Jason Bergmann

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Washington Nationals #11 prospect in 2006
  Bergmann's career took off after he moved to the bullpen midway through the 2004 season. He tore through Double-A and Triple-A in 2005 before being called up to Washington. He proved a reliable late-innings option for the Nationals in the season's final month. Bergmann has loose arm action and gets full extension from a three-quarters arm slot. He works fast and attacks hitters with a 92-94 mph fastball that touches 95, a curveball that sometimes freezes hitters and a power slider he added in 2005 and reaches 86. He even mixes in a changeup now and then. He needs to find a more effective way of combating lefthanders, though. They hit .283 against him in Triple-A and .355 in the majors. Bergmann still needs to fine-tune his control, but he's ready to stick in the majors and figures to be an important part of the Nationals' bullpen this season.
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  Ranked Washington Nationals #22 prospect in 2005
  Scouting director Dana Brown, a New Jersey native, saw a lot of Bergmann at Rutgers and liked his potential despite an up-and-down college career. A starter his first two pro seasons, he began 2004 in the low Class A rotation but moved to the bullpen when he was promoted in mid-June. He was a little reluctant to become a reliever, but team officials thought his live arm would be most effective in short stints. Bergmann settled into the role as the summer progressed. His fastball is a plus pitch that sits at 90-93 mph and touches 95. He used his slider more as a reliever, and it showed flashes of becoming an above-average pitch. He also added an 88 mph cutter that could be the key to his development. Bergmann's deep repertoire also includes a decent tumbling changeup and an inconsistent curveball. His three-quarters arm angle is tough on righthanders, who hit .160 against him once he moved to the bullpen. At times, however, his arm slot will vary and his delivery gets too long. He still needs to work on his command and learn how to attack hitters as a reliever. Projected as a set-up man, Bergmann will begin 2005 back in Double-A.
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  Ranked Washington Nationals #12 prospect in 2004
  Bergmann sprained his right ankle when he slipped on ice at home in New Jersey in January 2003. He couldn't walk for two weeks and was behind the other pitchers when he reported to spring training. Despite the setback, he had a good first half and was selected to the South Atlantic League's all-star game, before slumping down the stretch. Bergmann has a long, lean body and a live arm. From a low three-quarters angle, he can run his fastball into the 91-94 mph range. His heater has boring action up in the zone and will sink and tail when he keeps it down. He has a 72-76 mph downer curveball with good depth and a 78- 82 mph changeup with tumbling action. He has a sound delivery but will rush sometimes, causing his front side to fly open. That leads to problems with his control. Bergmann likely will move to high Class A in 2004.