Jon Adkins
| IP | 138 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 4.565 |
| WHIP | 1.514 |
| BB/9 | 3.522 |
| SO/9 | 5.283 |
- Full name Jonathan Scott Adkins
- Born 08/30/1977 in Huntington, WV
- Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: L / Throws: R
- School Oklahoma State
- Debut 08/14/2003
- Drafted in the 9th round (255th overall) by the Oakland Athletics in 1998.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
-
After a highly impressive 2000 season, Adkins posted a 2.33 ERA in his first eight starts before Double-A Texas League hitters solved him. He wasn't able to adjust because his changeup didn't develop, which kept him as a two-pitch pitcher. He made too many mistakes, leaving hittable pitches in the strike zone. Drafted out of Oklahoma State in 1998 despite sitting out that spring to rest a partially torn elbow ligament, he had Tommy John surgery the following year. After rehabilitation, he had an improved fastball and slider. His fastball arrives in the low-90s and has good two-seam sink. His slider is also effective. The A's have been beseeching him to work on his changeup, without which he's destined to become a middle reliever. Oakland believes he needs to rededicate himself to the weight room like he did during his comeback. Demoted to the California League at the end of 2001, he still has something to prove in Double-A. -
After going a combined 19-5 in his last two seasons at Oklahoma State, Adkins sat out in 1998 after turning pro in order to heal a partially torn ligament in his elbow. He came back and made the Cal League midseason all-star team the next year, but had to be shut down in August with elbow and shoulder soreness. A month later Adkins had Tommy John surgery on his elbow. His comeback since then has been remarkable. He returned to mound 10 months later, featuring better stuff than he had before. His low-90s fastball has more sinking action, his slider has improved, and he developed his change while his arm wasn't quite at 100 percent. With three solid pitches, Adkins now has a legitimate shot at starting in a big league rotation. The surgery also seemed to help Adkins mature off the mound. He returned from the injury with a new dedication and has become a devotee of the weight room, putting extra hours into conditioning. He should move up to Double-A this season.
