Josh Shortslef Stats & Scouting Report

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Shortslef has made slow progress through the Pirates system since being drafted in 2000, leading the New York-Penn League with 10 wins in 2002 but also being beset by a series of arm injuries. He showed enough at Double-A in 2006--despite being sidelined for 10 weeks by a strained forearm--to be placed on the 40-man roster at the end of the season and sent to the Arizona Fall League. Shortslef's fastball reaches 93 mph and usually sits at 89-91. He also has a big-breaking curveball that's particularly effective against lefthanders, who hit just .188 against him last season. His changeup still needs work. Shortslef was a good athlete in high school, averaging 21 points a game as a power forward in basketball during his senior year, but he has gotten heavier in recent years, leading to concern about his conditioning. He needs more time at Double-A to start the season but could move quickly to Triple-A if he pitches well early in the season. The Pirates still think he can be a major league starter, but his ability to get lefthanders out could mean a move to the bullpen.

Shortslef has a long way to go in his development, but his style and stuff already draw comparisons to a couple of southpaws who know a thing or two about winning games in the majors. "He reminds me of a cross between Bruce Hurst and Andy Pettitte," one scout said. "He can pitch and (he) has a good breaking ball." Like Hurst and Pettitte, Shortslef has a strong, athletic body. He averaged 21 points per game as a forward on his high school basketball team. He challenges hitters with a fastball that sits in the 87-90 mph range and was clocked as high as 93. He also has an effective curveball and led the NY-P in victories.