Andrew Cashner Stats & Scouting Report

IP	1196
ERA	4.101
WHIP	1.356
BB/9	3.326
SO/9	6.78

Full name Andrew Burton Cashner
Born 09/11/1986 in Conroe, TX
Profile Ht.: 6'6" / Wt.: 235 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Texas Christian
Debut 05/31/2010
Drafted in the 1st round (19th overall) by the Chicago Cubs in 2008 (signed for $1,540,000).

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For a while, it appeared that the state of Texas might get shut out of the draft's first round for the first time since 1977. That's unlikely to happen now, thanks to Cashner, the hottest pitching prospect to come out of Angelina (Texas) JC since Clay Buchholz. Cashner turned down opportunities last year to sign with the Rockies (as a draft-and-follow) and the Cubs (as a 29th-rounder), opting instead to transfer to Texas Christian. A starter at Angelina, Cashner has excelled as a reliever for the Horned Frogs. No college pitcher in this draft can match his consistent 96-98 mph velocity, the product of outstanding whip in his 6-foot-6, 180-pound frame, and overmatched opponents have hit just .104 against him. Cashner has armside run on his fastball, and he backs it up with an 84-85 mph slider that can be electric. The slider is much better than the mediocre curveball he threw in the past, though it's not always consistent. Neither is his command, which may prevent him from becoming an effective starter, but some clubs are interested in returning him to that role in pro ball. A team in love with radar-gun readings could take Cashner as high as the middle of the first round.

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Cashner turned down the Cubs as a 29th-round pick from Angelina (Texas) JC in 2007, then signed for $1.54 million as a first-round pick out of Texas Christian a year later. He won the Florida State League championship clincher in his pro debut and finished his first full season in Double-A. With his frame and power stuff, Cashner is reminiscent of Kerry Wood. His fastball sits at 92-95 mph and touches 98 when he starts, and he has operated in the upper 90s as a reliever. His 81-85 mph slider breaks like a power curveball. He works down in the zone, allowing just two homers in 120 pro innings. Chicago wants to develop Cashner as a starter, but some scouts believe he's destined to be a reliever. His delivery is sound but not fluid, and he often battles his command. His changeup has the potential to become an average pitch, but he needs to use it more often. The Cubs kept him on tight pitch counts after he missed the start of last season with a strained oblique, so he has yet to prove he can pitch deep into games. Whether he's a frontline starter or a closer, Cashner should be a big part of Chicago's future. He'll likely begin 2010 in Double-A and could make his big league debut later in the year.
Cashner could have signed with the Rockies as a draft-and-follow or the Cubs as a 29th-rounder in 2007, but opted to transfer to Texas Christian instead. The move paid off as he became a closer and pitched his way into the first round, signing for $1.54 million as the 19th overall pick. He struggled for much of his pro debut but came on in the high Class A Florida State League playoffs, hitting 99 mph and winning the championship clincher. Getting outstanding whip from his long, lean frame, Cashner pitched at 96-98 mph as a reliever at TCU. His mid-80s slider can be just as electric, breaking so much that it looks like a power curveball at times. Chicago believes in his changeup too and will try to develop him as a starter. To stay in the rotation, Cashner will have to improve his command. It deserted him for much of his debut, and his velocity also was down, problems the Cubs attribute to getting rusty during a long layoff and having to reacclimate to starting. He'll also have to refine his changeup and rely on it more often. Like Jeff Samardzija, Cashner has the raw ability to pitch in the front half of a big league rotation and can always fall back on being a late-inning reliever. He'll start for now, opening his first full season at one of Chicago's Class A affiliates.