Kevin Frederick

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #24 prospect in 2003
  A two-way player at Creighton, Frederick turned down the Twins as a 17th-rounder in 1997 following his junior season. A 34th-round senior sign a year later for $1,000, he's coming off the second shoulder operation of his career. He had an operation to repair a detached labrum last spring. But after five seasons in the minors, he'll head into spring training with a legitimate chance to make the big league staff. He didn't get out of Class A until he was 24, but he broke out in Double-A in 2001 and earned a spot on the 40-man roster. He's strictly a fastball/slider pitcher with 90-94 mph heat. To make the Twins he'll have to show better command and durability than he has in the past.
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  Ranked Minnesota Twins #14 prospect in 2002
  The Twins failed to sign Frederick in the 17th round in 1997 after his junior season at Creighton. Their interest didn't fade, though, and they signed him a year later for a $1,000 bonus in the 34th round. A corner infielder/righthander in college, he had shoulder surgery to repair a detached labrum after he was drafted, preventing him from getting significant innings until 2000. Frederick showed signs of coming on that year, then really blossomed into a prospect last season in Double-A. When Saul Rivera got hurt and Grant Balfour was promoted, Frederick dominated as the closer. His mound presence is befitting of the role, and he has a 91-93 mph fastball that touched 94 along with a nasty slider. He has held hitters to a .205 average as a pro. After working a career-high 100 innings in 2001, Frederick went to the Arizona Fall League and struck out 20 in 21 frames. He was added to the 40-man roster in November. While he's slated for Triple-A, an early-season call to Minnesota could be just an injury away.