Josh Muecke
| IP | 1006 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 4.742 |
| WHIP | 1.476 |
| BB/9 | 3.614 |
| SO/9 | 5.958 |
- Full name Joshua Christopher Muecke
- Born 01/09/1982 in San Diego, CA
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: L / Throws: L
- School Loyola Marymount
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Drafted in the 5th round (149th overall) by the Houston Astros in 2003 (signed for $175,000).
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The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Muecke did not perform up to expectations this spring, going just 3-3, 4.50. Projected to be Loyola Marymount's Friday starter, he pitched poorly and lost his spot in the rotation altogether. He showed little command of his fastball, curve and changeup, and routinely needed 20 or more pitches to get through an inning. Still, teams are intrigued by his body, arm speed, velocity and action on his changeup. He has a lot of projection left in his arm. If a team is willing to overlook his performance this spring, he could be a solid third- to fifth-round gamble.
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Organization Prospect Rankings
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The Astros always thought Muecke had enough stuff to pitch in the majors, and he may get that opportunity in 2008 after posting a 1.56 ERA as a reliever in the Arizona Fall League. He has a solid arsenal for a lefthander, with an 88-92 mph fastball, a cutter he'll run in on righthanders and a useful slider and a changeup. He also possesses a curveball, but it's not very effective. His control improved in 2007 because he started to challenge hitters more aggressively than he had in the past. Muecke's mental toughness had been in question and he tried to pitch away from contact in the past, but work with a sports psychologist has changed him for the better. Though he has worked as a swingman the last two years, he projects as a big league reliever. His first taste of Triple-A wouldn't hurt Muecke.
