Daniel Schlereth
| IP | 93 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 4.355 |
| WHIP | 1.57 |
| BB/9 | 5.903 |
| SO/9 | 8.806 |
- Full name Daniel Robert Schlereth
- Born 05/09/1986 in Anchorage, AK
- Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: L / Throws: L
- School Arizona
- Debut 05/29/2009
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Drafted in the 1st round (26th overall) by the Arizona Diamondbacks in 2008 (signed for $1,330,000).
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The son of former NFL offensive lineman and current ESPN commentator Mark Schlereth, Daniel Schlereth was an eighth-round pick last year as a draft-eligible sophomore, having missed a year due to Tommy John surgery. Schlereth didn't sign and has come back improved as part of a devastating Arizona bullpen with three of the nation's best power arms. While teammate Ryan Perry figures to be drafted higher this year (and sophomore closer Jason Stoffel should go higher next year), Schlereth was making a case to go in the first two rounds by showing improved command and stuff from 2007. Schlereth finds the strike zone more consistently with his 90-94 mph fastball and at times has more velocity, sometimes sitting 94-96. His power breaking ball is a swing-and-miss pitch, and he's done a better job of throwing it for strikes. After a failed bid as a starter earlier in his career, Schlereth has shown the guts to challenge hitters with his stuff in a relief role and could be the rare lefthanded closer as a pro. The biggest question will be whether or not he can maintain his stuff while improving his control. He'll never have command with the effort he puts into his delivery, but he still doesn't throw as many quality strikes as he'll need to at higher levels. He's expected to be drafted in the first three rounds.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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The son of former NFL lineman and ESPN analyst Mark Schlereth, Daniel overcame Tommy John surgery in 2006 to go 26th overall in the draft two years later. Ten months after signing with the Diamondbacks for $1.33 million, he was in the big leagues. Arizona shipped him to Detroit in December in a deal that brought Edwin Jackson to the desert. Schlereth has the potential to be a rare power-pitching lefty closer. He has a 93-96 mph fastball with riding life, and he can buckle knees with his hard 82-84 mph curveball. Though he didn't need it in college, he also flashes a changeup that dives and floats. He's intense on the mound and wants the ball late in games. Schlereth struggled in the big leagues because he battled his command. He couldn't maintain a consistent release point, hurting his ability to locate his pitches. He needs to throw more strikes, and batters shouldn't tee off on his swing-and-miss stuff if he does. As soon as Schlereth works out his control issues, he'll be pitching in the late innings for the Tigers. -
As a local product who attended nearby Arizona, Schlereth was well known to the Diamondbacks. So when he bounced back from Tommy John surgery in 2006 to show his power stuff again last spring, Arizona jumped on him with the 26th overall pick and signed him for $1.33 million. The son of former NFL offensive lineman and ESPN commentator Mark Schlereth, he dominated in the Midwest League playoffs after a late promotion. Schlereth is perfectly suited to a role at the back of a bullpen. He has an explosive fastball that sits in the mid-90s and a power curveball that's also a plus pitch, not to mention the adrenaline and makeup for the role. He showed good control of both pitches last spring and summer. Staying healthy and learning how to absorb a full season's worth of work, along with sharpening his command, are about the only things standing between Schlereth and a major league job. He worked on a changeup in instructional league to give him an occasional third option. Though he worked just 12 regular-season innings after signing, Schlereth probably will jump to Double-A to open 2009. The Diamondbacks won't hold him back if he shows he can handle more advanced hitters. He has the arm to be a closer someday.
Minor League Top Prospects
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The Diamondbacks drafted Schlereth with the 26th overall pick in June 2008, then brought him up to the big leagues in late May. Being rushed showed as he struggled with his command. He returned to Mobile after six relief outings with Arizona, then spent the rest of the season shuttling between the two stops. Schlereth has a quick arm and three quality pitches, including a 92-95 mph fastball that touches 96. His power curveball is a plus pitch at 82-83 mph with sharp downward action. He also shows good arm speed on his 77-79 mph changeup, which should be a reliable third weapon for him with more experience. Schlereth's command needs to progress for him to succeed in the majors, and the first step will be maintaining a consistent release point. He should be able to pitch in late-inning situations once he learns to locate his pitches, with the potential to be a closer down the road.
