Tony Sipp
| IP | 503 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 3.722 |
| WHIP | 1.245 |
| BB/9 | 3.954 |
| SO/9 | 9.501 |
- Full name Tony Marcel Sipp
- Born 07/12/1983 in Pascagoula, MS
- Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 190 / Bats: L / Throws: L
- School Clemson
- Debut 04/22/2009
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Drafted in the 45th round (1,333rd overall) by the Cleveland Guardians in 2004 (signed for $130,000).
View Draft Report
Clemson also could produce a spate of later draftees, with arm strength LHP Tony Sipp the best bet. Sipp, a speedy, athletic center fielder, doesn't hit enough for teams to ignore his 90-92 mph fastball. He also throws a power slider in the 80-82 range and a decent splitter, and could go as high as the eighth round for a team that has seen him command all three.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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A two-way player for Meridian (Miss.) JC and Clemson, Sipp slipped to the 45th round of the 2004 draft after a lackluster junior season. He rebounded with a promising summer in the Cape Cod League, and Cleveland signed him for $130,000. He moved to the bullpen midway through his first full pro season and was in line for a shot at the big league bullpen in 2007, but instead he hurt his elbow and succumbed to Tommy John surgery. Despite the injury, the Indians protected Sipp on the 40-man roster, and his comeback has been promising. Sipp returned to game action last June and was at his strongest in the season's final month, allowing one run in his final 16 innings. His fastball velocity returned to 89-93 mph, and batters continued to have trouble picking up the ball out of his hand thanks to the deception in his delivery. His slider and changeup are both above-average pitches at times. Like most players returning from Tommy John surgery, Sipp's command wasn't at its sharpest in his first year back, particularly with his secondary pitches. He'll open 2009 in Triple-A and should get an opportunity to pitch in Cleveland this year if he can stay healthy. -
A two-way player at Meridian (Miss.) JC and at Clemson, Sipp had a modest season as a college junior, and the Indians took a flier on him in the 45th round in 2004 and then signed him for $130,000 after a strong showing in the Cape Cod League. Sipp was moving through the system quickly and was considered for a major league bullpen spot ahead of lefthander Rafael Perez last spring before breaking down and needing Tommy John surgery. When he's right, Sipp is a funky, deceptive late-inning reliever with the ability to attack lefthanders and righthanders. His 89-93 mph fastball is a swing-and-miss pitch, and he mixes in an above-average slider and plus changeup. Sipp relied on his changeup too much at times before he got hurt, and needs to focus on fastball command. He'll be out of action until at least June, and even if his stuff returns, he likely won't factor into the major league club's needs until 2009. Nevertheless, Cleveland protected him on its 40-man roster in November. -
The Indians drafted Sipp, a center fielder/pitcher in junior college and at Clemson, in the 45th round and gave him $130,000 after he had a strong summer in the Cape Cod League. That deal now looks like a steal after Sipp cruised his way through Double-A after moving to the bullpen full-time. Sipp has good deception and extension toward home plate that makes his 89-93 mph fastball explode on hitters. His secondary stuff took a major step forward in 2006, as his slider showed much better depth and tilt, and his changeup emerged as a weapon against lefties and righties alike. He's controls the running game well, giving up just one steal in eight tries in 2006. While Sipp has little trouble throwing strikes, his command can be an issue at times. Though he's athletic, he doesn't field his position as well as he could. Sipp no longer looks like just a lefty specialist. The development of his secondary pitches has some Tribe officials thinking he's a closer in the mold of Eddie Guardado. The signing of free agent Joe Borowski will allow Sipp to apprentice before he's asked to finish games. -
Sipp plummeted to the 45th round of the 2004 draft after his agent scared off teams with excessive bonus demands, but area scout Tim Moore persuaded the Indians that Sipp was worth following over the summer. He performed well in the Cape Cod League and earned a $130,000 bonus, and he has overmatched hitters in pro ball. He moved from the rotation into the bullpen after a mid-2005 promotion to high Class A and flourished. Sipp spent his college career as a two-way player and didn't focus on pitching before last year, but the lack of innings hasn't deterred his development. He creates excellent deception in his delivery with outstanding extension, and his 89-93 mph fastball explodes on hitters. His fastball has late, tailing action. His slider has emerged as a plus pitch, and he also has made strides with his changeup. If he were willing to trust it more, he would have the repertoire to start again. The Indians want to move him quickly as a reliever, and will start him in Double-A this year and could promote him to Triple-A for the second half. -
Sipp transferred from Mississippi Gulf Coast CC to Clemson for his junior year in 2004, and expected to go on the first day of the draft after seeing double duty as a left fielder and pitcher. But his agent's demands scared teams away and he lasted until the 45th round, when area scout Tim Moore convinced the Indians to take Sipp as a summer draft-and-follow. He headed to the Cape Cod League and pitched well, earning a $130,000 bonus, and continued to overmatch hitters in the short-season New York-Penn League. Sipp comes right after hitters with a deceptive, high-effort delivery and quick arm that produces an 89-93 mph fastball with late tailing action. His solid slider is better than Cleveland expected, and he has made strides with his changeup. Sipp profiles as a short reliever and has two pitches he can put hitters away with. He'll remain in the bullpen and move to low Class A this season. He won't stay there long if he continues to ring up hitters at the same pace.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Sipp moved from the rotation in low Class A Lake County to the bullpen in Kinston, and flourished in the role. Sipp spent his college career as a two-way player and didn't focus solely on pitching until turning pro, but the lack of innings hasn't sidetracked his development. Sipp has excellent deception in his delivery. He gets eye-popping extension that shortens his distance to home plate and makes his 89-93 mph fastball seem much more explosive. His fastball has outstanding late tailing action, and his slider has become a plus pitch. He also has made strides with the development of his changeup, and if he's willing to trust it he could wind up becoming a starter again down the road. -
One of the more athletic players in the NY-P, Sipp stole 20 bases this spring at Clemson, where he played in the outfield and worked out of the bullpen. He lasted until the 45th round because of signability concerns, but the Indians signed him for $130,000 after he spent part of the summer in the Cape Cod League. The rap on Sipp as a college pitcher was that he had very good stuff but never was able to put it all together. He put it together rather nicely for the Scrappers, posting a 74-13 strikeout-walk ratio in 43 innings. Sipp's live arm generates a low-90s fastball that he's not afraid to locate anywhere in the strike zone. His slider could become a plus pitch, and he has good feel for a changeup.
