Charlie Furbush
| IP | 260 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 3.981 |
| WHIP | 1.196 |
| BB/9 | 3.081 |
| SO/9 | 9.277 |
- Full name Charles Roderick Furbush
- Born 04/11/1986 in South Portland, ME
- Profile Ht.: 6'5" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: L / Throws: L
- School Louisiana State
- Debut 05/23/2011
-
Drafted in the 4th round (151st overall) by the Detroit Tigers in 2007 (signed for $153,000).
View Draft Report
Following two successful summers in the Cape Cod League, Furbush became one of college baseball's highest-profile transfers, moving from NCAA Division III St. Joseph's (Maine) to Louisiana State. It wasn't a smooth transition, as he struggled to adjust to his new surroundings, not to mention the jump in competition. He went 3-9, 4.95 for a Tigers team that had its worst season in 25 years. Furbush rarely matched the 93-94 mph velocity he showed in the Cape all-star game last summer, instead pitching at 88-91 for most of the spring. At 6-foot-4 and 204 pounds, he has room to add strength. When Furbush had success, it usually came when his hard slurve was working. He improved his changeup, though scouts would like to see him show better command and poise. He hides the ball well with his delivery. While he didn't live up to his reputation as the Cape's top lefthanded starting prospect in 2006, he's still a southpaw with the potential for three solid pitches, which should get him drafted in the third to fifth round.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
-
Just seven players born in Maine have appeared in the big leagues, and Furbush is on the verge of making it eight after shooting three levels to Triple-A and ranking second in the minors with 183 strikeouts in 2010. His path has been circuitous, as he started his college career at NCAA Division III St. Joseph's (Maine) before starring in the Cape Cod League and transferring to Louisiana State. After the Tigers made him a fourth-round pick in 2007, he missed his first full pro season after having Tommy John surgery. Despite his strikeouts, Furbush doesn't have overpowering stuff. In fact, he doesn't have a true plus pitch, relying more on the deception in his funky delivery to generate swings and misses. He pitches with a high elbow and falls off the mound, which makes it difficult for him to maintain a consistent release point and leads to command difficulties at times. Furbush works with an 89-91 mph fastball, a loopy curveball and a straight changeup. His curve has tighter spin when he pitches from the stretch, which could mean his future is in relief. After grabbing a 40-man roster spot in November, he'll probably open 2011 in Toledo. -
Furbush was a fine NCAA Division III pitcher but relatively unknown, then had two strong seasons in the Cape Cod League, winning pitcher-of-the-year honors in 2006. He transferred to Louisiana State as a junior, but a modest 3-9, 4.95 season dropped him out of first-round consideration. A hard-throwing lefthander, he rekindled memories of his outstanding Cape League effort with his strong pro debut. Signed for $153,000 as a fourth-rounder, he seemed to regain his velocity after the draft, touching 92 mph while helping West Michigan to a second consecutive league title. His fastball sits at 89-90 mph, and his slurvy breaking ball is more advanced than those of many lefthanders his age. His changeup is still in the developmental stages. Furbush has a tall, lean frame and showed good poise in low Class A, especially considering his lack of pro experience. He has sound mechanics, good balance in his windup and a nice angle to his three-quarters release. Furbush has major league average command, and, if he gains strength, he could move quickly through the system. He'll open 2008 with one of the Tigers' Class A affiliates.
