Aaron Weatherford
| IP | 27 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 3.667 |
| WHIP | .963 |
| BB/9 | 3.667 |
| SO/9 | 12 |
- Full name Aaron Stanley Weatherford
- Born 12/19/1986 in Fort Walton Beach, FL
- Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 185 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Mississippi State
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Drafted in the 3rd round (103rd overall) by the Colorado Rockies in 2008 (signed for $350,000).
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Undrafted out of high school, Weatherford's role upon arriving at Mississippi State was unclear. As a freshman he pitched mainly out of the bullpen, totaling two saves, but did make two starts late in the season. He then began his sophomore year as the Bulldog's Friday night starter but moved back to the bullpen after six starts and helped lead the Bulldogs to the College World Series. This season Weatherford has taken on the closer role, and has seemed comfortable there, striking out close to two hitters per inning. He ranks as one of the top closers in an SEC loaded with talented relievers. Even at 6-foot-1, Weatherford has an imposing presence on the mound. His fastball reads between 92-94 mph and comes from a high, over-the-top, arm slot. He throws downhill and commands it to both sides of the plate. He also throws a hard curveball and split-finger with late break. While his split-finger is an out pitch, he rarely throws it for a strike. Weatherford does have durability concerns as he has been plagued with various injuries while a Mississippi State. He has a live arm but has a max-effort delivery, likely limiting him to a relief role as a pro.
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Organization Prospect Rankings
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Right shoulder tendinitis forced Weatherford to miss the month of March at Mississippi State and wound up costing him his entire first pro season, after the Rockies signed for $350,000. The Rockies are confident that the problems are minimal, but there are concerns in some circles that he will battle arm problems throughout his career because of a max-effort delivery and slight frame. The Rockies see him as a legitimate late-inning relief candidate, which will allow him to be monitored on pitch counts and innings. He can dominate hitters. He allowed only 20 baserunners--10 walks and 10 hits--and struck out 62 in 32 innings of relief for Mississippi State last spring. He struck out 177 batters in 169 career innings at Mississippi State, helping lead an upstart Bulldogs team to the College World Series in Ron Polk's penultimate season in 2007. Weatherford has an overthe- top arm slot with a fastball that will sit in the 92-94 mph range. He has shown command of both sides of the plate with the fastball. His second pitch is a split-finger fastball. A swing-and-miss pitch that is rarely a strike, the splitter becomes an out pitch when he commands his fastball and can get ahead in the count. Weatherford also throws a hard curveball. He could wind up as a closer long-term as his splitter gives him a weapon to neutralize lefthanded hitters, which Weathers lacks.
