Drew VerHagen Stats & Scouting Report

IP	281.667
ERA	4.985
WHIP	1.434
BB/9	3.675
SO/9	7.477

Full name Drew Edward VerHagen
Born 10/22/1990 in Royse City, TX
Profile Ht.: 6'6" / Wt.: 230 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Vanderbilt
Debut 07/19/2014
Drafted in the 4th round (154th overall) by the Detroit Tigers in 2012 (signed for $392,500).

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VerHagen has found success at Vanderbilt, his third school in three seasons. He played at Oklahoma as a freshman and helped Navarro (Texas) JC win the NJCAA World Series last season before coming on down the stretch as a junior for the Commodores. Scouts don't like his arm action, which hinders the consistency of his breaking ball. VerHagen's positives start with his 6-foot-6, 225-pound frame and good fastball, which consistently hits 95 as a starter or as a reliever. His lack of a breaking ball results in a weak strikeout rate (34 in 62 innings).

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Organization Prospect Rankings

VerHagen spent his first few years with the Tigers as a starter, but he transitioned to the bullpen in 2015. His fastball parks a tick higher there than it did as a starter, ranging from 92-96 mph. The fastball is by far his best pitch, combining plus velocity and movement, with heavy sink and steep angle to get a lot of groundballs. VerHagen will throw an occasional 82-84 mph changeup, but he's mostly scrapped that and become a two-pitch guy with his fastball and 74-79 mph curveball. The trouble is that his curveball is below-average and slurvy because he tends to get around the ball. Without a reliable secondary pitch to miss bats, VerHagen's already pedestrian strikeout rate dipped even further once he got to the big leagues. He's generally around the plate, though it's more control than command. He throws slightly across his body and has been slowed by injuries, though durability is less of an issue as a reliever. He should compete for a big league bullpen job and could stick around as a middle reliever if he can improve his curveball.
VerHagen, who had Tommy John surgery as a high school senior, made his major league debut with a spot start on July 19, 2014, but he went on the disabled list with a back strain afterward and didn't pitch the rest of the season. A massive 6-foot-6, VerHagen drops his pitches downhill and with good extension. His fastball is tough for hitters to barrel because of the angle, 90-94 mph velocity (with a peak of 96) and hard, heavy sink and run that results in plenty of groundballs. He throws slightly across his body, which also adds deception. The trouble with VerHagen is his low strikeout rate, which stems from a lack of a reliable secondary pitch. His best offspeed offering is a changeup, a fringy pitch that flashes average with solid sink. VerHagen's curveball is a slurvy pitch that will likely always be below-average. He's improved his strike-throwing ability each year, though he's still more control than command. VerHagen should go back to Triple-A Toledo to begin 2015, but he has a chance to be back up as a No. 5 starter.
After having Tommy John surgery as a senior in high school, VerHagen went undrafted and spent his freshman year at Oklahoma before transferring to Navarro (Texas) JC and helping the school win its first Junior College World Series. He ended up at Vanderbilt in 2012, when the Tigers drafted him in the fourth round. He had a solid 2013 season and reached Double-A Erie in June. He delivers his stuff with downhill angle and good extension from an extra-large, 6-foot-6 frame. His best pitch by far is his fastball, which parks at 91-95 mph and can reach 97. VerHagen's fastball has late, heavy sink, and he can add cutting action or tailing life to it. His fastball produces a wave of groundballs, but his lack of secondary weapons explains his low strikeout rate. The Tigers see promise in his curveball, but it's below-average and he tends to get around the ball rather than stay on top of the pitch, while his changeup is also below-average. He throws slightly across his body but generally is around the strike zone, though a wrist wrap and stiffness in his long arm action concern some scouts. VerHagen is the team's best upper-level starter, but his fastball could play up in the bullpen.
VerHagen played with Jake Thompson, Detroit's top 2012 draft pick, at Rockwall-Heath HS (Heath, Texas) for one season before pitching for three different colleges in three years. He went to Oklahoma as a freshman, helped Navarro (Texas) JC win the Junior College World Series as a sophomore and attended Vanderbilt as a junior. He pitched well down the stretch for the Commodores, earning a fourth-round selection and $392,500 bonus. VerHagen throws a fastball that operates at 92-94 mph and tops out at 97. He has a big, strong frame, but some scouts don't like his arm action because of a wrist wrap and stiffness. He had Tommy John surgery as a senior in high school. Because of his arm action, VerHagen has a tendency to get under his curveball at times. The pitch shows hard 12-to-6 break when he gets on top of it. His changeup is a work in progress. VerHagen never has shown a reliable secondary pitch or consistent command, so his ability to remain a starter is questionable. He has pitched as both a starter and a reliever in college and pro ball, and the Tigers will keep him in the rotation for now. He finished his pro debut in high Class A and likely will return there to begin 2013.

Draft Prospects

VerHagen has found success at Vanderbilt, his third school in three seasons. He played at Oklahoma as a freshman and helped Navarro (Texas) JC win the NJCAA World Series last season before coming on down the stretch as a junior for the Commodores. Scouts don't like his arm action, which hinders the consistency of his breaking ball. VerHagen's positives start with his 6-foot-6, 225-pound frame and good fastball, which consistently hits 95 as a starter or as a reliever. His lack of a breaking ball results in a weak strikeout rate (34 in 62 innings).

Career Transactions

St. Louis Cardinals activated RHP Drew VerHagen from the 15-day injured list.
St. Louis Cardinals sent RHP Drew VerHagen on a rehab assignment to Springfield Cardinals.
St. Louis Cardinals sent RHP Drew VerHagen on a rehab assignment to Springfield Cardinals.
St. Louis Cardinals placed RHP Drew VerHagen on the 15-day injured list. Right hip impingement.