Matt Lorenzo
| IP | 442 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 4.357 |
| WHIP | 1.4 |
| BB/9 | 3.299 |
| SO/9 | 7.88 |
- Full name Mathew Robert Lorenzo
- Born 06/21/1982 in Pasadena, TX
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: L / Throws: R
- School Kent State
-
Drafted in the 5th round (136th overall) by the Texas Rangers in 2003 (signed for $210,000).
View Draft Report
The 6-foot-3, 208-pound Lorenzo improved his stock as he increased the velocity on his fastball from 87-90 mph to 90-92 with a high of 95. He also improved his feel for pitching, with command of an 83-84 slider and a changeup. A curve, his fourth pitch, lacks consistency. Lorenzo, an Ohio high school product, spent his freshman year at Georgia Tech and went 4-0, 2.82 before transferring back home. He was Kent State's No. 2 starter, behind career wins leader Dirk Hayhurst, and averaged more than a strikeout an inning while going 6-5, 4.04. He'll be drafted ahead of Hayhurst because he throws harder.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
-
Lorenzo spent his freshman year at Georgia Tech before transferring to Kent State to get more innings. He finished his first full pro season by dealing in the Arizona Fall League and continues to stick out among Texas' flock of pitching prospects whose calling card is their approach. Though he's big and physical, Lorenzo's fastball usually sits at 82-92 mph. It did jump to 93-95 mph when he worked shorter stints in the AFL. His overhand curveball doesn't have true 12-to-6 break, but it's still a plus pitch. He gets strikeouts with his curve because he throws it in the low to mid-80s with good depth. His bender is at its best when he stays on top of it and throws it from the same arm slot as his fastball. Lorenzo flashes above-average command of both pitches and maintained his velocity better than he had in the past. Now he needs to pick up the feel for a changeup. His change has nice movement, but he has to throw it more consistently for strikes and learn to trust it more often. He's one of several candidates for the Double-A rotation in 2005. -
After going 4-0, 2.82 as a Georgia Tech freshman in 2001, Lorenzo transferred closer to home to Kent State, which had recruited him out of an Ohio high school. His stock improved as his velocity increased, and he turned in one of his best performances against Ohio ace Marc Cornell with a host of scouts and crosscheckers on hand last spring. Lorenzo led the Mid-American Conference by limiting opposing hitters to a .203 average. Strong and durable, Lorenzo is equipped with a power arm and a polished delivery. He touched 95 mph in college and sat between 88-92 last summer after signing for $210,000. Lorenzo has a feel for four offerings, and his curveball could become his put-away pitch. It shows good, late downward action out of his high three-quarters release point. His slider and changeup are less consistent but have the potential to at least be effective. Lorenzo probably will start 2004 in low Class A, where he'll work on adding movement to his fastball and improving his command.
