Mitch Talbot

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #16 prospect in 2009
  After an up-and-down 2007 season with Durham, during which he struggled with his control, Talbot was the Bulls' best pitcher last year. He ranked third in the International League in strikeouts (141 in 161 innings) and fifth in wins (13) before receiving his first big league promotion. Acquired with Ben Zobrist from the Astros for Aubrey Huff at the all-star break in 2006, Talbot has an 89-91 mph fastball with good movement, a hard slider with impressive late cutting action and a changeup that continues to show better fade and depth. His control improved immensely compared to 2007, and while his strikeout total was the second-highest in the system, he's not afraid to pitch to contact and let his fielders do their jobs. Talbot has developed a knack for competing without his best stuff. With no foreseen vacancies in the Tampa Bay rotation, his future could be as a middle reliever or as trade bait. A return to Triple-A could be in the offing for 2009, though it's hard to see how that will benefit either Talbot or the organization.
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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #21 prospect in 2008
  After initially exciting the Rays following his acquisition in a mid-2006 deal that sent Aubrey Huff to Houston, Talbot had an up-and-down 2007 season in Triple-A. He struggled at times with the command of all three of his pitches while trying to deal with the high expectations he created during his initial stint in the system, when he showed a consistent plus fastball and threw two complete-game shutouts in the Southern League playoffs. Though he didn't live up to those expectations, he still managed to win 13 games and made adjustments as he continued to learn about himself as a pitcher. Talbot pitched at 89-91 mph with his fastball while mixing in a solid changeup and a slider. An excellent athlete, he has a clean delivery that he repeats well. He's capable of dialing up his fastball a few extra notches when needed, and the effectiveness of his slider, which has late cutting action, has improved. Talbot continues to mature as a pitcher and could be a long-term solution in the back half of the major league rotation. He could make that jump in 2008, though he figures to return to Triple-A to open the slate.
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  Ranked Tampa Bay Rays #13 prospect in 2007
  The Rays couldn't be happier with the package they received from Houston for Aubrey Huff at the All-Star break. While Ben Zobrist emerged as the starting shortstop in Tampa and should be at least a solid utilityman in the future, Talbot has an even better ceiling. He was dominant after changing organizations and at his best in the Double-A Southern League playoffs, tossing two complete-game shutouts while fanning 24 batters and walking just two in 18 innings. It took him a while, but Talbot finally grew into the velocity the Astros expected when they drafted him in the second-round in 2002. He pitched consistently at 90-93 mph last year, and the command of his secondary pitches improved. His changeup always has been effective, and he made strides picking up a third pitch, which is a cross between a cutter and a slider. He didn't have much luck trying to develop a consistent curveball or slider while in the Houston system. Talbot has a clean delivery and plenty of athleticism. Talbot could challenge for a spot in Tampa Bay's rotation by the end of 2007.
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  Ranked Houston Astros #26 prospect in 2006
  Talbot hasn't grown into the velocity the Astros expected when they made him a second-round pick in 2002, and he receives mixed reviews from club officials. Yet he's still an interesting pitching prospect with the best changeup in the system. He throws it with excellent arm action and it drops straight down. He'll occasionally hit 94 mph on the radar gun, but he usually pitches at 88-90 with a two-seam fastball and 91-92 with a four-seamer. He's athletic and has a clean delivery and arm action, so it's possible he could add more velocity in the future. Those attributes allow him to throw strikes with ease. Talbot never has had much success with a breaking ball. He has tried both a slider and curveball, and usually winds up with a mediocre slurve. His best option may be a pitch that's closer to a cut fastball than a true slider. His job in Double-A this year remains the same as it was in 2005: to find a dependable third pitch.
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  Ranked Houston Astros #22 prospect in 2005
  The only Utah high schooler taken in the first 35 rounds in 2002, Talbot got caught in the Astros' temporary embargo on signing draft picks and didn't make his pro debut until the following summer. His polish served as a contrast to the rest of Lexington's 2004 rotation, which included more electric but less refined arms in Matt Albers, Derick Grigsby and Chance Douglass. Talbot already has the best changeup in the organization and a feel for pitching beyond his years. His athletic delivery and arm action, which have prompted comparisons to Ron Darling and Todd Stottlemyre, allow him to throws strikes with little difficulty. He runs his 90-91 mph fastball, which peaks at 93, in on hitters. What Talbot needs to reach his ceiling as a No. 3 or 4 starter is a better breaking ball. He has been working on a slider, but his arm action might be more conducive to throwing a curveball. Ticketed for high Class A in 2005, he could move quickly once he finds a reliable breaking pitch.
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  Ranked Houston Astros #12 prospect in 2004
  Since they signed him as a second-rounder in 2002, the Astros have compared Talbot's repertoire to that of former all-star Ron Darling. Because the Astros temporarily embargoed signing draft picks that summer, he didn't make his pro debut until 2003 at Rookie-level Martinsville. The layoff didn't hurt him, as Talbot showed a lot of polish for a teenager. Hitters have trouble making solid contact because he has a quick, deceptive arm action and gets a lot of boring and sinking action on his fastballs. He sits at 89-92 mph with his two-seam fastball and can get up to 95 with a four-seamer. His curveball, changeup and ability to pitch are all advanced for his age. He should have three average or better pitches when he reaches the majors. Talbot still needs to tighten his curveball and refine his mechanics a little bit. He'll work on that in low Class A this year.
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  Ranked Houston Astros #21 prospect in 2003
  Talbot could form an all-Utah battery with John Buck in four or five years. The Major League Scouting Bureau gave Talbot the highest grade among Beehive State prospects last year, and he enhanced his draft status by announcing he wouldn't go on a two-year Mormon mission. Because of the club's temporary draft embargo, Talbot has yet to make his pro debut. He did impress the Astros during instructional league, resembling a young Ron Darling with his effortless delivery, arm action and feel for three pitches. Talbot pitched at 88 mph in instructional league, but during the spring he sat at 91-92 and touched 95. His fastball has a lot of run and sink. He also throws a tight curveball and a changeup that's advanced for his age. Talbot's command and competitiveness also earn high marks. He likely will begin 2003 in extended spring and make his debut at Tri-City or Martinsville in June.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Southern League #16 prospect in 2006
  Another member of the Top 20 involved in a midseason trade, Talbot went from the Astros to the Devil Rays along with Ben Zobrist in the Aubrey Huff deal. His performance stepped up a notch, as he posted a 1.90 ERA in 10 regular-season starts for Montgomery before tossing back-to-back postseason shutouts to help the Biscuits win the SL title. While his fastball velocity was the same 90-93 mph it had been in the Double-A Texas League, his command of his secondary pitches improved and he added a different version of a slider to that mix. Talbot changed the grip on the slider, giving it more late cutting action. Talbot also throws a slurvy curveball and a changeup. He has good arm action on the changeup, dropping his arm at the end to get better sink and fade. Though he needs to be more consistent with his arm slot, his mechanics are clean and his athleticism allows him to repeat his delivery well.
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  Ranked Texas League #12 prospect in 2006
  The Devil Rays' Double-A affiliate plays in the Southern League, but they have two of the better prospects in the Texas League this season after trading Aubrey Huff to the Astros in July for Talbot and Ben Zobrist (who led the league with a .434 on-base percentage and just missed making this list). Both players were integral to Corpus Christi's first-half division title before they headed out. Zobrist surprised everyone by quickly reaching the big leagues, and many TL managers thought Talbot wouldn't be far behind him because he finally started to pitch to his potential this season. He was good in Corpus Christi and simply lights-out after he joined the Devil Rays, giving up no earned runs in 18 playoff innings as Montgomery won the SL title. Talbot has always had a strong changeup, and it became much more effective this season when he started throwing his fastball more consistently in the mid-90s. Previously he had worked more in the 88-92 mph range. He still needs to polish his breaking ball, as he's trying to clean up his slider enough to make it an effective third pitch.
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  Ranked American League #12 prospect in 2003
  A 2002 second-rounder, Talbot didn't make his pro debut until this year because of the Astros' temporary embargo on signing draft picks last summer. He became more difficult to hit as the season progressed, and his two-seam fastball features so much sink that it almost looks like a splitter. Talbot also showed a good feel for his changeup and a pair of breaking balls that he used effectively against lefties and righties. He throws strikes but needs better location in the strike zone. "He throws a hard and heavy ball," Odor said. "If he improves his overall command, he has a chance to be a very good pitcher."

• December, 2003 Scouting Report
  Since they signed him as a second-rounder in 2002, the Astros have compared Talbot's repertoire to that of former all-star Ron Darling. Because the Astros temporarily embargoed signing draft picks that summer, he didn't make his pro debut until 2003 at Rookie-level Martinsville. The layoff didn't hurt him, as Talbot showed a lot of polish for a teenager. Hitters have trouble making solid contact because he has a quick, deceptive arm action and gets a lot of boring and sinking action on his fastballs. He sits at 89-92 mph with his two-seam fastball and can get up to 95 with a four-seamer. His curveball, changeup and ability to pitch are all advanced for his age. He should have three average or better pitches when he reaches the majors. Talbot still needs to tighten his curveball and refine his mechanics a little bit. He'll work on that in low Class A this year.