Shane Komine

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Oakland Athletics #14 prospect in 2007
  A 5-foot-8, 135-pound high school pitcher, Komine grew into the pillar of Nebraska's baseball program, leading it from afterthought to back-to-back College World Series trips in 2001- 02. The toll Komine paid in four seasons affected his professional career significantly. He had back and shoulder problems in college (the latter required surgery), and then had Tommy John surgery in 2004. Against all those odds, Komine reached the major leagues in 2006, and while he didn't pitch well, he handled himself well and took positives from the experience. Komine isn't the same pitcher as he was at Nebraska, and in fact, he's not the same pitcher from one start to the next, and that's the problem. At times, he throws a 91-94 mph fastball, and his curveball, slider and changeup all have their moments. His curve is his best secondary offering, and he throws all his pitches for strikes. His stuff fluctuated significantly last year, particularly his velocity on all his pitches. He's never been durable as a pro, surpassing 150 innings once. He loses velocity during games as well, making him better suited for the bullpen, but scouts question whether he can have his best stuff when pitching on back-toback days. If the A's have decided to move him to a relief role, they haven't talked about it, and Komine appears ticketed for a return to the Triple-A rotation in 2007.
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  Ranked Oakland Athletics #9 prospect in 2006
  A native of Hawaii, Komine helped put Nebraska's baseball program on the map. He led the Cornhuskers to back-to-back College World Series appearances while going undefeated as a senior in 2002. A heavy college workload resulted in back and shoulder woes, and Komine required Tommy John surgery in mid-2004. He returned last year to dominate in the Texas League playoffs and wow scouts in the Arizona Fall League. Komine has a full arsenal of pitches, starting with a low-90s fastball and a knee-buckling curveball that's his primary out pitch. He also mixes in a slider and changeup. He knows how to set up hitters and has outstanding makeup. Size and health are Komine's biggest obstacles. His listed height of 5-foot-9 may be generous, but he still does a good job of staying on top of his pitches. Whether he has the durability to be a starter remains questionable, though he would make a useful long reliever. Komine will start the year in the Triple-A rotation, but should be on the short list for a callup should the opportunity arise in Oakland. His first taste of the big leagues could come in the bullpen.
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  Ranked Oakland Athletics #23 prospect in 2004
  A college star at Nebraska, Komine set a slew of school records, finished fifth on the alltime NCAA Division I strikeout list (510 in 431 innings) and twice was named Big 12 Conference pitcher of the year. But because he's 5-foot-9 and had a history of back problems, he lasted until the ninth round of the 2002 draft. Komine stayed healthy and pitched well in his first full pro season. His biggest asset is that he's a strike machine who can throw his fastball, curveball and changeup at any point in the count. Komine had an 89-94 mph fastball and a hard slider when he was at his best for the Cornhuskers, but he usually pitches at 88-89 mph these days and has dropped the slider. He wore down in the final month of last season, and given his past he just may not have the durability to be a starter. He'll stay in that role this year in Double-A, however.