James Sherfy
| IP | 60 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 3.3 |
| WHIP | 1.15 |
| BB/9 | 3.15 |
| SO/9 | 9 |
- Full name James Harold Sherfy
- Born 12/27/1991 in Thousand Oaks, CA
- Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 175 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Oregon
- Debut 08/20/2017
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Drafted in the 10th round (300th overall) by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2013 (signed for $100,000).
View Draft Report
Sherfy bring Southern California flavor to Oregon with his Jeff Spicoli-like shoulder-length blond hair and laid-back demeanor. On the mound, though, he's all business and has been one of the most dominant closers in college baseball the past two seasons. Sherfy injured his elbow in the final game of Oregon's super regional against Kent State last year, a stress fracture that caused him to miss summer ball. Some teams may shy away from him because of his 6-foot, 175-pound build, but he has shown the durability to pitch on back-to-back days and there's no denying his electric stuff. Sherfy's fastball has gotten better throughout the season, from 89-93 mph early to 94-96 more recently, and he mixes in a lot of nasty, mid-80s sliders. He's a bullpen guy all the way, so he should move quickly in pro ball.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Track Record: Sherfy has always been one of the smaller players on every team he's been on. But he's also always had a lightning quick arm, which he used to reach the big leagues in 2017 and 2018.
Scouting Report: Sherfy has a mid-90s fastball and a sharp-breaking curveball. His fastball can be straight and he doesn't always command it, but when he does he can consistently put hitters away with the curve, a pitch that grades as plus. Sherfy's easygoing, laid-back nature seems to serve him well in pressure situations. His walk rate more than doubled from 2017 to 2018, but team officials point to the success of righthander Silvino Bracho as the reason Sherfy spent most of 2018 at Triple-A Reno.
The Future: Sherfy figures to again have a chance to pitch his way into a big league role--even a prominent one given the uncertainty in the D-backs' bullpen. -
After hitting a speed bump in 2015, Sherfy got his career back on track with solid 2016 season and reached the majors in August 2017. He pitched so well down the stretch, in fact, that he earned himself a spot on the D-backs' postseason roster. Interestingly, his first big league manager with the D-backs, Torey Lovullo, is the father of Nick Lovullo, who was one of Sherfy's teammates at Newbury Park (Calif.) High. Mechanical changes in his delivery in 2016 have helped Sherfy sit in the mid-90s with his fastball and touch the upper 90s. He has a curveball he uses as his out pitch to get swings-and-misses and also mixes in an occasional changeup to keep hitters off balance. His improved dedication to the game off the field has allowed him to maintain his stuff throughout the season. He didn't allow an earned run in the regular season during his brief stint in the majors and Lovullo gave him the ball with the lead late in games, even letting him get the final six outs for a save at Coors Field in September. Sherfy showed he could pitch at the major league level in 2017 and figures to be in the mix for a prominent bullpen role when the D-backs open the regular season in 2018. -
Sherfy appeared to be on the fast track through the Diamondbacks system his first two pro seasons thanks to an electric fastball and two solid offspeed pitches. He struggled mightily at Double-A Mobile in 2015, however, and took a step back to high Class A Visalia to start 2016. Sherfy got back on track both in the Cal League and in a return to Mobile, striking out 52 batters and yielding only one run in 32 innings. A 6.17 ERA in 23.1 innings at Triple-A Reno was inflated by two particularly poor outings. The key for Sherfy in 2016 was improving his focus and developing a better routine off the field, as well as making mechanical changes on the mound that helped him better maintain his stuff. He delivers a fastball in the 95-98 mph range and a plus slider at 87-91. He complements his primary pitches with an 88-92 mph changeup and mid-70s curveball. The D-backs added Sherfy to the 40-man roster after the 2016 season, and he will head to spring training with a shot at being part of the team's rebuilt bullpen. His electric stuff and two potential plus pitches give him closer potential. -
Sherfy looked to be on the fast track through the Arizona system after the one-time Oregon Duck closer's first two pro seasons, with an electric fastball and two solid off-speed pitches. The 2013 10th-round pick got out of the gate quickly with Double-A Mobile, but consistency issues and troubles adapting to a setup role led to a disappointing season. He still struck out a batter an inning, down slightly from his 10.6 per nine innings rate at Mobile in 2014. Despite a small frame and max effort delivery, Sherfy uses really good arm speed and athleticism to generate plus velocity up to 98 mph with good movement, sink and late life. Sherfy flashes an 81-84 mph plus slider but he doesn't command it, and he has some feel for an average changeup that he doesn't use very often. Harnessing his intensity is one of the key goals for Sherfy as he likely moves to Triple-A Reno at some point in 2016. -
One of the most dominant closers in college as an Oregon sophomore and junior, Sherfy's small stature, max-effort delivery and injury history caused him to drop in the 2013 draft, and the Diamondbacks scooped him up for a $100,000 bonus in the 10th round. He dominated hitters in his 11 games at high Class A Visalia to start 2014, striking out 23 of the 44 batters he faced. While he still has a high-maintenance delivery, Sherfy cleaned it up to better stay online. He generates plus velocity from his small frame because of his athleticism and arm speed. His fastball is electric, a 96-97 mph heater that touches 99 with late sink and life. His slider at 82-85 mph is short and tight with a little bit of tilt. While he doesn't use it much, his changeup gives Sherfy an effective third pitch. He'll challenge for a Triple-A Reno roster spot to open 2015 and could pitch his way to Chase Field sooner than later. -
One of the most dominant closers in college baseball as an Oregon sophomore and junior, Sherfy dropped to the 10th round of the 2013 draft, where the Diamondbacks signed him for $100,000. His small stature and somewhat funky delivery must have scared off some teams, because his lightning-quick arm and electric stuff certainly play up in the bullpen. After pitching nine shutout innings with a 17/1 SO/BB ratio at short-season Hillsboro, Sherfy moved to low Class A South Bend to finish 2013. His low-three-quarters arm slot concerns some scouts in terms of its repeatability. His fastball sits at 95-96 mph and touches 98. His low-80s slider has the potential to be a wipeout pitch, along the lines of Giants closer Sergio Romo. Sherfy loves to pitch in pressure situations and could move quickly through the system, potentially following the path taken in 2012 by Jake Barrett, which means half the year at high Class A Visalia and half at Double-A Mobile.
Draft Prospects
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Sherfy bring Southern California flavor to Oregon with his Jeff Spicoli-like shoulder-length blond hair and laid-back demeanor. On the mound, though, he's all business and has been one of the most dominant closers in college baseball the past two seasons. Sherfy injured his elbow in the final game of Oregon's super regional against Kent State last year, a stress fracture that caused him to miss summer ball. Some teams may shy away from him because of his 6-foot, 175-pound build, but he has shown the durability to pitch on back-to-back days and there's no denying his electric stuff. Sherfy's fastball has gotten better throughout the season, from 89-93 mph early to 94-96 more recently, and he mixes in a lot of nasty, mid-80s sliders. He's a bullpen guy all the way, so he should move quickly in pro ball.
