Troy Cate
| IP | 16 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 3.375 |
| WHIP | 1.688 |
| BB/9 | 5.063 |
| SO/9 | 6.75 |
- Full name Troy Patrick Cate
- Born 10/21/1980 in Fallbrook, CA
- Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 220 / Bats: L / Throws: L
- School Brigham Young - Idaho
- Debut 05/27/2007
- Drafted in the 6th round (190th overall) by the Seattle Mariners in 2002.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
-
Jamie Moyer's success in Seattle helps the cause of the many finesse lefthanders in the system. Inland Empire won the California League championship behind three of them: Ryan Ketchner, Cate and Glenn Bott. Cate, who put his career on hold for two years to go on a Mormon mission to England after high school, tossed seven-plus innings of shutout ball to win the postseason clincher 1-0. He excels at changing the speed on his fastballs, throwing both two- and four-seam varieties that range from 85-90 mph. His changeup grades out as slightly above average, while his slider is inconsistent but good at times. Cate's command and feel for pitching give him a chance to keep climbing the minor league ladder. The Mariners weren't sure exactly what they had when he finished second in the Northwest League in ERA and strikeouts during his pro debut. His first full season showed that he's for real, and he'll get a chance to prove himself in Double-A in 2004. -
Cate went on a two-year Mormon mission to England after graduating from high school, then pitched at Ricks JC. He set school records with a 2.35 ERA and 83 strikeouts last year and can rest assured that they'll never be broken: Ricks has become a four-year school, changing its name to Brigham Young-Idaho and dropped all intercollegiate sports. Cate was even more spectacular in his pro debut, finishing second in the Northwest League in ERA and strikeouts. His fastball ranges anywhere from 82-92 mph, and the Mariners aren't sure whether he really varies the speeds on purpose or if his velocity just fluctuates naturally. His curveball is his best pitch and he has an advanced changeup. Cate locates his pitches well and could be a find if he can keep his fastball in the upper 80s.
Minor League Top Prospects
-
Cate's baseball background has included some glamorous spots, and some less so. He played at Fallbrook High in suburban San Diego, facing some of the best prep competition in the country. An all-San Diego County selection, he delayed his baseball career to take a Mormon mission to England. After his mission, Cate found his way to Brigham Young-Idaho, then a junior college and now a four-year school that has dropped athletics. Cate attracted attention with a school-record 83 strikeouts last spring, then finished second to Sisco in the NWL with 95 more whiffs. Using a high-80s fastball that touched 92 mph, as well as a splitter, curveball and change that he can throw for strikes, Cate threw the league's only complete-game shutout, needing just 85 pitches – 68 of which were strikes.
