Steven Register Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Steven Craig Register
Born 05/16/1983 in Columbus, GA
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 170 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Auburn
Debut 08/04/2008
Drafted in the 3rd round (80th overall) by the Colorado Rockies in 2004 (signed for $450,000).

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Register pitched on the same high school team as Expos farmhand Nick Long and Dodgers prospect Edwin Jackson. While his polish, track record and quick arm argue for an early pick, his 6-foot-1, 162-pound frame is an impediment. His 16 saves in 2003 led the nation, and he pitched well for Team USA last summer as Huston Street's set-up man. When he's fresh, Register shows a 93 mph fastball from a lightning-quick arm and deceptive release, and he pitches consistently in the 89-91 range. His slider grades as an average or above-average pitch, an 83-84 mph breaker with depth. An excellent athlete, Register is a 6.6-second runner over 60 yards and fields his position well. He needs to shore up his command and balance in his mechanics, and he wears down due to his lack of strength. He moved into the rotation (making his first college start May 9 against South Carolina) in an attempt to better control his workload.

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Register's career has come full circle. He was a reliever at Auburn and led NCAA Division I with 16 saves as a sophomore in 2003, pitching with Team USA as Huston Street's setup man that summer. The next year he struggled a bit more and moved into a starting role, and the Rockies kept him in the rotation after taking him in the third round in 2004. After reaching Double-A as a starter, he moved back to the bullpen there in 2007 and had his best year as a pro, leading the minor leagues with 37 saves. Register still throws a changeup that he picked up as a starter, but in relief he focuses more on using his average fastball and plus slider. His fastball will touch 93 mph but more regularly sits at 90-91 with a little sink. His slider sits at 82 mph and has some life down as well as away from righthanders and helps him get groundballs. Pro scout Jerry Krause, the former Chicago Bulls general manager, recommended him to the Mets as a major league Rule 5 draft pick because of his solid-average command of those pitches. Register will battle Jorge Sosa and Joe Smith for innings and a spot on the roster, and if he doesn't make it, New York must put him on waivers and offer him back to Colorado for half of the $50,000 Rule 5 price before sending him to the minors.