Craig Whitaker
| IP | 399 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 4.421 |
| WHIP | 1.511 |
| BB/9 | 6.338 |
| SO/9 | 9.248 |
- Full name Roger Craig Whitaker
- Born 11/19/1984 in Lufkin, TX
- Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Lufkin
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Drafted in the C-1 round (34th overall) by the San Francisco Giants in 2003 (signed for $975,000).
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It's not a good year to be a high school righthander, because it's a risky demographic early in the draft to begin with and this year there are several college-oriented teams that won't give the prep ranks more than a passing glance. But Whitaker should do just fine and find a taker in the mid- to late first round. He finished a 14-strikeout no-hitter in early April with a 94-96 mph fastball, and reached 98 mph in early May. More than just a hard thrower, he has a curveball with plus potential and gets life on his heat from a three-quarters arm angle. He's still growing at 6-foot-4 and 180 pounds and should blossom into a four-pitch pitcher in time.
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Organization Prospect Rankings
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In his first year in full-season ball, Whitaker barely made it through one month in the low Class A Augusta rotation. He went on the disabled list with a middle back sprain, and when he returned in June, it was as a reliever. He didn't allow a run in his first 11 innings out of the bullpen. The Giants like to say Whitaker has "power equipment." It starts with a mid-90s fastball that he whips to the plate thanks to a very quick arm. He has a feel for spinning a breaking ball and can throw a changeup with the same arm speed he uses on his fastball. Whitaker lacks a feel for his craft. He was tipping his curveball to hitters, using a different delivery than he did for his fastball or changeup, and has switched to a slider, which he was able to throw for strikes more consistently. He needs to improve his focus and mechanics. Whitaker's upside remains significant, as do the obstacles he has to overcome. He's a candidate to return to low Class A to give pitching in the rotation another go, and with an arm this good, the Giants don't mind being patient. -
A supplemental first-round pick and the fourth high school righthander drafted in 2003, Whitaker turned down Texas A&M for a $975,000 bonus. Because his mechanics are raw and his body is still developing, the Giants kept him in extended spring training last year until the short-season Northwest League started. A fierce competitor, Whitaker has a lanky build that reminds San Francisco of former farmhand Joe Nathan. Whitaker's fastball is 90-95 mph now with more velocity to come as he fills out. His curveball isn't as nasty as Matt Cain's, but it has similar 12-to-6 break at times. He has feel for an average changeup. Maturity and experience should cure what ails Whitaker, which is inconsistency with his curveball and his command. His fastball and curve are sometimes too lively for his own good, as he led the NWL in walks and wild pitches (14). A more even-keeled approach would serve him well. The Giants are confident that as Whitaker matures physically and emotionally, he'll harness his stuff and become a No. 2 or 3 starter. He's ticketed for the organization's new low Class A Savannah affiliate. -
Whitaker catapulted into the first round of the 2003 draft with an April no-hitter that featured 14 strikeouts and concluded with a mid-90s fastball. He signed for $975,000, eschewing a scholarship offer from Texas A&M. Whitaker isn't quite a classic Texas fireballer, but while he lacks the sturdy build of the Nolan Ryan/Roger Clemens/Kerry Wood/Josh Beckett lineage, he has the electric fastball. Long, lithe and lanky, he pumps easy mid-90s heat with a quick arm action. His curveball has as much potential as his fastball. When he stays on top of it, it's a potential 70 pitch on the 20-80 scouting scale, with excellent power and depth. "Raw as rain," in the words of one Giants staffer, Whitaker has a lot to learn about the craft of pitching. He has to be more consistent with his delivery to avoid the elbow pain that sidelined him after just five innings of Rookie ball. His changeup needs work. Whitaker is behind Matt Cain at a similar stage of their careers, but his ceiling is just as high. If he has a strong, healthy spring training, he could start 2004 in low Class A. More likely, he'll go to extended spring before heading to short-season Salem-Keizer.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Whitaker works in the 90-95 mph range now and stands to add velocity as he bulks up his 6-foot-4 frame. He also throws a big-breaking curveball that also can be a plus pitch. "He's got good stuff," Salem-Keizer manager Joe Strain said, "but he's still learning how to pitch and developing his pitches." Nothing exemplified that more than Whitaker's league-leading walks total, which accompanied his No. 2 rank in strikeouts. Command is still an issue, as is consistency with the breaking ball. He began to use his average changeup effectively as the season went on. "He threw some fastballs against us that really exploded and if he can throw his plus secondary pitches for strikes--look out," Rogers said. "He's the typical rough-around-the-edges young pitcher, and the Giants are always good at developing that type of arm."
