Drew Hutchison

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #9 prospect in 2012
  While failing to sign three of their top five draft picks in 2009 wasn't the plan, the Blue Jays did have money to spend elsewhere in that circumstance. That included $400,000 in the 15th round for Hutchinson, a product of the Lakeland (Fla.) High program that has produced recent big leaguers Steve Pearce and Chris Sale. Hutchison breezed through three levels in 2011, finishing the year by allowing two runs in four Double-A starts, including six shutout innings in the Eastern League playoffs. Hutchison doesn't blow hitters away, but his 88-93 mph fastball has good life and gets on them quickly. He can sink and cut his fastball, commanding it to both sides of the plate. A short arm stroke and slightly crossfire delivery add deception. Hutchison's No. 2 pitch is a changeup and he also has a slider, which can be a swing-and-miss pitch at times and slurvy at others. He commands and mixes his pitches well for a youngster. Hutchison has moved quickly because of his feel for pitching, which eventually could make him a No. 3 starter. At the same time, his crossfire delivery makes some scouts wonder if he'll hold up in a rotation. If he continues his current pace, he could surface in Toronto in 2012 after starting the season with a return to New Hampshire.
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  Ranked Toronto Blue Jays #25 prospect in 2011
  The Blue Jays certainly didn't want to miss out on signing pitchers James Paxton, Jake Eliopoulos and Jake Barrett after drafting them in the first three rounds in 2009. But that failure did free up the money to spend $400,000 on Hutchison, their 15th-round pick. He signed at the Aug. 17 deadline and didn't make his pro debut until 2010, which he finished by posting a 1.52 ERA in five low Class A starts. A Stetson recruit who would have been a two-way player in college, Hutchison is athletic and very polished for a high school pitcher. He works at 88-92 mph with his fastball and should be able to gain a little more velocity as he fills out. He has a pair of promising secondary pitches in his slider, which he has tightened up and now sits in the low 80s, and a changeup that he'll throw in any count. He repeats his clean delivery well and has good command. He'll return to Lansing to start 2011.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Midwest League #14 prospect in 2011
  In just his second year as a pro, Hutchison graduated from the MWL with four straight scoreless starts in June and finished the season in Double-A, where he allowed two runs while winning all four of his starts. His rapid development and success is a tribute to his advanced feel for pitching, and his stuff isn't bad either. Hutchinson's fastball runs from 88-93 mph and plays up because he can sink and cut it and locate it to both sides of the plate. His slider and changeup are solid secondary pitches, and he can throw all three of his pitches for strikes. He creates a difficult angle with his delivery, making him tougher to hit.
• 
  Ranked Florida State League #13 prospect in 2011
  One of the rising stars in the Blue Jays's burgeoning farm system, Hutchison rose from low Class A to Double-A this year. He cruised through the FSL, posting a 0.90 WHIP that would have led the league and a 2.74 ERA that would have ranked second had he stayed long enough to qualify. A solid strikethrower, Hutchison received praise around the league for his aptitude for pitching. He doesn't have overwhelming heat on his fastball, pitching at 89-93 mph, but it has tremendous life in the zone and he can command it to both sides of the plate. "He's got good size to get a little stronger, maybe pick up a little bit more velocity," Bailey said. "But he really doesn't need velocity if he continues to command the ball the way that he does. He's a real pitcher. He knows what he's doing." Hutchison's 81-84 mph changeup is his second-best weapon, and he has the feel for when to use it. His hard slider lags behind his other pitches, because he doesn't command it as well and it gets slurvy at times.
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  Ranked New York-Penn League #16 prospect in 2010
  Hutchison didn't pitch last summer after signing at the deadline for $400,000 as a 15th-round pick, but he looked good enough in spring training that the Blue Jays considered jumping him to low Class A to make his pro debut. They exercised patience instead, and let him carve up the NY-P first. He was even better after a promotion to the Midwest League, posting a 1.52 ERA in five starts. Hutchison has far more polish than most pitchers his age. He pounds the strike zone with an 88-92 mph fastball, and he has the confidence to throw his changeup in any count. He also mixes in a cutter and a slurvy breaking ball that needs some tightening. "He has a terrific delivery and a crisp, clean, loose arm," Holmberg said. "He's a terrific competitor. He's got the competitiveness of a Spartan out there. Strength will come to him naturally as he grows and matures. Every time he pitches, he'll learn something."

• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: While failing to sign three of their top five draft picks in 2009 wasn't the plan, the Blue Jays did have money to spend elsewhere in that circumstance. That included $400,000 in the 15th round for Hutchison, a product of the Lakeland (Fla.) High program that has produced recent big leaguers Steve Pearce and Chris Sale. Hutchison breezed through three levels in 2011. Scouting Report: Hutchison doesn't blow hitters away, but his 88-93 mph fastball has good life and gets on them quickly. He can sink and cut his fastball, commanding it to both sides of the plate. A short arm stroke and slightly crossfire delivery add deception. Hutchison's No. 2 pitch is a changeup and he also has a slider, which can be a swing-and-miss pitch at times and slurvy at others. He commands and mixes his pitches well. The Future: Hutchison has moved quickly because of his feel for pitching, which eventually could make him a No. 3 starter. At the same time, his crossfire delivery makes some scouts wonder if he'll hold up in a rotation. If he continues his current pace, he could surface in Toronto in 2012 after starting the season with a return to New Hampshire.