Anthony Varvaro
| IP | 183 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 3.246 |
| WHIP | 1.284 |
| BB/9 | 3.443 |
| SO/9 | 7.377 |
- Full name Anthony Michael Varvaro
- Born 10/31/1984 in Staten Island, NY
- Died 09/11/2022 in Jersey City, NJ
- Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 190 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School St. John's (NY)
- Debut 09/24/2010
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Drafted in the 12th round (353rd overall) by the Seattle Mariners in 2005.
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(Note: Vavarro was diagnosed as requiring Tommy John surgery after this report was filed.) With an average of 12.5 strikeouts per nine innings, Varvaro has been among the nation's most prolific strikeout artists this spring, and it has raised his draft profile considerably. He was projected as a fifth- or sixth-rounder entering the season after averaging less than a strikeout an inning as a sophomore and last summer in the Cape Cod League, but now is a candidate for the second or third round. His smallish frame is all that keeps him from going higher. Varvaro has a lightning-quick arm and excellent technique. He's durable and is capable of working deep into games. He has two quality pitches: a 92-94 mph fastball that touches 96 and an 83 mph power curveball that was much sharper this year. He's relentless in his desire to strike out hitters, but he's also learned the value of becoming a more complete pitcher. He has learned how to use his stuff, particularly his fastball, to set up hitters and gets most of his strikeouts by going to the outside half of the plate. He still needs work on his delivery, as he tends to fly open with his front shoulder. Scouts say he's a more complete pitcher than his teammate Craig Hansen, who will be a first-rounder, but lacks Hansen's raw stuff and frame.
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Varvaro blew out his elbow in May 2005 and fell to the 12th round of that year's draft, where the Mariners gambled $500,000 on his upside. Prior to the injury, he had a 92-94 mph fastball, a hard curveball and a chance to go as high as the supplemental first round. The Mariners have eased Varvaro back into action after he recovered from Tommy John surgery, as he averaged fewer than five innings per start for Wisconsin and was shut down with two weeks left in the season. Though he showed flashes of two plus pitches with Wisconsin, Varvaro's fastball ranged from 86-90 mph, reaching 92 on occasion. His curveball showed good depth at times but mostly was inconsistent. The Mariners took away Varvaro's slider when he signed and added a changeup, but it's strictly a third pitch. Some Midwest League observers didn't like the effort in Varvaro's drop-and-drive delivery, but the Mariners are optimistic that he'll make a full recovery and reach his upside as a No. 3 starter. -
Varvaro averaged more strikeouts per nine innings (12.1, ranking sixth in NCAA Division I) than St. John's teammate Craig Hansen (11.9), now with the Red Sox, in 2005. However, Varvaro blew out his elbow that May, and the Mariners took a flier on him in the 12th round. Prior to the injury, he had a 92-94 mph fastball, a hard curveball and a chance to go as high as the supplemental first round. Since signing him for $500,000, Varvaro has pitched just 11 innings in the Arizona League. That was long enough for him to show that his stuff should bounce back, as he showed good arm speed and pitched at 90-91 mph. There was also tightness to his curve. Varvaro should be at full strength this year, though the Mariners could have him open the year in extended spring training rather than pitching in the cold April climate of the Midwest League. Varvaro needs work on developing a better changeup and reducing the effort in his delivery. He has the upside of a No. 3 starter. -
In his two years running Seattle's drafts, scouting director Bob Fontaine has used his 12th-round picks on college prospects who faced Tommy John surgery. He took Wichita State lefty Steve Uhlmansiek in 2004, and Uhlmansiek returned to the mound last June, days after the Mariners took Varvaro. Before he blew out his elbow in May, Varvaro projected as a second- or third-round pick. Signed for $500,000, he ranked sixth in NCAA Division I with 12.1 strikeouts per nine innings last spring. That was a better rate than that of his more heralded St. John's teammate, Craig Hansen (11.9), who went in the first round to the Red Sox. Some scouts said Varvaro was a more complete pitcher than Hansen, and he carved up college hitters with a 92-94 mph fastball and a hard curveball. Once he returns to health, Varvaro should have the best curveball in the system. He'll have to tone down his delivery and work on his changeup. The Mariners expect he'll be able to pitch by midseason.
