Joe Bisenius
| IP | 6 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 7.5 |
| WHIP | 2.667 |
| BB/9 | 12 |
| SO/9 | 12 |
- Full name Joseph Richard Bisenius
- Born 09/18/1982 in Sioux City, IA
- Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Oklahoma City
- Debut 04/05/2007
-
Drafted in the 12th round (362nd overall) by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2004.
View Draft Report
Oklahoma City set an NAIA record with 70 victories and hadn't even begun play at the NAIA World Series. They're loaded with legitimate prospects, all of whom have impressive numbers of their own. RHP Joe Bisenius has the highest ERA (12-0, 3.09) on the team, but when he's on his 88-93 mph fastball runs down and in on righthanders and his slider is a good pitch. The Expos drafted him in the 21st round last year out of Iowa Western CC.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
-
The Phillies had tabbed Bisenius as a potential bullpen contributor in 2007 when they sent him to the Arizona Fall League after the 2006 season, and he didn't disappoint. He allowed just six hits and struck out 11 over 12 innings in big league camp in the spring and opened the season in Philadelphia. He was sent out when Tom Gordon returned from the disabled list in early April and spent the remainder of the year in Triple-A, enduring a six-week stint on the DL with elbow soreness. Some in the organization point to overuse as the potential cause for the injury, as he was sent to Venezuela after the AFL and had just a month off before spring training. When healthy, Bisenius regularly touches 95 mph and operates at 92-93 with his fastball. He also features a hammer curveball with devastating late action. His control and command were off in 2007, and he'll have to solve that issue before he returns to the majors. Bisenius went to the AFL for a second straight season to make up for lost time, and the Phillies will give him another look in spring training. -
Bisenius played a major role on Oklahoma City College's NAIA record 70-win season in 2004, and despite having the highest ERA on the team (3.19), he went 12-0 for the Stars. Bisenius came into his own in 2006 after struggling at low Class A the previous year, jumping up to Double-A where he held opposing hitters to a .182 average. Bisenius pounds the zone with his 91-94 fastball, attacking both sides of the plate. Scouts differ on what to call his breaking ball--Bisenius calls it a slider, but scouts refer to it as a hard curveball. Regardless, it emerged as a plus pitch in 2006, with good depth and devastating late movement. He can sometimes get around on his breaking ball, leaving it up in the zone. After competing in Venezuela's winter league for Magallanes, Bisenius will get a long look in big league camp this spring, and should battle for a bullpen spot in Philly. He has better pure stuff than Rule 5 selection Jim Ed Warden, but the difference in arm angle might be enough to prompt the Phillies to keep both.
