Chorye Spoone Stats & Scouting Report

IP	553
ERA	3.955
WHIP	1.553
BB/9	5.501
SO/9	6.575

Full name Chorye Thomas Spoone
Born 09/16/1985 in Baltimore, MD
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Baltimore City CC
Drafted in the 8th round (243rd overall) by the Baltimore Orioles in 2005 (signed for $75,000).

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RHP Chorye Spoone was drafted in the 36th round by the Padres last year, but didn't sign as a draft-and-follow in the hopes he might be picked in the top 10 rounds. He has an excellent arm with a fastball that has been clocked at 94 mph, but clubs are wary of his makeup.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Spoone went down with a shoulder injury and had surgery to repair a small tear in his labrum after the 2008 season and pitched sparingly in 2009 as he worked his arm back into shape. He pitched 132 innings last year, finding his mechanics and getting comfortable with his pitches again, though he had an eight-start stretch in the middle of the season when he allowed just nine earned runs in 49 innings. At his best, Spoone has a fastball that ranges from 88-92 mph with life and touches a few ticks higher. At times, his power curveball is his most effective pitch. His changeup has improved and shows good sink, and he's comfortable throwing it in any count. His command is still coming back, though it never was his strong suit. Spoone had electric stuff when he first emerged as a prospect but he didn't show it very often last year, so some scouts think he'd be better off as a reliever. Baltimore will keep him as a starter for now, and he'll try to win a rotation spot in Triple-A during spring training.
Spoone went from an unknown at a Maryland junior college to one of Baltimore's best pitching prospects in less than three years. Now he'll have to overcome a more significant obstacle--shoulder surgery--to complete the saga. After rest and rehab didn't work, he had an operation to repair a small tear in his labrum after the 2008 season. He saw only limited action last year as he worked his arm back into shape. The Orioles were cautious and focused on getting him through the season healthy, and they accomplished the mission as he had no setbacks. He throws a 93-95 mph fastball with good movement, a power curveball and an average changeup when he's healthy. Command never has been his strong suit, and the shoulder trouble led to even greater struggles. Baltimore expects to see a much truer indication of his velocity and command in 2010. Spoone didn't go to instructional league but is expected to be fully healthy for spring training. He's slotted for the Bowie rotation, and if he doesn't prove able to handle the rigors of starting he could take his two power pitches to the bullpen. The Orioles kept him on the 40-man roster despite their pitching depth, an indication that they still believe in his arm.
Spoone went from a diamond in the rough to a legitimate starter prospect in his first 2½ years in pro ball after Orioles scouts found him at a nearby junior college. He pitched 152 innings in 2007, followed by a playoff MVP award as Frederick won the Carolina League title. But he came up with a sore shoulder last spring and was never right in 2008. Baltimore tried shutting him down for six weeks after his first four starts, but after five more starts he went out again, this time for good. Doctors found a small tear in his labrum that required surgery, and Spoone isn't expected to return to action until May or June. The Orioles considered the surgery minor and still added him to the 40-man roster in the offseason. When healthy, Spoone offers a lively 93-95 mph fastball, a power curveball and an improved changeup. Control and command were never his strong suits, however. He has matured a lot since he first entered the organization, and his injury will be a big test of his ability to handle adversity. The focus for 2009 will be just getting Spoone healthy, so he'll likely spend time at lower-level affiliates when he returns to action.
A local product, Spoone had been on the fringes of prospect status the previous two seasons, based on the promise of his live arm. He delivered on that promise in 2007, capping the year with a playoff MVP award as Frederick won the Carolina League title. He had two complete-game victories in the postseason, allowing just two runs while striking out 17. Spoone always has had a live fastball, sitting at 93-95 mph, and an outstanding curveball that has become much more consistent. His changeup also is getting better and ranks as a plus pitch at times. He has been very durable, leading the CL with three complete games and finishing fifth with 152 innings. While his command has improved significantly, Spoone will have to sharpen it further and consistently locate all his pitches as he advances. His biggest improvement has come with mound presence, as he now tunes out extraneous things like bad calls and focuses on the matter at hand. Spoone took the biggest leap forward of anyone in the system last year, maturing into a pitcher who now seems to have a clear future in a big league rotation. He'll take the next step to Double-A to open 2008.
The Orioles jumped on Spoone, a local Baltimore product, after the Padres were unable to sign him as a draft-and-follow before the 2005 draft. They've been excited by his live arm but still aren't quite sure what to make of him. Once club official said everything about him is immature. Spoone's fastball sits at 93-95 mph and touches 96, and his curveball is a big breaker that looks good when he commands it. He was introduced to a changeup last season and the early results were promising. But Spoone also struggled with his control, and his lack of experience shows in his approach and his demeanor on the mound. For now he'll keep starting, but Spoone's stuff and mentality might be more suited to a relief role. Right now the only plan is to move him up another level and get him more innings to see where Spoone's arm can take him. It's too early to plan for anything more.
The Padres took Spoone as a draft-and-follow in the 36th round of the 2004 draft but weren't able to sign him last spring. He didn't pitch much until April because he was suspended twice for disciplinary reasons, but he showed enough for the Orioles to take the Baltimore product in the eighth round and sign him for $75,000. Spoone didn't show much in Rookie ball but was one of the organization's best pitchers in instructional league. He has an impressive fastball, generally throwing 93-95 mph and touching 96, and a promising curveball, but he's raw and the inconsistency with his control was evident early. He also has done little work with a changeup, though he showed an interest for learning the nuances of pitching during instructional league. Spoone will compete for a spot in low Class A during spring training.

Minor League Top Prospects

Spoone was the most impressive member of the hardest-throwing rotation in the league. He carried a no-hitter into the eighth inning in the first round of the playoffs against Wilmington, one of two complete games he threw to clinch each of Frederick's postseason series. His fastball sits consistently at 92-95 mph, touching 96. Spoone also has a big 12-to-6 curveball he can use to paint either corner or bury when he needs to, and he's not afraid to use it in any count. He'll also flash an above-average changeup, using the same arm speed as his fastball. Spoone repeats his delivery well out of the windup, but flies open at times with his lead shoulder with runners on base. He struggles to control the running game as a result. His control is decent but will have to improve at higher levels.