WHIP	1.354
BB/9	4.909
SO/9	9.043

Full name Joel Martin Zumaya
Born 11/09/1984 in Chula Vista, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Bonita Vista
Debut 04/03/2006
Drafted in the 11th round (320th overall) by the Detroit Tigers in 2002.

View Draft Report

Zumaya has a limited pitching background and came out of nowhere this spring. A 6-foot-3 frame, fresh arm, arm strength up to 93 mph with the possibility for more and easy signability make him an attractive target in the first three to five rounds. The downside is questionable arm action, inconsistent velocity and limited secondary pitches.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Zumaya has added 25 pounds to his frame since high school, when he threw in the upper 80s with a delivery charitably described as raw. Through his added strength and refined mechanics, he has become one of the minors' hardest throwers, regularly touching 100 mph. Scouts in and out of the organization no longer describe Zumaya's delivery as maximum- effort. Now they use the term strong. More under control than ever, Zumaya unleashes a plus-plus fastball and much-improved changeup with similar arm speed, helping him rank second in the minors in strikeouts and opponent average. His curveball also is a plus pitch with depth and low-80s velocity. Some scouts still believe Zumaya's delivery will force a shift to the bullpen. He missed two starts with back pain in 2005. His curve can flatten out, as he tends to drop his elbow. Zumaya is starting to believe he can dominate better hitters, and his improved changeup and less-violent mechanics give him a chance not just to start but to be a frontline starter. He'll compete with Justin Verlander for an opening in the 2006 rotation.
Zumaya wasn't an unknown in the talent-rich San Diego area, but he lasted until the 11th round out of high school because few scouts projected his velocity would spike so quickly. His fastball jumped from the low to mid-90s right after he signed. Filling a void created by injuries, he reached Double-A at age 19. Zumaya has pure power arm strength and has shown the ability to overpower more experienced hitters at each stop in his three-year career. His fastball tops out at 98 mph, and his hard slurve has late depth. His intensity would serve him well in a late-inning relief role. Zumaya's shortcomings also may lead him to the bullpen. His maximum-effort delivery makes it difficult for him to command his fastball and breaking ball and also leads to questions about his durability. He barely has averaged five innings per start as a pro. He lacks a changeup. For now, the Tigers plan on leaving Zumaya in the rotation and seeing whether he can improve his secondary pitches and control. He's heading back to Double-A in 2005.
When the Tigers selected Zumaya in the 11th round of the 2002 draft, they figured he was just another high school righty with raw arm strength who would need time to develop. But his fastball suddenly gained velocity and he has progressed much faster than expected. He would have led minor league starters in strikeouts per nine innings last year (12.6) had he pitched enough innings to qualify. Zumaya's fastball consistently reaches the mid-90s, and he has hit 97-98 mph on several occasions, but that's not the only reason he gets so many strikeouts. He also has uncanny velocity on a nasty curveball, throwing it in the low 80s. He has a bulldog approach and takes to coaching well. Improved mechanics are the key to his improved stuff. Zumaya has a maximum-effort delivery, which led to back problems that knocked him out for six weeks last year. He sometimes drops his arm angle, causing his pitches to flatten out. He needs more consistency with his curve and a great deal of refinement with his changeup, which he doesn't throw often enough. If Zumaya stays healthy and keeps winning in high Class A this year, he could reach Double-A by midseason. His approach, power stuff and lack of a changeup could make him a closer in the long run.

Minor League Top Prospects

One scout recalled a three-day span when his radar gun popped triple digits while scouting three different pitchers: Binghamton's Matt Lindstrom and Erie's Verlander and Zumaya. That arm strength enabled Zumaya to lead all minor league righthanders in strikeouts (199 in 151 innings), strikeouts per nine innings (11.8) and opponent average (.189). Zumaya pitches at 96 mph and ran his fastball into the high 90s with regularity this season. Though his three-quarters delivery is described as maximum-effort and he missed some time with back trouble this year, his mechanics are relatively clean and his arm works well. He has a tendency to drop his elbow on his curveball but when it's on, it's a legitimate out pitch. His command and mound presence still need to improve, but he made strides in both areas this year. His ability to refine a changeup probably will determine whether he remains a starter or moves to bullpen. "I've always had him in as a closer," a National League scout said. "The effort to his delivery has improved, but to me you bring him in for one inning, he throws 100 and you shake hands."
He's the fifth pitcher on this list, but when it comes to a sheer live arm, no one could top Zumaya. He had the league's best fastball, which not only reached 98 mph but also moved so much it seemed to jump at hitters. At times, he showed a hammer curveball that reached 81-82 mph. But Zumaya throws with so much effort that he missed six weeks with back problems. His delivery has limited his consistency with his curveball, and his changeup lags far behind his other two pitches. His best long-term role could be as a closer.
An 11th-round draft pick in June, Zumaya's stock jumped considerably in the GCL as he outpitched a number of higher-round selections. His fastball was clocked at only 88-90 mph in high school but it improved over the summer to 91-92 and topped out at 94. His breaking ball was inconsistent but almost unhittable when he located it. Zumaya generally showed good command, walking 11 in 37 innings and striking out 46. "He came a long way this summer," Bushong said. "He really competes for a 17-year-old. The ball explodes out of his hand."