Frank Herrmann

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #26 prospect in 2008
  One of the most intelligent players in the organization, Herrmann is also one of its greatest success stories. After struggling with elbow tendinitis in college, Herrmann was passed over in the 2005 draft and eventually signed for $35,000 with the Indians after they saw him in the Hawaii Collegiate Baseball League. The Tribe also agreed to pay Herrmann's final two semesters at Harvard, and he graduated last spring with an economics degree. He also kept a diary of his first year in pro ball on the website of Harvard's student newspaper, The Crimson. He's proved a quick study on the field as well, though he has work to do. After revamping his delivery in 2006 with the help of Lake County pitching coach Ruben Niebla, Herrmann made major strides in the Carolina League. Herrmann features a low-90s power sinker, slurvy breaking ball and changeup. His changeup was his best weapon to both work ahead in counts and put hitters away. He struggled to maintain his arm slot at times and his pitches elevated, which led to 15 home runs allowed. Herrmann has tackled each challenge thrown his way since he signed, and will begin 2008 in the Double-A rotation.
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  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #28 prospect in 2007
  Passed over in the 2005 draft in part because he had elbow tendinitis, Herrmann got healthy that summer in the Hawaii Collegiate Baseball League. After he showed a low-90s fastball, the Indians swayed him away from returning to Harvard with a $35,000 bonus and a promise to pay for the last two semesters of his Ivy League education. Herrmann pitched just 99 innings over two seasons with the Crimson while also serving as the third-string quarterback on their football team. He came into his first full season with a drop-and-drive delivery that he didn't repeat well and had to be revamped with the help of Lake County pitching coach Ruben Niebla. Niebla got him to work on staying taller in his mechanics and scrapped both his slider and curveball, minimizing his pitch selection to keep things simple. Herrmann took off as a result, featuring a power sinker, a slurvy breaking ball and a feel for a changeup. Herrmann pitches at 89-91 with his fastball, touching 94 occasionally. His breaking ball is still in the developmental stages, but at times it's tight with late, two-plane break. He made strides with his changeup, which emerged as a weapon late in the season. He'll move into the high Class A rotation this year.