Chris Narveson

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #15 prospect in 2007
  In the time between being lauded as one of the organization's golden prospects and making his major league debut with the Cardinals, Narveson was traded twice, had shoulder surgery, was plucked off waivers and finally landed back in St. Louis. He was riding the fast track before being dealt to the Rockies in the Larry Walker deal in 2004. Narveson was shipped to the Red Sox in 2005, and he returned to the Cardinals in 2005 via waivers. He spent most of last season on the shelf, recovering from offseason labrum surgery. It was the second major operation of his career. Tommy John surgery knocked him off track in 2001- 2002. Narveson made encouraging progress upon his return last season, allowing two or fewer runs in eight of his final 10 Triple-A starts, earning a look in St. Louis in September. He operates with a fringe-average 87-89 mph fastball, though it's not quite as firm as it was prior to the shoulder troubles. His fastball sometimes starts out in the mid-80s before reaching as high as the low 90s in later innings. He also has a sharp cutter, a curveball and a solid changeup with fading action. His curve is too slow and hangs at times. He isn't overpowering and lacks a plus pitch, but he throws strikes and has reliable secondary offerings that he mixes well. He will vie for a job in St. Louis in spring training, be it in the revamped rotation or in an apprentice season as a reliever.
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  Ranked Colorado Rockies #15 prospect in 2005
  Narveson was the key to the Larry Walker trade for the Rockies last August. He broke out as a prospect in 2001, only to need Tommy John surgery, but his last two seasons have reaffirmed that his arm is healthy. He has flashed above-average stuff since bouncing back from his injury and was the top lefty in the Cardinals system. Narveson's fastball hits 92-93 mph and usually sits at 88-90. He also has a plus curveball and an average changeup. His delivery is both smooth and deceptive. Narveson usually shuts down lefthanders, who didn't take him deep in 2004, and holds his own against righties. His primary needs are to improve his command and build his stamina. He has the assortment of pitches to start and enough fastball to be a factor out of the bullpen. He'll pitch in the Triple-A rotation this year.
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  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #3 prospect in 2004
  Narveson returned to the mound in 2002 after Tommy John surgery in August 2001, but he didn't really regain his form until 2003. Named the organization's best minor league pitcher in spring training, he was selected for the high Class A Florida State League all-star game and retired both of the batters he faced in the Futures Game. Though he potentially has four pitches that could be major league average or better, Narveson's real strength is his intelligence and understanding of how to get hitters out. His changeup is a potential plus pitch. His fastball ranges from 86-90 mph, and his slider and curveball should be average pitches, with the slider more useful at this point. Narveson's command isn't what it needs to be yet, both in terms of throwing strikes and pitching effectively out of the strike zone. But the Cardinals liked the way he battled and stayed in games even when his control wasn't great. Narveson will probably go back to Double-A to start 2004. He profiles as a solid No. 3 starter who can be a workhorse.
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  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #3 prospect in 2003
  Narveson had Tommy John surgery in August 2001 but was back in game action by last June, starting in short stints in the Appalachian League and gradually stretching out as he moved up to Peoria. He pitched 12 innings in the Midwest League playoffs and allowed just two earned runs. At full strength, Narveson has three pitches that are major league average to slightly above-average. His fastball touches 90 mph and he works to both sides of the plate with it, and his slider has good bite. He needs to get more consistent with his changeup, but some in the organization say it's his best pitch. He can command all three pitches. Narveson's mechanics were a mess at times last year, as he pushed the ball more than before his injury, when he had a free and easy delivery. The organization attributes the problems to the layoff but says he shows no other ill effects. The numbers don't show it, but last year was promising for a pitcher less than a year removed from Tommy John surgery. Narveson was letting the ball go at the end of the season, so the Cardinals will send him to high Class A Palm Beach and see if he can get back on the fast track.
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  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #2 prospect in 2002
  Narveson was in the midst of a breakthrough year when the affliction that has hit so many Cardinals pitchers hit him--he needed Tommy John surgery in August. He won a state championship in his senior year of high school in 2000, and he won a promotion to high Class A in 2001 after just eight starts in low Class A. Before his injury, Narveson earned comparisons to both Rick Ankiel and Bud Smith. He throws his fastball at 89-91 mph, and his changeup can be devastating. His best pitch is a big-breaking slider, but his best quality is his maturity and mound presence. He has good command of all of his pitches. Narveson's injury was a surprise because he's not a hard thrower and has solid mechanics and an effortless motion. The prognosis for Tommy John surgery is good now, but it still costs him a year of development and creates big questions about his future. The Cardinals are optimistic Narveson can return to game action by July. When he does he'll follow the organization's path of working in relief until his arm is judged completely sound.
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  Ranked St. Louis Cardinals #15 prospect in 2001
  Narveson reminds the Cardinals of Bud Smith a couple of years ago. They have similar skills, so the team hopes Narveson's come together as effectively. His draft status rose dramatically in his senior year of high school, as he added velocity to his fastball and compiled a 10-0, 0.71 record for one of North Carolina's best prep teams. He was an outstanding student but turned down a scholarship to Wake Forest to sign with the Cardinals for $675,000. With his improving fastball, which he consistently throws in the low 90s, he has better raw stuff than Smith. Narveson also has more of a bulldog approach. He throws both a slider and curveball, though the Cardinals will direct him more in the slider direction. His changeup is strictly a third pitch now but shows potential. He has solid mechanics and should have good command with more experience. He'll move up to low Class A for 2001.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Carolina League #5 prospect in 2001
  The comparisons to Rick Ankiel aren't surprising. Narveson is a quality lefty who dominated the Carolina League as a teenager. Four seasons after Ankiel set a Cannons franchise record with 181 strikeouts, Narveson had little difficulty following a midseason promotion from low Class A Peoria. He has command of four pitches: a low-90s fastball, a slider, curveball and changeup. Narveson's stuff isn't as good as Ankiel's, though it's superior to Bud Smith's. If Ankiel can recover from his control difficulties, the St. Louis rotation could be loaded with lefties in the near future. Narveson also impressed managers with his confidence. His season ended when the Cardinals shut him down as a precaution when he suffered a slight tear in his elbow in mid-July.
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  Ranked Midwest League #5 prospect in 2001
  The Cardinals have drafted lefthanders as well as any team in recent years. They signed Rick Ankiel in 1997 and Bud Smith in 1998, and two years later found another winner in Narveson. He was so untouchable in the MWL that it took just eight starts for St. Louis to promote the teenager to the high Class A Carolina League. Both Narveson's stuff and command are impressive. He throws a lively 88-92 mph fastball; a hard, short slider; and a changeup. He hasn't had trouble with righthanders or with home runs. The only drawback is that he went down with a slight elbow tear in July.
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  Ranked National League #10 prospect in 2000
  Narveson throws hard for a young lefthander, with a fastball that runs in the low 90s. He works in both a slider and curve, as well as a changeup, and showed good command of his offspeed stuff. He has solid mechanics and could climb quickly in the Cardinals system. "He's just a kid, but he's a bulldog," Johnson City manager Luis Melendez said. "He knows what he's doing. He's got the arm to be a big leaguer."

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #86 prospect in 2002

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  Narveson throws hard for a young lefthander, with a fastball that runs in the low 90s. He works in both a slider and curve, as well as a changeup, and showed good command of his offspeed stuff. He has solid mechanics and could climb quickly in the Cardinals system. "He's just a kid, but he's a bulldog," Johnson City manager Luis Melendez said. "He knows what he's doing. He's got the arm to be a big leaguer."