Nick Adenhart

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #1 prospect in 2009
  Baseball America's Youth Player of the Year in 2003, Adenhart rivaled Homer Bailey as the top high school pitching prospect in the 2004 draft until he blew out his elbow that May and needed Tommy John surgery. Undaunted, the Angels drafted Adenhart in the 14th round and signed him for $710,000. Adenhart began 2008 by going 4-0, 0.87 in his first five starts at Triple-A Salt Lake before Los Angeles whisked him to the big leagues and asked him to pitch on three days' rest against the Athletics. The experiment bombed, as he lasted just two innings and gave up five earned runs. After he continued to struggle with his control in subsequent starts against the Royals and White Sox, the Angels returned him to Triple-A and he never found his April groove again. Adenhart won just one of his next 10 starts and went 5-13, 7.08 the rest of the way. Despite his struggles, Adenhart continued to show quality stuff. He works off a 90-95 mph fastball that rides in on righthanders. He also has two promising secondary pitches, a hard curveball and a rapidly improving changeup. He has good arm speed, fade and sink on his changeup, which is more reliable than his curve. He uses his size to throw his pitches on a downward trajectory that makes it difficult to drive the ball against him. Adenhart has topped 150 innings in each of the last three seasons, burying any concerns about his health, with his only missed time coming with a minor sore shoulder in 2007. He's a good athlete, which allows him to repeat his delivery and should result in at least solid control and command. An inability to execute his pitches hampered Adenhart in Triple-A. When he got into jams, he couldn't pitch his way out. He nibbled too much and became too predictable when he fell behind in the count. He had trouble throwing his curveball for strikes, and the pitch lacks consistent depth. That's part of the reason righthanders handled him more easily than lefties, batting .314 against him. Adenhart's command deserted him at times in 2007 as well, and Los Angeles has tried to get him to understand that he doesn't need to pitch away from contact. The Angels believe he might have gotten lost trying to please his coaches rather than pitch to his strengths. The Angels still believe in Adenhart, but he needs to start putting things together from a mental standpoint. He could spend much of 2009 in Triple-A, as Los Angeles will have at most one opening in its rotation. If the Angels don't re-sign Jon Garland or import another veteran, Adenhart will compete with Nick Green, Dustin Moseley and Anthony Ortega in spring training. As stunning as his struggles were in 2008, Adenhart is still just 22 and has a chance to become a frontline starter if he does a better job using his quality stuff.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #2 prospect in 2008
  Since having Tommy John surgery in high school but still signing for $710,000, Adenhart has logged more than 300 innings in the last two minor league seasons. He impressed in spring training with a 1.84 ERA in four appearances in big league camp, then went 3-0, 1.54 in April to begin a solid, if streaky season that included a short disabled-list stint with a sore shoulder. He's pitched on big stages his entire career, earning Baseball America's Youth Player of the Year honors in 2003, a trip to the Futures Game in 2006 and a spot on the U.S. Olympic qualifying team following the '06 season. Adenhart has outstanding stuff. His fastball sits at 91-92 mph on most nights and ranges from 88-94. The ball jumps out of his hand and explodes at the plate with late, riding life and finish. His slider has hard three-quarter tilt at 75-77 mph. His changeup is a legitimate third weapon and usually more effective than his breaking ball, with plus fade and sink. He maintains his hand speed and sells the pitch well. His delivery isn't picture perfect but he pitches downhill and his arm works easily from a natural three-quarters arm slot. He's a good all-around athlete. While Adenhart shows an ability to throw all three of his pitches for strikes, his command escaped him at times last season. Angels minor league pitching coordinator Kernan Ronan made pitching to contact a point of emphasis for Adenhart because he tries to be too fine. His breaking ball lacks consistent shape and command. Adenhart looks like a future front-of-the- rotation stud who could be ready for a major league job in 2008. But the Angels don't have an opening in their rotation, so he's most likely going to spend the entire season in Triple-A.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #2 prospect in 2007
  Though he was just 19 and pitching for the first time above Rookie ball, Adenhart reinforced sentiment that he has made a full recovery from Tommy John surgery. He blew out his elbow his senior year, then signed for $710,000 after the Angels took a 14th-round flier on him. He earned an invitation to the Futures Game and a spot on the U.S. Olympic qualifying team. Adenhart has above-average command of three plus pitches. His fastball has life at 93-95 mph and comes out of his hand easily. His deceptive 81-84 mph circle changeup is ahead of his breaking ball, though his 75-76 mph curveball has tight spin with 11-to-5 shape. He's aggressive, works ahead in the count and pitches to both sides of the plate. Adenhart tends to overthrow his curve, leading to inconsistent control of the pitch. His delivery is generally smooth, though his lead leg is stiff and he could do a better job of maintaining his high-three-quarters release point. Adenhart profiles as a future No. 2 starter. He should climb to Double-A Arkansas sometime in 2007.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #6 prospect in 2006
  When his senior season started in 2004, Adenhart ranked with Homer Bailey as the top high school pitching prospects in the nation. But a few weeks before the draft, Adenhart blew out his elbow and had Tommy John surgery. Seemingly headed for North Carolina, he signed for $710,000 as a 14th-round pick. He came back stronger and earlier than expected in 2005, rating as the No. 2 prospect in the Rookie-level Arizona League. Before his injury, Adenhart was lauded for his polished threepitch repertoire, the life on his stuff and his mound presence. He already has regained much of his arm strength, pitching at 89-92 mph and touching 94 with his fastball. His 11-to-5 curveball has sharp, late break. He showed a feel for a circle changeup that has potential to be a third plus offering. His quick recovery is indicative of his strong work ethic and makeup. Adenhart's delivery can be deceiving, because his arm action is smooth and easy and the ball jumps out of his hand. But he throws across his body, which helps the life on his pitches but also led to his injury. His command isn't yet as sharp as it was, but that's typical of the Tommy John recovery. If his stuff and command come all the way back, Adenhart has a higher ceiling than Jered Weaver. The Angels won't rush Adenhart and may wait until the weather warms up at low Class A Cedar Rapids before letting him start his 2006 season.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #20 prospect in 2005
  Baseball America's 2003 Youth Player of the Year, Adenhart entered last spring as the consensus top prospect in the high school draft class. He opened his senior season with a seven-inning, 15-strikeout perfect game. His stock had started to slip ever so slightly by May, and then he blew out his elbow. After he had Tommy John surgery days before the draft, he seemed destined to attend college at North Carolina. But first-year area scout Dan Radcliff pushed first-year scouting director Eddie Bane to gamble on Adenhart, and Anaheim persuaded him to sign for a 14th-round-record $710,000 bonus. Prior to the injury, he showed dominant stuff and an advanced feel for pitching. He pitched at 90-93 mph and spun a tight, 12-to-6 curveball with excellent depth. He showed a good feel for his changeup and understood how to set up hitters. His cross-body delivery and rigid landing added stress to his elbow, though his arm works free and easy. A diligent worker, Adenhart has embraced his rehabilitation routine. He spent the offseason attending classes at Arizona State while working with Angels doctors and trainers at the club's base in Mesa, Ariz. Given the track record of Tommy John comebacks, Anaheim is confident he'll make a complete recovery. He might not make his pro debut until 2006, though he could see time in Rookie ball late this year.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Pacific Coast League #19 prospect in 2008
  Adenhart went 4-0, 0.87 in his first five Triple-A starts before the Angels made a much-debated decision to give him a big league start on only three days of rest. He lasted just two innings against the Athletics, got hit hard in two subsequent major league starts and then struggled for the remainder of the season in Triple-A. When he's on, Adenhart pounds the lower half of the strike zone with a 90-94 mph fastball, a hard-breaking slider and a sinking changeup. Most PCL observers remained positive about his upside, even after his command deserted him when he came back from the majors. Pitching in the altitude at Salt Lake's Covey Field didn't help him, but too often he simply wasn't able to execute enough pitches to get himself out of jams. One scout who saw Adenhart during his struggles said he needed to pitch to contact more, and that he got too predictable whenever he fell behind in the count.
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  Ranked Texas League #3 prospect in 2007
  Adenhart held his own in his first Double-A experience at age 20, finishing fifth in the league with a 3.65 ERA, but inconsistency with his delivery and command kept him from dominating as his stuff might dictate. He finished third in the league in strikeouts, but he also finished fifth in the league in walks. He has top-of-the-rotation stuff when everything works, throwing a plus fastball in the mid-90s, along with a curveball and changeup that can be above-average pitches at times. At his best he commands all three pitches and works to both sides of the plate. Arkansas coaches worked to smooth his delivery, particularly with his lower half, to make that happen more regularly. Adenhart tried to be too fine with his pitches at times this season, leading to higher pitch counts. His coaches tried to encourage him to pitch more to contact.
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  Ranked Midwest League #5 prospect in 2006
  Just two years removed from elbow surgery that cost him his status as arguably the top high school pitcher in the 2004 draft, Adenhart was the only MWL pitcher who could show three plus-plus pitches. When he left for high Class A at midseason, he led the league in wins and ranked second in ERA as a 19-year-old. MWL observers were divided over which was his best offering. They had to choose between an effortless 93-95 mph fastball, a deceptive 81-84 mph changeup and a 75-76 mph curveball. The curve is his least consistent pitch because he sometimes overthrows it, but it buckles knees when it's on. Scouts expect him to fine-tune his command with more experience, and their only minor concern is that he still puts some stress on his elbow in his delivery. He pitched a career-high 158 innings without a problem, though he faded late in the California League.
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  Ranked California League #4 prospect in 2006
  With his 2004 Tommy John surgery firmly in the rear-view mirror, Adenhart delivered on the considerable expectations for him in his first full season. He breezing through the first half in the Midwest League before a successful nine-start stint at Rancho Cucamonga. He faded at the end of the summer with Team USA in the Olympic qualifying tournament, probably a result of fatigue. Adenhart stands out most for his outstanding command of three plus pitches: a 90-95 mph, a tight downer curveball that can be inconsistent at times and a plus-plus changeup with good fade and deception. He spots his fastball wherever he wants, isn't afraid to work inside and does a good job keeping the ball down. Like Morales, Adenhart throws his changeup with the same arm speed and delivery as his fastball, making both pitches that much more effective. With a prototype pitcher's frame and smooth, high three-quarters delivery, he should continue to get better with experience.
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  Ranked Arizona Complex League #2 prospect in 2005
  Adenhart projected as one of the top picks in the 2004 draft before he hurt his elbow last May and needed Tommy John surgery. The Angels gambled that he'd return to form, taking him in the 14th round and giving him a $710,000 bonus. His comeback after a 13-month absence started slowly, as he was on a strict pitch count, but he made huge strides in the Arizona League and regained most of his arm strength. He threw 90-94 mph fastballs with little effort. Adenhart showed an excellent feel for pitching with flashes of his old form. Managers noted how easily the ball comes out of his hand, and he complemented his fastball with a sharp curveball, a backdoor slider and an excellent changeup. Inconsistent command and occasional poor pitch selection were his only issues.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #68 prospect in 2009
• Ranked Baseball America's #24 prospect in 2008
• Ranked Baseball America's #34 prospect in 2007
• Ranked Baseball America's #90 prospect in 2006

• December, 2007 Scouting Report
  Since having Tommy John surgery in high school but still signing for $710,000, Adenhart has logged more than 300 innings in the last two minor league seasons. He impressed in spring training with a 1.84 ERA in four appearances in big league camp, then went 3-0, 1.54 in April to begin a solid, if streaky season that included a short disabled-list stint with a sore shoulder. He's pitched on big stages his entire career, earning Baseball America's Youth Player of the Year honors in 2003, a trip to the Futures Game in 2006 and a spot on the U.S. Olympic qualifying team following the '06 season. Adenhart has outstanding stuff. His fastball sits at 91-92 mph on most nights and ranges from 88-94. The ball jumps out of his hand and explodes at the plate with late, riding life and finish. His slider has hard three-quarter tilt at 75-77 mph. His changeup is a legitimate third weapon and usually more effective than his breaking ball, with plus fade and sink. He maintains his hand speed and sells the pitch well. His delivery isn't picture perfect but he pitches downhill and his arm works easily from a natural three-quarters arm slot. He's a good all-around athlete. While Adenhart shows an ability to throw all three of his pitches for strikes, his command escaped him at times last season. Angels minor league pitching coordinator Kernan Ronan made pitching to contact a point of emphasis for Adenhart because he tries to be too fine. His breaking ball lacks consistent shape and command. Adenhart looks like a future front-of-the- rotation stud who could be ready for a major league job in 2008. But the Angels don't have an opening in their rotation, so he's most likely going to spend the entire season in Triple-A.