Chris Tillman Stats & Scouting Report

IP	1145
ERA	4.575
WHIP	1.378
BB/9	3.427
SO/9	6.658

Full name Christopher Steven Tillman
Born 04/15/1988 in Anaheim, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'5" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Fountain Valley
Debut 07/29/2009
Drafted in the 2nd round (49th overall) by the Seattle Mariners in 2006 (signed for $680,000).

View Draft Report

Tillman entered the season as the top prospect in Southern California's usually fertile high school ranks. His performance hasn't endeared him to scouts, however, and his 5-5 record for a struggling team probably hasn't made for a fun season for him either. A Cal State Fullerton signee, Tillman hasn't shown consistent stuff and is a player who clubs have to project significantly. He has a loose arm and excellent pitcher's frame. He's shown a 90-94 mph fastball velocity but hasn't shown the ability--or perhaps just as troubling, the willingness--to maintain his stuff deep into games. One theory is he's just cruising, while another is that he's growing into his lanky body. He often backs off on his fastball, sitting in the mid-80s and later going back up around 90. He also has flashed a 12-to-6 curveball at times, and at 74-78 mph it can be a plus power pitch. In searching for a third pitch, Tillman has thrown more split-finger fastballs than scouts want to see. While three years with the Titans would produce a more finished product, Tillman's projectability and possible two plus pitches figure to be too much for clubs to avoid, and he isn't expected to make it out of the first two rounds.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

By just about any measure, the deal that brought four prospects and George Sherrill from Seattle for Erik Bedard was a steal for the Orioles, and Tillman could be the biggest prize of all. As the youngest pitcher in Double-A to start the season, he not only succeeded but at times dominated, and he ranked as the Eastern League's top pitching prospect. Tillman fits the pitching prototype, with a long, lean body, a smooth delivery, mound presence and three good pitches. He throws consistently in the low 90s, peaking at 94 mph, and showed an improved ability to keep his fastball down this season, though he has the stuff to pitch up in the zone at times. His curveball is also an above-average pitch. While Tillman shows the ability to throw strikes consistently with all his pitches, he still needs to sharpen his command. And while his changeup has become a usable pitch, it's still clearly No. 3 on his list and he needs to go to it more. Tillman's overall package and early success at a high level make him the best bet among the Orioles' three prized pitching prospects. He should at least pitch in the middle of the Baltimore rotation and has the potential to lead it. He'll open 2009 in Triple-A with an eye toward moving to the big leagues in 2010.
An inconsistent senior season dropped Tillman into the second round of the 2006 draft, where the Mariners pounced, adding him to a haul that also included Brandon Morrow and Tony Butler. Seattle bumped the 19-year-old Tillman to high Class A High Desert after just eight low Class A starts. He struggled initially as he got used to more advanced California League competition and an unforgiving home park, but went 5- 4, 4.75 with 89 strikeouts in 78 innings in the second half. The lanky Tillman still is growing into his 6-foot-5 frame, and the leverage in his clean delivery gives extra life to an above-average 91-94 mph four-seam fastball. He's aggressive with the pitch, throwing it to all four quadrants of the strike zone. Tillman throws a true 11-to-5 curveball with tight rotation and late break that functions as his strikeout pitch. He has a loose arm and could grow into more strength and velocity as he matures. He shows aptitude for a changeup, but it's still his third pitch. Tillman didn't live up to expectations as a senior, leading some scouts to question his mental toughness. While he's around the strike zone, he sometimes struggles to throw his curveball for strikes because of its big break. Like most young pitchers, he needs to tighten his command and improve his pitches sequences. Tillman learned a valuable lesson in the Cal League. Because the ball carries so well, the parks are so small and the ground so fast, he tried to avoid contact--and he paid for it. But after a few starts he realized that his stuff plays anywhere and he began to attack hitters. He has enough stuff to start in the middle of a big league rotation, or higher, as evidenced by the fact that he'll pitch in Double-A at age 20.
It's no coincidence that three of the Mariners' top four starting pitching prospects came from the 2006 draft. They targeted their biggest weakness by choosing Brandon Morrow, Tillman and Tony Butler with their first three picks. Tillman projected as an early first-rounder entering 2006, but an inconsistent senior season dropped him to the second round, where he signed for $680,000. Tillman owns two plus pitches in his lively 91-94 mph fastball and his slider. He generates velocity with little effort, as he has a loose arm and clean delivery, and he can add more once he fills out his lean 6-foot-5 frame. He showed some aptitude for throwing a changeup during instructional league. Tillman's velocity dipped in the spring when he fell in love with his splitter, and he'll need to recognize that his changeup is more vital to him as a starter than his split. He's not as mature as fellow high school draftee Butler, and some scouts questioned his mental toughness when Tillman struggled to live up to expectations as a senior. Tillman will team with Butler at the front of Seattle's low Class A rotation in 2007. If they and Morrow develop as hoped, the Mariners will have landed three first-round talents at the top of their 2006 draft.

Minor League Top Prospects

Adam Jones and Tillman continue to make the Erik Bedard trade look worse and worse bad for the Mariners. Tillman made his big league debut at age 21. He had his ups and downs with Baltimore, going 2-5, 5.40 in 12 starts, but flashed talent that should make him a frontline starter. Tillman was more consistently dominant in the IL, showing two plus offerings and the potential for a third. He has a 92-96 mph fastball that could add more velocity as he fills out his lanky frame. It also will be more effective once he improves his command. His hard, late-breaking curveball is a nasty second pitch and he shows feel for his low-80s changeup. "When he has those three pitches working," Norfolk manager Gary Allenson said, "he's as good as anyone in this league this year."
Tillman has the prospect resume from central casting: size (6-foot-5, 195 pounds), stuff and youth, as he debuted in the league as a 19-year-old. He threw five no-hit innings in his second start and finished strong, striking out 51 in 35 August innings. Tillman regularly reaches 93-94 mph with his fastball and sits at 90-93. His curveball has developed into an above-average pitch with 12-to-6 break, and he made significant progress with a changeup. He has the velocity to work up with his four-seam fastball and down with his change and curve. He also impressed scouts by staying tall in his delivery and creating difficult angles for the hitter. "He's a future stud," a scout with an American League organization said. "He's sitting in the low 90s and throwing consistent strikes with it. He's got good poise. He's got a chance to be a No. 1 or No. 2 starter."
In his first full pro season, Tillman showed off the most upside of any pitcher in the league beside Sosa. His 5.28 ERA at High Desert may seem high, but consider: he was 19 in high Class A; he made noticeable improvements on a month-by-month basis; and the Mavericks' team ERA was 6.38. The lanky Tillman uses the leverage in his clean delivery to give extra life to a fastball that sits in the low 90s. He mixes in a plus curveball with late 12-to-6 break, and he'll throw it when behind in the count. He's still growing into his frame and should add more strength and velocity. "He's a guy who with each start got better and better," High Desert manager Scott Steinman said. "Not only in numbers, but the way he carries himself on the mound. He got more comfortable and confident."