Ben Fritz
| IP | 714 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 5.143 |
| WHIP | 1.497 |
| BB/9 | 3.756 |
| SO/9 | 6.164 |
- Full name Ben Scott Fritz
- Born 03/29/1981 in San Jose, CA
- Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 240 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Fresno State
-
Drafted in the 1st round (30th overall) by the Oakland Athletics in 2002 (signed for $1,200,000).
View Draft Report
One of the top two-way players in the country, Fritz has attracted more attention throwing pitches than catching them. He has pitched on Fridays, played first base on Saturdays and caught on Sundays. His preference is to play everyday, and his arm strength and ability to frame pitches and move well as a catcher could convince some scouts. He has good power with natural loft to his swing, though he'll have to make adjustments to hide the holes in it. On the mound, Fritz uses a solid-average fastball with late life. He works at 89-91 and touches 93 mph as a starter. Some scouts compare him to another catcher-turned-pitcher, Troy Percival, and think he would benefit from shorter outings. He mixes in a decent changeup with sink and fading action, and a hard cutter.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
-
One A's official put it succinctly: "He had a crappy year. But there's something special about Ben that makes you think he'll get it eventually." Fritz battled shoulder tendinitis in 2003, his first full pro season, leading to erratic performances and getting him shut down after July 1. Another former two-way player among Oakland's best pitching prospects, Fritz also caught and played first base at Fresno State. His arm strength, power and agility made him a legitimate catching prospect, but teams liked him even better on the mound. When healthy, Fritz has a 92-94 mph fastball, a decent slider and two variations of a changeup. His fastball has good life, which combined with his easy delivery leads to a lot of late or checked swings. He'll need to improve his command and stay healthy in 2003, which he'll probably begin back in high Class A. Some club officials believe his best long-term role may be as a closer, because he has the makeup to thrive in that role. -
A do-everything player, Fritz started all 59 games for Fresno State in 2002, seeing time at pitcher, catcher, first base and DH. His usual routine was to pitch on Friday, play first base on Saturday and catch on Sunday. The 2002 Western Athletic Conference pitcher of the year, he'd play every day if the decision were up to him. He has the arm, agility and power to make it as a catcher, but the A's decided that once he limits his workload to pitching, he has the potential to become a star. He has a great feel for the mound, with a true understanding of how to pitch. His stuff isn't bad, either. Fritz has a 90-94 mph fastball that touches 96, and his slider and changeup should become at least average pitches. He has good command and is a tenacious competitor. Some scouts have compared him to catcher-turned-pitcher Troy Percival and think Fritz' future may be in the bullpen. He excelled in that role during the summer of 2001, closing games for the Anchorage Glacier Pilots as they won the National Baseball Congress World Series championship. Along with Joe Blanton, Fritz is the most advanced of the pitchers Oakland drafted last year. He'll probably open this year in high Class A but could reach Double-A by season's end.
Minor League Top Prospects
-
Fritz was one of three first-round picks to pitch for the Canadians this season, along with Blanton and Steve Obenchain. Fritz doesn't have Blanton's mid-90s fastball and power curve, but that doesn't mean his stuff is short. Also used as a catcher and first baseman at Fresno State, Fritz has room to improve as he turns his full attention to pitching. Renowned in college for his tenacity and competitiveness, he showed those qualities again in the NWL. Additionally, he pitched at 90-94 mph with his fastball and showed flashes of an average changeup and slider. "He pitches with a lot of poise and a lot of control, both of himself and his pitches," Franchuk said. "Everyone we've talked to liked him as a catcher because of his strength and his arm, and you could see those things out on the mound as well."
