Matt Heidenreich
| IP | 632 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 4.472 |
| WHIP | 1.37 |
| BB/9 | 2.108 |
| SO/9 | 6.736 |
- Full name Matt Jay Heidenreich
- Born 01/17/1991 in Coronado, CA
- Profile Ht.: 6'5" / Wt.: 185 / Bats: L / Throws: R
- School Temescal Canyon
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Drafted in the 4th round (133rd overall) by the Chicago White Sox in 2009 (signed for $200,000).
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Tall and projectable at 6-foot-6 and 200 pounds, Heidenreich fires a fastball in the high 80s and low 90s, and he reportedly has touched 95 mph. He's raw mechanically and his secondary offerings need substantial development
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Heidenreich was in over his head when he entered pro ball as a fourth-round pick out of high school in 2009, but he was much better when he returned to Rookie-level Bristol last summer. He laid the groundwork for a strong season with his work in extended spring training, proving to be a quick learner with both his mechanics and approach. Heidenreich features a low-90s sinker with late movement, and his projectable 6-foot-5 frame suggests he may eventually complement it with a four-seamer in the mid-90s. He has improved his changeup, which should develop into an average pitch. His slider lags behind his other pitches, but he throws it for strikes. He fills the strike zone with all of his offerings, pitching to contact and getting groundouts. He'll spend 2011 in low Class A, and the White Sox hope he can continue to progress at the same rate he did last year.
Minor League Top Prospects
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The White Sox gambled on the 6-foot-5 Heidenreich's projectable frame and arm speed when they made him a fourth-round pick last year. At that time, he topped out in the low 90s and had no secondary stuff to speak of. Complicating matters, he walked as many as he struck out (12) during his pro debut, which amounted to 16 relief appearances for Bristol. But Heidenreich impressed Newman, who has managed him the last two years, with his new focus and maturity this season. He goes after hitters, throwing strikes and getting grounders with his 88-91 mph sinker. He made progress with his changeup, which can become an average pitch, but he'll need to continue to improve his slider. "As a high school pick, it took him some time to get accustomed to doing this as a career," Newman said. "But he's made by far the biggest strides I've seen this year. The key is he throws all three pitches for strikes and gets early-contact outs, which allowed him to throw the amount of quality innings he threw this year."
