Ross Detwiler Stats & Scouting Report

IP	752
ERA	4.56
WHIP	1.456
BB/9	3.267
SO/9	6.044

Full name Ross Emery Detwiler
Born 03/06/1986 in St. Louis, MO
Profile Ht.: 6'5" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: R / Throws: L
School Missouri State
Debut 09/07/2007
Drafted in the 1st round (6th overall) by the Washington Nationals in 2007 (signed for $2,150,000).

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The Marlins made Brett Sinkbeil the highest-drafted player in Missouri State history when they selected him 19th overall in 2006, but his record will likely last for only a year. Detwiler could go as high as No. 2 overall to the Royals and should last no more than 10 picks at the most. Though he packs just 175 pounds on his 6-foot-4 frame, Detwiler has the leverage and whip-like arm speed to consistently deliver 92-95 mph fastballs. He also throws a hard spike curveball at 78-81 mph, and sometimes will drop his arm angle to give it more sweeping break against lefthanders. His changeup has shown improvement this spring. Detwiler hasn't been able to put on weight yet has been durable. After starring in the Cape Cod League and with Team USA last summer, he endured a trying junior season, winning just four times in his first 12 starts due to a lack of offensive and defensive support. He was finishing strong, however, striking out a career-high 14 in a mid-May start that his bullpen blew for him in the ninth inning.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Signed for $2.15 million as the No. 6 overall pick in 2007, Detwiler made a big league cameo in just his 10th professional appearance. He spent his first full pro season in 2008 on a strict pitch count in high Class A, where he carried a 5.86 ERA into July before an improved changeup helped him post a 3.84 ERA and a 52-18 strikeout-walk ratio over the final two months. When he's on, as he was during the Carolina League playoffs, Detwiler features two plus pitches and flashes a third. His four-seam fastball can sit between 92-94 mph and touch 96 with explosive life, and his two-seamer has power sink. Detwiler's power curveball has tight 1-to-7 break, and he has the makings of a plus changeup with good arm speed and fade. His deceptive delivery makes his stuff play up even further. Detwiler's mechanics are inconsistent, causing his fastball velocity to dip into the high 80s and affecting his command. Especially in the first half, he threw too far across his body and often struggled to get through his pitches, so the Nationals worked hard on straightening his direction to the plate. It's an ongoing process, but he showed much better alignment in the Arizona Fall League. He's also working on quickening his times to the plate and holding baserunners better. He still must add strength to his wiry frame. Detwiler has the highest ceiling of any pitcher in the system. He'll start 2009 in Double-A, and some club officials believe everything will click and he'll be entrenched in the big leagues by September.
After a star turn with Team USA in 2006, Detwiler showed dominant stuff but was plagued by poor run support as a junior at Missouri State, going 4-5, 2.22 with 110 strikeouts and 38 walks in 89 innings. The Nationals made him the highest-drafted player in school history, taking him sixth overall and giving him a $2.15 million bonus. He made a Washington cameo in just his 10th professional appearance, making him the first 2006 draftee to reach the majors. Detwiler's arm is electric. His four-seam fastball sits at 90-93 mph and touches 95-96, and his two-seamer has darting armside run. His hard-breaking spike curveball is a second plus offering that can reach 83 mph. His high-70s changeup can be a third plus pitch at times, with very good arm speed and late fade. His frame always will be wiry, but Detwiler needs to add strength to endure a major league season. He throws strikes but is still learning to command the zone with his fastball and refine his changeup. He throws across his body somewhat despite easy arm action and a mostly sound delivery. With a chance for three above-average pitches, Detwiler has a chance to be a legitimate ace. He figures to start 2008 in Double-A but could force his way to the big leagues for good by the second half.

Minor League Top Prospects

Detwiler made significant strides this year after a tough first full pro season in 2008, breezing through Double-A in just 27 innings before stopping in Syracuse long enough to qualify for this list en route to Washington. He scuffled in his first extended taste of the majors but rebounded to post a 1.90 ERA in September. Detwiler has a pair of plus pitches in his 92-95 mph four-seam fastball and his power curveball. He complements them with a changeup that continues to improve. His delivery remains his biggest struggle, as he tends to throw across his body and sometimes gets offline from the plate. "He still throws 93 miles an hour and still has a good breaking ball," Syracuse manager Tim Foli said. "He's throwing better on the glove side of the plate, but if we can straighten him up a little bit and get him over there more consistently, then everything's going to get better."
Potomac won the Nationals' first-ever minor league championship thanks in part to Detwiler's second-half surge, including a 3.84 ERA and 52-18 strikeout-walk ratio in his final 61 innings. After becoming the first 2007 draftee to reach the majors last September, he struggled at the outset of this season. Potomac pitching coach Randy Tomlin worked with him to get him to stop throwing across his body and take a more direct line to the plate, a move that Detwiler didn't embrace initially. "He went through some tough times," Potomac manager Randy Knorr said. "Mechanics-wise, he was dealing with a lot of issues. He didn't know what to do with a lot of the changes made, but he battled through it." Detwiler's stuff was rarely questioned, even as his ERA rose to 5.87 in early July. His sinking fastball reached 95 mph, his plus curveball had good velocity and bite and his changeup showed nice fade at times. He induced a lot of grounders throughout the season and did a better job of throwing strikes with his revamped delivery.