Tyler Stovall
| IP | 81 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 6.333 |
| WHIP | 1.951 |
| BB/9 | 8.667 |
| SO/9 | 9 |
- Full name Robert Tyler Stovall
- Born 12/27/1989 in Hokes Bluff, AL
- Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 180 / Bats: L / Throws: L
- School Hokes Bluff
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Drafted in the 2nd round (64th overall) by the Atlanta Braves in 2008 (signed for $750,000).
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The top high school pitching prospect from Alabama, Stovall is a projectable lefthander who has dominated competition. Stovall set the Alabama state record for wins (18) and strikeouts (227) in 2007, and he already had 12 wins and 170 strikeouts this season. He is a U.S. Junior National Team alum and is committed to play at Auburn. While his fastball sits between 89-91 mph, Stovall's go-to pitch is his curveball. He also has an advanced changeup. While his curveball is a plus pitch, he sometimes uses it too often. Scouts would like to see Stovall pitch more off his fastball, and if he doesn't, scouts could see him settling into merely a setup or relief role as a pro. However, with added velocity and reliance on his fastball, Stovall could be a starter in the big leagues. His makeup is a plus, and academically, he will graduate at the top of his high school class.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Stovall had a storied high school career in Alabama, winning four state titles in baseball and another as a quarterback in football. He set a national high school mark with 95 career doubles and numerous state standards, including marks for career wins (54) and strikeouts (683). He has battled his control in pro ball, leading the Appalachian League with 56 walks in 52 innings last year, but his potential is evident. Stovall does a good job of forcing batters to hit the ball on the ground, allowing only one home run in 2009, and he is capable of shutting down southpaw swingers, who batted just .147 against him last summer. When in rhythm, he works off an 89-91 mph fastball that features outstanding natural movement. The life on his fastball makes it difficult to control at times. His plus curveball is his best and most consistent offering, but he tends to rely on it too often when he can't locate his heater. He also has the makings of a quality changeup. Stovall's mechanics are a little rough, producing a maximum-effort delivery that needs to be honed in order to improve his accuracy and reduce his chances of injury. He's a work in progress, but he has the raw ingredients to be a mid-rotation starter. A promotion to low Class A is on the immediate horizon in 2010. -
A multi-sport standout in high school, Stovall was part of five Alabama prep championship teams, one as a quarterback and four straight on the diamond. He established numerous state baseball records, including career wins (54) and strikeouts (683), and set a national mark with 95 career doubles. He also graduated at the top of his high school class with a 4.0 grade point average, and turned down Auburn to sign as a second-rounder for $750,000. Stovall's fastball resides in the low 90s, topping out at 94. His best pitch is his tight curveball, an offering he tends to rely on too often instead of working off his fastball. His changeup has some promise as well. He has good athleticism, though at 6-foot-1, he doesn't offer a lot of projection. He's one of several talented young arms in the mix for Rome's rotation in 2009.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Typically, a pitcher who walks a league-high 56 batters in 52 innings wouldn't merit mention on a Top 20 list. However, Stovall struck out more than a batter per inning, kept the ball on the ground and allowed only one home run all season. A second-round pick in 2008, he signed for $750,000 and then endured an uneven debut in the Gulf Coast League. With an 89-91 mph fastball, a plus curveball and an advanced changeup, Stovall has swing-and-miss stuff and held lefthanders to a .147 average. His natural athleticism ought to aid him in working through his control issues, which will entail streamlining a max-effort delivery. At this stage, he also tends to rely too much on his curveball at the expense of fastball command.
