Chuck Lofgren Stats & Scouting Report

IP	890
ERA	4.288
WHIP	1.427
BB/9	4.358
SO/9	7.331

Full name Charles Walfred Lofgren
Born 01/29/1986 in Redwood City, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 190 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Junipero Serra
Drafted in the 4th round (107th overall) by the Cleveland Guardians in 2004 (signed for $650,000).

View Draft Report

Scouts are divided on whether Lofgren will be drafted as a hitter or pitcher. Teams have gone back and forth on him all spring. Most scouts saw him as a hitter at the start of the year and turned him in as a potential first-rounder. Some even thought he was the surest bet of all the high school players in this year's draft to hit in the big leagues, and said he could hit 35-40 homers a year. They saw juice in his bat and a solid approach at the plate. He was frequently pitched around, however, and he began to swing at bad pitches. He tried to do too much and his frustration got the better of him. He struggled to hit .250 and sentiment moved to the mound, where scouts saw a 6-foot-4, 200-pounder with a power arm, capable of pitching at 88-92 mph and touching 93-94. They also saw a high-maintenance delivery, an inconsistent curveball and a tendency to lose velocity quickly. The general feeling now is that Lofgren's higher upside is as a position player, even though he's an average runner and projects only as a left fielder. He finished the year with a .343 average, but only three homers. Lofgren, a Santa Clara signee, would play both ways in college but has expressed a preference to begin his pro career.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Several teams liked Lofgren more for his lefthanded bat than his ability on the mound in the 2004 draft, but the Indians persuaded him that his future was on the mound after letting him serve as a two-way player during his pro debut. Though he wasn't nearly as dominant in 2007 as he had been in the past, Lofgren still led the system with 123 strikeouts in 146 innings and ranked second with 12 wins. Lofgren adds and subtracts with his full arsenal of pitches, beginning with a fastball that ranges anywhere from 87-93 mph and tops out at 95. He added a slider in 2006 and developed it into a true out pitch last year. He also throws a spike curveball in the upper 70s and a changeup that grades out as average. An imposing presence on the mound, he gets downhill easily and pounds the bottom of the strike zone. He kept his composure when things went poorly, and the Tribe loves his makeup. Lofgren struggled with runners on base last year, rushing his lower half in his delivery, which threw off his command. His changeup wasn't the weapon it was during his breakout campaign in 2006 when he led the minors with 17 wins, but it still has considerable upside. He needs to consistently command his fastball to maximize his effectiveness. Lofgren likely will make a few starts in Double-A before getting his first taste of Triple-A. Projected as a No. 3 starter, he could make his big league debut later in the year.
Several clubs liked Lofgren's bat better than his arm in the 2004 draft, but the Indians' decision to make him a full-time pitcher can't be secondguessed. He emerged as one of the top lefthanders in the minors in 2006, tying for the minor league lead in wins and ranking second in the Carolina League in both ERA and strikeouts. Lofgren has more velocity than most lefthanders with a fastball that sits at 89-93 mph and tops out at 95. His changeup serves as an out pitch, because he throws it with good arm action and can locate it to both sides of the plate. He also features a spike curveball in the mid-70s, and he has added a slider that has good depth. He has outstanding mound presence. Lofgren only started using the slider at midseason, so he needs to continue to develop it. While his delivery is clean with a quick, easy arm action, he rushes at times in his lower half and needs to keep his hips from opening up too early to stay on a direct line to home plate. This flaw at times costs him control. Lofgren took one of the largest leaps developmentally among Tribe farmhands in 2006. With a young big league rotation, though, the Indians see no reason to rush him, so he'll likely spend 2007 in Double-A.
Lofgren comes from a strong line of athletes at Serra High that includes Barry Bonds, Jim Fregosi, Gregg Jefferies and Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. Lofgren was a standout two-way player in high school, and most clubs liked his bat better than his arm. The Indians were in the minority, and after putting a clause in his $650,000 bonus contract that said he could DH in his 2004 debut, they have him focused solely on pitching now. Lofgren has power stuff, beginning with a heavy 93-94 mph fastball that peaks at 96. His changeup has developed into an effective weapon. He just needs to find a reliable breaking ball to become a quality starter. Lofgren throws a curveball, but it's inconsistent and he struggles to command it. He may scrap the curve and try a slider in 2006. An aggressive competitor, he has adjusted his mechanics to get more leverage and downhill plane to the plate. He has the stuff, makeup and savvy to move quickly. He'll begin 2005 in high Class A.
Lofgren was a standout for three seasons at Serra High, the same school that produced Barry Bonds and Greg Jefferies, as well as Patriots quarterback Tom Brady. He was under intense scrutiny his senior season as a two-way player and he may have suffered from a case of draftitis. Many clubs preferred Lofgren more for his bat than his arm, but by the midpoint of last spring, his average stood just above the Mendoza Line. He finished strong at the plate, but hit fewer snags on the mound and the Indians targeted him as a pitcher. Lofgren touched 96 mph in his first pro start and his fastball sat consistently at 92-93 mph all summer. His curveball has the makings of being a plus pitch, but can get a little loopy at times and needs tighter spin. He also has to refine his changeup. Lofgren is aggressive and has impressed Cleveland with his savvy and makeup. Rookie-level Burlington pitching coach Ruben Niebla worked extensively on Lofgren's delivery to help his leverage and plane to the plate. He lands violently on his front leg, which affects his command. Though the Tribe drafted him as a pitcher, Lofgren's contract included a clause allowing him to swing the bat as a DH once a week. His days as a two-way player should be short-lived, however, as he opens this year in low Class A.

Minor League Top Prospects

The highlight of Lofgren's season was going home to San Francisco for the Futures Game--he's from famed Serra High in nearby San Mateo--but the regular season held some struggles for him. His athletic ability, competitiveness and aptitude still make him one of the minors' more intriguing lefties, but he has work to do. Lofgren pitches off his average-to-plus fastball, running it up to 93-94 mph at times. His curveball, slider and changeup all flash above-average potential as well. He started throwing his changeup two years ago and it's now his best secondary pitch, allowing him to be more effective against righthanders (.739 OPS against) than lefties (.815 OPS). Lofgren didn't attack Double-A hitters like he needed to, getting into trouble by nibbling when he got ahead or by struggling to throw his secondary pitches for strikes early in counts. One scout said Lofgren needs to learn pitchability and expects his athletic ability to help him do that with another year in the minors.
It didn't get much better than Lofgren this year--in high Class A or anywhere else. He tied for the minor league lead with 17 wins, and would have finished with 21 if his bullpen hadn't blown four saves for him. He also added a victory in the first round of the playoffs, and pitched seven strong innings in the game that clinched the league championship for Kinston. Many teams thought Lofgren had a brighter future as a hitter when he signed out of high school, but that's no longer the case. The league's pitcher of the year attacks hitters with an 89-94 mph fastball, hammer curveball, plus changeup and a slider. His changeup is easily his most improved offering, and when he keeps his mechanics clean and follows through properly, it's a true out pitch. While his slider still needs more depth and bite after he added it to his arsenal this season, it still has the makings of an above-average pitch. "There's no question he's the top guy in this league for me," a scout from an American League organization said. "He commands everything and he's never in the same spot twice. His stuff has tons of life, but that plus command is the thing that gets you. He's aggressive, works fast and isn't afraid to challenge."