Ray Liotta Stats & Scouting Report

IP	484
ERA	3.552
WHIP	1.413
BB/9	3.477
SO/9	6.769

Full name Raymond Jospeph Liotta
Born 04/03/1983 in Metairie, LA
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 220 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Gulf Coast CC
Drafted in the 2nd round (69th overall) by the Chicago White Sox in 2004 (signed for $499,000).

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Florida's junior colleges were considered down this year, but several players came on strong late and could be drafted in the first 15 rounds if they are not signed as draft-and-follows. One player who is not under control and will be drafted is LHP Ray Liotta, who transferred to Gulf Coast CC from Tulane. He's a strong-bodied lefty with a fastball in the 88-92 mph range, though it tends to straighten out. Liotta's inconsistent breaking ball and changeup, as well as lack of deception in his delivery, makes him more hittable than smaller, live-armed counterparts LHP Jonny Venters and RHP Nick Tisone.

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Organization Prospect Rankings

A New Orleans native, Liotta had won consecutive ERA titles in his first two seasons as a pro. But he wasn't the same in 2006, which the White Sox attribute to his conditioning and preparation understandably suffering as he focused on helping his family get back on its feet after Hurricane Katrina. A nonroster invitee, Liotta wasn't sharp when he reported to big league camp and made no impact. He opened the year in Double-A but ended it back in high Class A, where he regressed after dominating there the season before. Liotta's trademark pitch has been a 12-to-6 curveball with tight downward action, but it wasn't as effective in 2006. Neither was his fastball, down to 86-88 mph from it's usual 89-92. His changeup always has been his third pitch and still needs more work. When Liotta tried to overthrow last year, his problems only increased. The White Sox want him to tighten his delivery but mostly hope his life will be less chaotic, allowing him to regain the focus he had in his first two seasons. Assuming all goes well this spring, he could open 2007 in Double-A.
Liotta was drafted by the Brewers in the 12th round out of high school, but ended up at Tulane for a year before transferring to Gulf Coast (Fla.) CC. His first two seasons as a pro have yielded a pair of ERA titles, the most recent in the low Class A South Atlantic League. He was even more impressive after a late-season promotion to high Class A. Liotta's best pitch is a 12-to-6 curveball with tight, downward rotation. He has improved the command of his curve, throwing it for strikes in all counts last season. He also has a low-90s fastball that gets on hitters quickly. He induces a lot of groundballs and has surrendered just seven homers in 229 pro innings. Liotta's delivery is a bit mechanical and long, which scouts say could lead to inconsistency, though he hasn't had any problems thus far. His changeup improved last season but has yet to become a weapon. The inclusion of Gio Gonzalez in the Jim Thome trade made Liotta the White Sox' top pitching prospect in the minors. He has earned a trip to Double-A for 2006.
Unwilling to wait for the 2005 draft, Liotta transferred from Tulane to Gulf Coast (Fla.) CC for his sophomore season. The decision paid off when the White Sox selected him in the second round and signed him for $499,000. He responded with a strong debut, leading the Pioneer League in ERA and turning in more solid work in instructional league. Liotta has a strong body and has improved his conditioning, helping him to deliver low-90s fastballs. His curveball is his out pitch, and he showed more command of his bender--which has drawn comparisons to Barry Zito's--as a pro than he did in college. He has sound mechanics, though his motion lacks deception and his fastball sometimes straightens out. He spent the fall working to improve his changeup. He probably will move into the low Class A rotation in 2005, but he could get consideration for high Class A.

Minor League Top Prospects

Liotta has won two ERA titles in two years as a pro, topping the Rookie-level Pioneer League at 2.54 last year and the low Class A South Atlantic League at 2.26 in 2005. His 1.45 ERA in eight CL starts was the lowest in a prospect-laden Winston-Salem rotation that also included Gonzalez, Broadway, Daniel Haigwood and Charles Haeger. As with Gonzalez and Broadway, Liotta's best pitch is his curveball. It's a true 12-to-6 breaker with tight, downward rotation. He also has a low-90s fastball and showed improvement with his changeup, though it's still a work in progress. He's a prototypical ground ball lefty who earns comparisons to Sean Burnett, though Liotta is bigger and stronger and has a higher ceiling. While he gets good extension, Liotta's delivery is long and not very fluid. Some scouts also questioned his conditioning and stamina. His fastball tends to flatten out, particularly as he gets deeper into games. "The more I see him, the more I like his upside," a National League scout said. "His curveball isn't as good as Broadway's and his stuff isn't quite Gio-like, but he's one of the best lefthanders in this league."
Liotta transferred from Tulane to Gulf Coast (Fla.) CC so he could enter the 2004 draft as a sophomore, a move that paid off with the White Sox drafting him in the second round. He easily won the league ERA title at 2.54, thanks to a live, low-90s fastball and an improving curveball. Unlike most first-year players in the PL, Liotta repeats his delivery and has sound mechanics. Scouts love his strong 6-foot-3, 220-pound build. He struggled getting pitches in on righthanders early in the year, and he's still working on his rudimentary changeup.