Shawn Tolleson
| IP | 218 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 3.922 |
| WHIP | 1.294 |
| BB/9 | 3.179 |
| SO/9 | 8.794 |
- Full name Shawn Mark Tolleson
- Born 01/19/1988 in Dallas, TX
- Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 214 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Baylor
- Debut 06/07/2012
- Drafted in the 30th round (922nd overall) by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2010.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Tolleson was a potential first-round pick entering his high school senior season in 2006, but he blew out his elbow and needed Tommy John surgery that March. His injury and bonus demands caused him to go undrafted, so he headed to Baylor, where he battled more elbow problems and inconsistency over the next four years. He went unpicked again as a redshirt sophomore in 2009 and signed for $20,000 as a 30th-round pick in 2010. The Dodgers promptly moved Tolleson to the bullpen and he has done nothing but dominate in pro ball. He has a 1.01 ERA, .198 opponent average and 144-23 K-BB ratio in 98 pro innings, and he reached Double-A in May of his first full pro season. Tolleson's herky-jerky delivery made scouts nervous when he was a starter in college, but it works as a reliever and gives him some deception. He throws a running four-seam fastball at 93-96 mph and has turned his cutter into a weapon as well. He also throws a solid slider, featuring tilt and late bite. His changeup is a below-average pitch but he doesn't need it much as a reliever. Los Angeles believes Tolleson could've pitched in the majors last season if needed. He should make his major league debut in 2012 and has a ceiling as a set-up man.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Once a top prospect, Tolleson fought injuries and inconsistency for four years at Baylor before signing as a 30th-rounder in 2010. He has driven his prospect stock back up in a hurry by posting numbers that look like a misprint: a 1.01 ERA, .198 opponent average and 144-23 K-BB ratio in 98 pro innings. Tolleson operates at 91-93 mph with his fastball and backs it up with an average slider with good bite and a cutter than can give hitters fits. He mixes his pitches well, throws them for strikes and all of his pitches have good movement, a combination that keep opponents off balance. He has effort in his delivery, releasing the ball from a high three-quarters slot and finishing with a head jerk, but that also adds to his deception.
