Jon Link Stats & Scouting Report

IP	8
ERA	4.5
WHIP	2
BB/9	4.5
SO/9	4.5

Full name Jon Paul Link
Born 03/23/1984 in Columbus, OH
Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Bluefield College
Debut 04/20/2010
Drafted in the 26th round (788th overall) by the San Diego Padres in 2005.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

After leading the minor leagues with 35 saves in 2008, Link was positioned to reach the big leagues last season. Instead he took a step back, mostly because it took until July for him to throw his slider with the depth and command that he showed previously. While it wasn't as consistent, the slider remains one of the best in the organization, but Link seemed to lose confidence in it too quickly and went to his low-90s fastball too often. He can be hard on himself when he isn't having success. Though he struggled at times against Triple-A hitters, he still finished with more than a strikeout per inning. His command improved later in the season, after his big league window had closed, but he took advantage of a chance to work as a closer in the Venezuelan League, going 2-0, 2.95 with seven saves in 21 innings of work. Acquired in a 2007 trade that sent Rob Mackowiak to the Padres, Link remained on the the 40-man roster and will get a look for a bullpen job in spring training
Credit Joe Butler for doing a thorough job scouting the high Class A California League. It was Butler's recommendation that prompted GM Kenny Williams to ask for Link when the Padres approached the White Sox about Rob Mackowiak at the trade deadline in 2007. In his first full season in the Chicago system, Link led the minor leagues with 35 saves and earned himself a spot on Chicago's 40-man roster. Unlike most relievers, he can attack hitters with three pitches. His hard slider is his strikeout pitch, but he also has a low-90s fastball with sink and movement and an effective changeup. Link's lone negative in 2008 was that he had more trouble finding the strike zone than he had in the past. If he can control his pitches better, he'll be ready for the majors. Link has excellent mound presence and is a student of the game. He wore out pitching coach J.R. Perdew's ear at Birmingham, often sitting next to him in the dugout for the first seven innings, always talking baseball. Because he has three pitches, some believe Link could make an easy transition into the starting rotation. But he enjoys closing, which suits his personality, and will remain in that role this year in Triple-A.