Nick Masset

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #8 prospect in 2007
  Masset has possessed tantalizing stuff ever since his high school days, when Tommy John surgery as a senior hurt his draft stock. Signed as a draft-and-follow for $225,000, he appeared on the verge of big things after his breakout 2004 season, but got crushed in 2005 and was inconsistent in 2006. He finished the season in the majors before dominating as a closer in the Mexican Pacific League. Masset throws his fastball at 89-95 mph as a starter but ran it up to 97-98 in bullpen in Texas and Mexico. His hard 85-86 mph curveball with sharp downward bite rates as a plus pitch. His changeup and cutter/ slider are at least average and help him against lefthanders. Erratic command spoiled Masset's 2005 season and still makes him more hittable than he should be. Despite his impressive array of four pitches, he has yet to locate them well enough to be a reliable starter. He showed plenty of moxie to bounce back from 2005 but must prove he can sustain success. Masset may have pitched his way into a big league bullpen role with his strong winter.
• 
  Ranked Texas Rangers #17 prospect in 2005
  Masset was a top prospect for the 2000 draft until he had Tommy John surgery as a high school senior. The Rangers drafted him anyway out of Pinellas Park High in Largo, Fla., and signed him the following May for $225,000 after a year of junior college. He hadn't given the club much of a return on its investment, however, until 2004. After missing two months early last season due to a cyst on his right wrist related to his weight-room work, Masset made strides with his maturity and regained his feel for pitching and his confidence. Texas worked with him to lengthen his stride, which improved his balance and ability to stay tall in his delivery. Masset throws four pitches for strikes now. Both of his fastballs--an 89-91 mph two-seamer and a four-seamer that reaches 93--feature good movement. He uses both a curveball and a hard slider, and his changeup can be an average pitch when he commands it. Masset won't be a frontline starter, but he does have big league stuff. Now it's a matter of proving he can stay healthy and maintain success for a full season. The Rangers praise his tough mound demeanor and think he can be a middle-of-the-rotation workhorse. He was protected on the 40-man roster and should start the year in a crowded Double-A rotation.