Michael Kirkman Stats & Scouting Report

IP	109
ERA	5.284
WHIP	1.495
BB/9	4.624
SO/9	8.587

Full name Michael Scott Kirkman
Born 09/18/1986 in Lake City, FL
Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Columbia
Debut 08/21/2010
Drafted in the 5th round (159th overall) by the Texas Rangers in 2005 (signed for $163,000).

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In a spring of players either stagnating or going backward in Florida, Kirkman was a breath of fresh air for scouts, getting better and getter with each outing. A lanky, projectable lefthander, Kirkman shot up draft boards and passed several pitchers to be considered the third-best hurler in Florida's prep ranks, after Chris Volstad and Tyler Herron of Palm Beach County. Kirkman has arm strength and arm speed, helping him generate a fastball that sits in the 88-92 mph range and an average slider. Both pitches have natural run and sink, and he competes well--all traits scouts consider hard to teach. He's also gotten bigger and stronger while staying coordinated, helping him increase the velocity on his fastball from the low 80s as a sophomore to his present velocity, and scouts believe he has more to come. Kirkman was at the East Coast Showcase last summer and also was invited to pitch for an all-star travel team put together by scouts that played in Australia last winter, so he's not coming out of nowhere. His junior-college commitment doesn't mean he'll be a cheap sign. In a lean year in Florida, though, he was seen repeatedly and figures to be drafted in the first three rounds.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Kirkman hardly looked like a prospect five years ago, when he couldn't get the ball over the plate and his fastball dropped below 80 mph at times. He rehabbed a hamstring injury that slowed his progress and worked closely with pitching coordinator Keith Comstock to turn his career around. He reached the big leagues in 2010 and contributed to the Rangers' World Series run, but he spent most of 2011 in Triple-A. He opened last season in the Round Rock rotation before moving back to the bullpen in May. Though he has the durability and the assortment of secondary pitches needed to start, Kirkman profiles best as a reliever. That's because he doesn't have enough command to make up for his lack of a dominant pitch and he doesn't control the running game well. Kirkman's arm generates 91-94 mph fastballs that are a tick higher in short stints, and his slider gives him a second plus offering. He also throws a changeup and a curveball that are average. His long, herky-jerky delivery creates some deception, especially against lefthanders, but it also can cause his command to falter. Kirkman will compete for a spot in the Texas bullpen in spring training.
Kirkman's mechanics and confidence deserted him after he hurt his hamstring in 2006, and for two years he barely could throw a ball above 80 mph--and nowhere near the plate. Pitching coordinator Keith Comstock got him back on track, and Kirkman earned Triple-A Pacific Coast League pitcher of the year honors in 2010 before contributing to the Rangers' World Series run as a reliever. Kirkman has good size and a strong arm that generates 91-94 mph fastballs with some sink. His plus 84-85 mph slider is an out pitch that he can bury on the back foot of righthanders and get lefties to chase out of the zone. He also mixes in a mid-70s curveball and a decent changeup, though he seldom used either in relief. He has a herky-jerky delivery with some length that makes it hard for hitters to pick up the ball but also impacts his command, which can be spotty. Texas still believes Kirkman can be a big league starter, but his lack of fine command might make him a better fit in the bullpen. He should make the Opening Day roster as a reliever unless the Rangers decide to move him back to the rotation, in which case he could return to Triple-A until an opportunity arises.
Baseball America rated Kirkman as the No. 3 prep pitching prospect in Florida for the 2005 draft, behind Marlins first-rounder Chris Volstad and Cardinals sandwich-rounder Tyler Herron, but his career has taken twists and turns since then. After a strong pro debut, Kirkman pulled his hamstring early in 2006, and it took him two years to get his mechanics back together. He lost the ability to throw strikes and saw his velocity drop into the low 80s. He showed dramatically improved mechanics, command and stuff in 2008, then truly re-established himself as a prospect last season, dominating the hitter-friendly California League and holding his own after a promotion to Double-A. He posted a 2.51 ERA over his last seven starts at Frisco, capped by seven scoreless innings of two-hit ball in his last outing. Kirkman's quality four-pitch repertoire is highlighted by a 90-94 mph fastball. He has the ability to throw strikes with a solid-average slider, an average change and a promising overhand curveball that he rediscovered last season. Kirkman's big, durable frame, solid delivery and repertoire remind some Rangers officials of Jeremy Affeldt. He's still refining his feel for pitching and must prove that he's mentally tough enough to handle pressure situations, but he has all the ingredients to become a workhorse starter or a quality big league reliever, perhaps by 2011. Added to the 40-man roster in November, he's slated to start this season back in the Frisco rotation.

Minor League Top Prospects

The Rangers have built a division winner through a strong farm system, with youngsters like Elvis Andrus and Neftali Feliz grabbing the spotlight. Kirkman mostly has flown under the radar, losing two seasons early in his career to injury and mechanical issues before starting to come on strong late in 2009. He truly broke out in his first look at Triple-A, winning the PCL's pitcher of the year award and leading the league in ERA (3.09) and strikeouts per nine innings (8.9). Kirkman features a plus fastball from the left side, a 91-93 mph offering that has some tail to it. He has a tight slider and mixes in a hard downer curveball as well. He also has a potentially average changeup but doesn't use it much. Kirkman's biggest issue is control, because he has trouble repeating his delivery. He gets into trouble with walks when teams lay off his slider. If he becomes more consistent, he could become a middle-of-the-rotation starter.