Jeremy Guthrie
| IP | 1765 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 4.421 |
| WHIP | 1.344 |
| BB/9 | 2.601 |
| SO/9 | 5.334 |
- Full name Jeremy Shane Guthrie
- Born 04/08/1979 in Roseburg, OR
- Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Stanford
- Debut 08/28/2004
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Drafted in the 1st round (22nd overall) by the Cleveland Guardians in 2002 (signed for $3,000,000).
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Ranked behind Denham and Stanford teammate Gosling last year, Guthrie slipped to the Pirates in the third round. Questions about his signability as a draft-eligible sophomore caused him to slide, and he returned for his junior year to anchor the Cardinal staff. He handed Mark Prior his only loss last year but suffered his worst outing of the season in the College World Series, leading to speculation that he was worn down. Guthrie, who transferred from Brigham Young and spent two years on a Mormon mission in Spain, is a polished, near major league-ready pitcher. He has been compared to Stanford alumnus Mike Mussina, but Guthrie's ceiling isn't quite as high. He works with a 90-95 mph fastball and has command of four pitches. He generates good boring action on his two-seamer, but his fastball tends to be on a flat plane. His slider has a late, quick break and is an occasional strikeout pitch--he led the Pac-10 with 109 strikeouts in mid-May--and his curveball and changeup can be effective. Represented by Scott Boras, Guthrie is expected to go in the first half of the first round to a team looking for immediate pitching help.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Guthrie has been a huge disappointment since signing a big league contract worth $4 million as a first-round pick in 2002. He dominated in Double-A during his pro debut the following spring, but got hammered after a promotion to Triple-A and didn't fare any better last year. He made the Eastern League all-star team after he was demoted to Double-A, but was relegated to the bullpen by the end of the season and no longer projects as a major league starter. When he shifted to relief, his fastball sat at 92-94 mph and topped out at 95-96. The rest of Guthrie's stuff--slider, changeup, curveball--is more notable for his ability to throw strikes with it rather than its quality. His delivery and arm action aren't as clean as they once were. His cerebral nature works against him at times, as he'll try to out-think hitters rather than challenge them. Because he went on a two-year Mormon mission while he was in college, he'll be 26 shortly after he begins his third full season. He's running out of time to justify Cleveland's huge investment. -
After signing a major league contract worth a guaranteed $4 million (including a $3 million bonus) in October 2002, Guthrie reached Triple-A in his first season as a professional. The last Indians pitcher to advance that high in his introduction to pro ball was another Stanford product, Steve Dunning, who went straight to the majors in 1970. Guthrie easily dominated the Eastern League but got hit hard in the Triple-A International League, though he impressed observers at both stops. He has command of four pitches, starting with a 90-93 mph fastball that touches 95. His slider and changeup have the potential to be plus pitches, and he also throws a curveball. He also fields his position well. Intelligent and coachable, he's a great competitor with a strong work ethic. Like many inexperienced pitchers, Guthrie tends to rely too much on his fastball when he gets into trouble. He didn't locate his pitches as well in Triple-A as he had in Double-A. IL hitters got ahead in the count and pounced on his mistakes. The Indians hoped Guthrie would compete for a spot in the major league rotation in spring training. The choppy waters he experienced at Buffalo last year mean he'll start the season back there this year instead, though he still could reach Cleveland during the 2004 season. -
It took about four months, but the Indians signed Guthrie to a four-year, $4 million major league contract. The deal included a $3 million signing bonus, a club record for a drafted player. The negotiations prevented him from pitching in the minors, so he debuted in the Arizona Fall League. Guthrie is an advanced pitcher. His fastball is in the 92-93 mph range and will touch 95 at times, and his slider and changeup are plus pitches. He has a strong, compact body and commands all his pitches well. He's mature beyond his years, thanks in part to a two-year Mormon mission in Spain. Guthrie faded late in 2001, his first year back from Spain, so there were some questions about his durability. But he answered those by finishing strong in 2002 and didn't miss a start in two years at Stanford. His 158 innings in 2002 were the most by a college pitcher. He's 23, so there's not a lot of room for projection, but he's plenty good as is. Guthrie likely will begin his pro career at Double-A Akron, unless the Indians decide to send him to the warmer climate of high Class A Kinston for the first month. It won't be a surprise if he reaches Cleveland by the end of 2003.
Minor League Top Prospects
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A 2002 first-round pick, Guthrie signed late and made his pro debut in Double-A this April. He dominated the EL but was turned into a piñata when he went to Triple-A. Yet because of the relative prospect depth in both leagues, he ranked 16th on this list and ninth in the International League. With Akron, Guthrie showed command of four pitches and an advanced feel for pitching. He was able to dial up his fastball to 94 mph at times, but he more often threw in the 88-92 mph range. His slider and changeup can be plus pitches at times. Yet he didn't miss a lot of EL bats, with just 35 strikeouts in 62 innings. "He's not afraid of contact," Akron manager Brad Komminsk said. "I don't think he feels like he has to strike guys out to get outs." -
Guthrie received a promotion to Triple-A just more than 60 innings into his pro career. After a dominating 6-2, 1.44 pro debut in Double-A, he found a rude welcome at the doorstep to the majors. Despite some rough numbers, Guthrie still showed the stuff and skills to become a solid starter in the majors. "It really opened your eyes when you saw the stuff that he has," Syracuse manager Omar Malave said. "He's not ready yet, but he can be in Cleveland halfway through next year." Guthrie throws three potential plus pitches: a 90-95 mph fastball that could add velocity, a slider and a changeup. He sometimes struggled to finish his pitches and left mistakes thigh-high over the middle of the plate. "He needs to command his fastball better, but his stuff is electric," Brown said. "Every mistake he makes gets whacked. But he reminds me a lot of young Mike Mussina when I played with him in Rochester."
