Shawn Nottingham Stats & Scouting Report

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Part of a Kent State 2003 recruiting class that also included Ryan Feierabend, Nottingham ranked right with him as a prospect as a high school senior. But when Nottingham was dismissed from his team following his arrest for underage drinking and didn't pitch at all that spring, his draft stock plummeted. Seattle took Feierabend in the third round, Nottingham in the 13th. The biggest difference between Nottingham and the other finesse lefties on this list is that he's shorter and less projectable. He does have similar stuff, as his best pitch is his changeup and he can throw both a below-average fastball (85-89 mph) and a curveball for strikes. The Mariners showed what they thought of Nottingham's poise when they promoted him at age 19 from extended spring training to fill a bullpen emergency in Triple-A last June. He went from there to the Northwest League, which he led in wins, innings and strikeouts. He's ready for low Class A and with his moxie, he could push for a midseason promotion.

Nottingham led the league in wins, strikeouts and innings by pitching with command and poise beyond his 19 years. The Mariners thought enough of his attributes that Nottingham made three relief appearances at Triple-A Tacoma just before the short-season leagues began. His fastball clocks in between 85-89 mph, but Nottingham can throw that and his curveball for strikes whenever he chooses. His changeup proved his best pitch, and led managers to compare him to two current Mariners lefthanders, Jamie Moyer and Travis Blackley. "Kids that have a good changeup, especially lefthanders, they do real well at these levels but have to prove it at Triple-A," Plummer said. "He knows how to pitch and competes."