A.J. Shappi Stats & Scouting Report

IP	567
ERA	4.111
WHIP	1.358
BB/9	1.921
SO/9	6.159

Full name Austin James Shappi
Born 10/16/1982 in Orange, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School UC Riverside
Drafted in the 9th round (266th overall) by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2004 (signed for $65,000).

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Junior RHP A.J. Shappi became UC Riverside's undisputed ace and went 8-2, 3.54. He's not overpowering with a fastball in the 86-89 mph range that touches 90, but he's sound mechanically and has command of three piches. His slider is his best pitch. Shappi is extremely intelligent and was a Rhodes scholar candidate before his GPA slipped below the minimum standard of 3.60 this year.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Shappi's pro career got off to a blistering start, as he won 16 of his first 18 decisions, including an 11-1 run at low Class A South Bend to start 2005. He got knocked around after a promotion to high Class A, yet still tied Toronto's Zach Jackson for the overall minor league lead in wins with 16. Shappi is a strike-throwing machine, and he has to be fine with his command because he can't get hitters out on pure stuff. His fastball sits in the high 80s, and while his slider is an above-average pitch, it also lacks velocity. He also throws a usable changeup. All of Shappi's pitches are made better by his outstanding command and his ability to hit the corners at will. His low pitch counts allow him to work deep into games, and he finished sixth in the minors in innings pitched. A Rhodes Scholar candidate at UC Riverside, Shappi brings a lot of intelligence to the mound. He understands his limitations as well as batters' weaknesses. His lack of a true out pitch leaves him susceptible to lefthanders and eventually may lead him to the bullpen. Despite his struggles in Lancaster, the Diamondbacks believe Shappi is ready for Double-A.
Shappi was a true student-athlete at UC Riverside, serving as the team's ace while also being a Rhodes scholarship candidate as a chemistry major. His lack of velocity dropped him in the eyes of many scouts, but he was lights-out in his pro debut, finishing second in the Northwest League in ERA. Shappi's pitches are all evaluated at a full grade higher based on his exquisite control. His fastball sits at 86-89 mph and has plenty of sink. His best pitch is his slider, which features plenty of late break, and he's shown good aptitude with a circle changeup. Shappi's game offers little projection, and he needs to find an effective way to combat left-handed batters, who hit .309 against him. Shappi finally faced some adversity in the high Class A California League playoffs, where he gave up 12 runs in eight innings, including three home runs. He'll likely return there in 2005.

Minor League Top Prospects

Shappi's ERA ranked second in the league to Spokane righthander Clint Brannon, who set a league record with a 0.59 mark. While both pitchers succeed with command and an upper-80s fastball, Shappi offers more upside because his hard slider rates as a plus pitch with a downward tilt. Shappi can put his sinking fastball anywhere in the strike zone, and he's especially adept at working both sides of the plate. His above-average command makes up for 86-89 mph velocity. Shappi also shows great arm action on his changeup, allowing it to grade out at average or above. "He really knows how to pitch," Beyers said. "When he gets in a tough situation, he has a lot of options because he can throw three pitches for strikes."