Jacob Lindgren
| IP | 7 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 5.143 |
| WHIP | 1.286 |
| BB/9 | 5.143 |
| SO/9 | 10.286 |
- Full name Jacob Stephen Lindgren
- Born 03/12/1993 in Biloxi, MS
- Profile Ht.: 5'11" / Wt.: 195 / Bats: R / Throws: L
- School Mississippi State
- Debut 05/25/2015
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Drafted in the 2nd round (55th overall) by the New York Yankees in 2014 (signed for $1,018,700).
View Draft Report
Lindgren was part of what was considered a strong high school class in Mississippi in 2011 that included other high draft picks Connor Barron, Senquez Golson, Hawtin Buchanan and Brandon Woodruff in not signing. While the others were single-digit draft picks, Lindgren slipped to the 12th round but is the favorite to go out highest in 2014. The 5-foot-11, 204-pound struggled as a sophomore, failing to hold onto Mississippi State's Friday starter role, due in part to a comebacker that hit him in the knee. He rolled his ankle on the same play and struggled to throw strikes thereafter, making his last start in the Southeastern Conference title game. He relieved in the Cape Cod League that summer and has remained in relief for the Bulldogs, with his velocity jumping and his performance spiking. He regularly reaches 93-94 mph with his fastball with heavy life and arm-side run. He's tabled his curve and changeup in a relief role, sticking to the heater and his hard, plus slider in the low to mid 80s. His stiff delivery likely leads him to a future relief role as well, and his 16.8 strikeouts per nine indicate he can dominate in that job. Lindgren lacks command, and his control usually is just enough.
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Organization Prospect Rankings
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Without a first-round pick in 2014, the Yankees used their second-round choice on Lindgren, a power reliever with Mississippi State. Once he signed for $1,018,700, Lindgren jumped on the fast track. He ended 2014 at Double-A Trenton, then breezed through Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in 2015 before making his major league debut on May 25. In the majors, he learned the hard way that he'd need to command the baseball even with premium stuff. Scouts who saw him in the minors noted how rough he was against lefthanders with his funky delivery and fastball-slider combination. Even so, they also saw a delivery with a stiff front side and tendency to spin off during his finish. Those two mechanical flaws caused him to leave some pitches up, which resulted in three home runs in his first seven major league innings. His season ended on June 12, his last outing before having surgery to remove bone chips from his left elbow. He should be ready to go for spring training and will compete for a spot in the big league bullpen. -
A starter at Mississippi State in 2013, Lindgren converted to the bullpen in the Cape Cod League after his sophomore season and remained there in his junior year. He lost his changeup and curveball when in relief, but found less was more, leading the nation with 16.3 strikeouts per nine innings as a junior. The Yankees, who didn't pick until No. 55, popped him with their first selection and gave him $1,018,700 to turn pro and jump on the fast track. It didn't take long for Lindgren to get back in the groove. He ran through the lower minors with ease and ended his season at Double-A Trenton, his fourth level of the year. Lindgren couples a 92-94 mph fastball with deception and tremendous armside run and sink. He couples the pitch with a tight, power slider thrown in the mid-80s that already ranks as the best in the system. His control can wander a little at times, which may make the difference of whether he's a future set-up man or closer. Lindgren will have a good chance to make the Yankees' big league bullpen in 2014, perhaps after a short stint in Triple-A. He's expected to eventually pitch high-leverage innings.
Draft Prospects
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Lindgren was part of what was considered a strong high school class in Mississippi in 2011 that included other high draft picks Connor Barron, Senquez Golson, Hawtin Buchanan and Brandon Woodruff in not signing. While the others were single-digit draft picks, Lindgren slipped to the 12th round but is the favorite to go out highest in 2014. The 5-foot-11, 204-pound struggled as a sophomore, failing to hold onto Mississippi State's Friday starter role, due in part to a comebacker that hit him in the knee. He rolled his ankle on the same play and struggled to throw strikes thereafter, making his last start in the Southeastern Conference title game. He relieved in the Cape Cod League that summer and has remained in relief for the Bulldogs, with his velocity jumping and his performance spiking. He regularly reaches 93-94 mph with his fastball with heavy life and arm-side run. He's tabled his curve and changeup in a relief role, sticking to the heater and his hard, plus slider in the low to mid 80s. His stiff delivery likely leads him to a future relief role as well, and his 16.8 strikeouts per nine indicate he can dominate in that job. Lindgren lacks command, and his control usually is just enough.
