Scott Munter

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked San Francisco Giants #17 prospect in 2006
  While he wasn't on the prospect radar prior to 2004, Munter has made great strides and worked in 45 big league games last year. He was used heavily until a mid-August elbow injury, described as inflammation, landed him on the disabled list. He pitched just once in September after he returned but didn't have surgery. Munter always has owned a heavy fastball, but in the last two years he has been able to keep his mechanics more consistent, throw more strikes and improve his velocity. His sinker sits in the low 90s, and some nights he pitches at 94-95 mph. His confidence took off when he started challenging hitters and had success, and he showed last year he could be effective with essentially one plus pitch. He allowed only one home run and recorded 83 of his 118 outs via groundballs in 2005. Munter struck out just 11 hitters because he truly lacks a swing-and-miss pitch. His slider has become an adequate breaking ball because he throws it with some power, though it lacks tilt. He's working on a changeup that's getting better, but Munter already has a formula for success with his power sinker. While he needs to watch his weight and stay healthy, he should continue to be a groundball pitcher in a set-up role.
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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #25 prospect in 2005
  No pitcher in the system came as far last year as Munter, who zoomed from low Class A in 2003 to Triple-A and a spot on the 40-man roster. He has battled his weight, which at one point reached 270 pounds. As he's gotten in better shape, he has improved his mechanics, which in turn helped him start to command his heavy sinker. One Giants official compared Munter's sinker to a bowling ball thrown out of a helicopter. He throws it in the low 90s and reaches 95 mph, using his 6-foot-6 frame to deliver it at a steep downward angle. Munter had an impressive 147-41 groundball-flyball ratio in 2004, allowing just five homers. He also has a hard slider that's an average pitch. He went to the Arizona Fall League to work on his changeup, and made enough progress for the Giants to protect him from the Rule 5 draft. Munter has a shot at a big league bullpen job in spring training.