Chad Bettis
| IP | 600 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 5.13 |
| WHIP | 1.47 |
| BB/9 | 3.15 |
| SO/9 | 6.465 |
- Full name Chad Robert Bettis
- Born 04/26/1989 in Lubbock, TX
- Profile Ht.: 6'0" / Wt.: 201 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Texas Tech
- Debut 08/01/2013
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Drafted in the 2nd round (76th overall) by the Colorado Rockies in 2010 (signed for $477,000).
View Draft Report
Bettis could join Brett Eibner as an unsigned Astros 2007 draft pick (eighth round) who blossoms into a first-rounder three years later. As with Eibner, there's debate about Bettis' future role. He's definitely a pitcher, and while many scouts see him as a rubber-armed reliever, others say he has enough stuff to start. Texas Tech has used him in both roles, deploying him as a starter as a freshman, a reliever a year ago and both ways this spring. A 6-foot-1, 211-pounder, Bettis has a quick arm, fluid delivery and quality fastball. He pitches in the low 90s as a starter and touched 98 mph coming out of the bullpen last summer with Team USA. He generates velocity with his fluid delivery and arm speed rather than effort. He still needs to do a better job of locating his fastball down in the strike zone, but he has thrown more strikes and shown more sink this year. Bettis' mid-80s slider can be a plus, but he also overthrows it at times. His changeup gives him an effective pitch against lefthanders. He sometimes relies on his secondary pitches too much, to the detriment of his fastball command.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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After being named high Class A California League pitcher of the year in 2011, Bettis missed the entire 2012 season. He strained a muscle behind his shoulder in his second spring-training outing and was out until instructional league. He resumed his career at Double-A Tulsa in 2013, missing two months with an oblique strain, then earned a promotion to the Rockies on Aug. 1. After making eight starts, Bettis moved to the bullpen as Colorado wanted to limit his workload after a year off and see how he handled relieving. Before his shoulder injury, Bettis reached 97-98 mph with his fastball. Last season, he hit 96 and pitched at 92-93. The Rockies hope he'll regain velocity as he gains more distance from his injury. His vastly improved changeup is a plus pitch with sink and serves as his best secondary pitch. His slider has turned into more of a cutter, an 86-89 mph pitch that can be too hard and close in velocity to his fastball. At times he threw his curveball more than his cutter in relief, but it's his fourth-best pitch. Bettis can control the strike zone but doesn't command it yet. Like a lot of rookie pitchers, he resorted to a faster/harder mentality when the game sped up on him, but it was in keeping with his fierce competitiveness. Bettis' fast-action delivery may not allow him to hold up physically as a starter, and a permanent move to the bullpen is likely. He could begin 2014 relieving in the majors. -
Bettis was the 2011 California League pitcher of the year after going 12-5, 3.34 and leading the league in innings (170), strikeouts (184), WHIP (1.10) and opponent average (.225). But he hasn't pitched in an official game since. He strained a muscle behind his shoulder in his second Cactus League outing last spring, sidelining him until instructional league. Bettis is tenacious and attacks hitters with everything he throws. His fastball ranges from 91-96 mph and sits at 93, and he got back up to 96 in instructional league. He throws a tight, two-plane slider that gives him a second plus pitch. His changeup is average and has the potential to get better. Bettis has good command works the bottom of the zone consistently. His height creates concerns about a lack of a downhill plane for his pitches that might make it more difficult to get through a lineup three times, but his ability to hold his velocity means he'll continue to start for now. Bettis will open 2013 in Double-A and could be a solid No. 3 starter or more in the majors. If he moves to the bullpen, he could get to Colorado faster and wind up as a closer. -
Bettis started and relieved at Texas Tech, which could be helpful because his ultimate role has yet to be determined. He has had nothing but success as a starter in two pro seasons, going 18-6, 2.70 overall and earning high Class A California League pitcher of the year honors in 2011. He led the league in innings (170), strikeouts (184), WHIP (1.10) and opponent average (.225). Bettis pitches at 94-95 mph with his fastball, easily gets to 98 mph and maintains his velocity in the late innings. His tight slider reaches the upper 80s and gives him a second plus pitch. His height raises concerns that he'll work on a flat plane and have trouble the third time through a lineup unless he develops a softer pitch so he can change speeds as well as locations. That offerling likely will be a curveball that's better than his below-average changeup. Bettis is aggressive but did a better job of staying back in his delivery in the second half of the season. He throws strikes and works the bottom of the zone. If his secondary stuff develops, Bettis can become a solid No. 3 starter and perhaps more. If he ends up in the bullpen, he profiles as a possible closer and could rise quickly. He'll open 2012 in Double-A. -
An eighth-round draft choice coming out of high school in 2007, Bettis was among seven Astros picks in the first 15 rounds that year who did not sign. He showed versatility at Texas Tech, working as a starter as a freshman, reliever as a sophomore and in both roles last spring. He also starred in the bullpen for Team USA in the summer of 2009, and signed for $477,000 as the 76th overall pick last June. An excellent competitor, Bettis has the fluid delivery and quick arm to allow him to look effortless while generating velocity and movement. He usually pitches at 92-94 mph with his fastball, and he has hit 98 out of the bullpen. His slider is a plus pitch at times, but it lacks consistency and he tends to overthrow it. He has a developing changeup that he uses against lefthanders. Bettis relies too heavily on his secondary pitches and needs to use his fastball more. He throws strikes and works down in the zone, giving up just one homer in 67 pro innings. Bettis could open his first full pro season in high Class A and pitch his way to Double-A by midseason. While he has the stuff and resilience to thrive as a reliever, the Rockies will develop him as a potential middle-of-the-rotation starter.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Talk about having something to prove and then proving it. The Rockies called up Bettis on Aug. 1, about one and a half years after he missed the entire 2012 season after he strained a muscle behind his shoulder in spring training. The high Class A California League had bestowed pitcher-of-the-year honors on Bettis in 2011 after he led the way with 184 strikeouts and a 1.10 WHIP at Modesto. One opposing TL manager viewed Bettis as being a good competitor who really wanted the ball. His shoulder injury did little to diminish his stuff. Bettis sits in the 93 mph range with his fastball and commands it well enough to still profile as a mid-rotation starter. The only difference is he tops out near 95 instead of 98 as he once did. He sells his changeup well enough, but it?s his mid-80s, two-plane slider that has the Rockies optimistic about his future. Points of concern regarding Bettis include his health and a lack of downhill plane on his pitches due to his height. He missed about six weeks this season as he dealt with an oblique issue. -
Managers rated Bettis' fastball the best in the league for good reason. His velocity increased as the year went on, and by the end of the season he regularly hit 97 mph and maintained his fastball throughout games. His heater was the main reason he won the Cal League's pitcher of the year award and paced the circuit in innings (170), strikeouts (184), WHIP (1.10) and opponent average (.225) while ranking second in wins (12) and ERA (3.39). "You see a lot of guys at 94-96 and by the end of the game they're at 92-93," Inland Empire manager Damon Mashore said. "But he was able to sustain that velocity throughout the whole game, and that is pretty impressive." The development of his secondary pitches will dictate if Bettis remains a starter or moves back to the bullpen, his college role. When he's pitching well, he throws a tight-breaking slider that touches the upper 80s and comes out of his hand on the same plane as his fastball, but the pitch sometimes flattens out. He also throws a slurvy curveball and a changeup that's still a work in progress. -
Bettis overpowered hitters and didn't stay long in the Northwest League before being promoted to low Class A to finish out the season. After shuttling between the rotation and bullpen at Texas Tech, he was very effective as a starter in his pro debut. Bettis' fastball sits in the 92-94 mph range and touches 98. His slider shows flashes of being an above-average pitch, but it needs more consistency, as does his changeup. He keeps the ball down and is a fearless competitor. "He just knows how to pitch," Tri-City manager Freddie Ocasio said. "He's a bulldog that goes after hitters, and he's pretty knowledgeable about the game and he works hard. He's a guy that works and he wants it bad, so he's going to be OK."
Top 100 Rankings
Best Tools List
- Rated Best Slider in the Colorado Rockies in 2013
- Rated Best Slider in the Colorado Rockies in 2012
- Rated Best Fastball in the Colorado Rockies in 2012
- Rated Best Fastball in the California League in 2011
Scouting Reports
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Background: A seventh-round draft pick out of high school by the Astros, Bettis headed to Texas Tech and boosted his draft stock, becoming just the fourth Red Raider to be selected in the first two rounds of the draft. Bettis was the 2011 California League pitcher of the year after going 12-5, 3.34 and leading the league in innings (170), strikeouts (184), WHIP (1.10) and opponent average (.225). But he hasn't pitched in an official game since. He strained a muscle behind his shoulder in his second Cactus League outing last spring, sidelining him until instructional league. Scouting Report: Bettis is tenacious and attacks hitters with everything he throws. His fastball ranges from 91-96 mph and sits at 93, and he got back up to 96 in instructional league. He throws a tight, two-plane slider that gives him a second plus pitch. His changeup is average and has the potential to get better. Bettis has good command and works the bottom of the zone consistently. His height creates concerns about a lack of a downhill plane for his pitches that might make it more difficult to get through a lineup three times, but his ability to hold his velocity means he'll continue to start for now. The Future: Bettis will open 2013 in Double-A and could be a solid No. 3 starter or more in the majors. If he moves to the bullpen, he could get to Colorado faster and wind up as a closer. -
Background: Bettis both started and reliever at Texas Tech, which could be helpful because his ultimate role has yet to be determined, He has had nothing but success as a starter in two pro seasons, going 18-6, 2.70 overall and earning high Class A California League pitcher of the year honors in 2011. He led the league in innings (170), strikeouts (184), WHIP (1.10) and opponent average (.225). Scouting Report: Bettis pitches at 94-95 mph with his fastball, easily gets to 98 mph and maintains his velocity in the late innings. His tight slider reaches the upper 80s and gives him a second plus pitch. His lack of height raises concerns that he'll work on a flat plane and have trouble the third time through a lineup unless he develops a softer pitch so he can change speeds as well as locations. That offerling likely will be a curveball that's better than his below-average changeup. Bettis is extremely aggressive but did a better job of staying back in his delivery in the second half of the season. He throws strikes and works the bottom of the zone. The Future: If his secondary stuff develops, Bettis can become a solid No. 3 starter and perhaps more. If he ends up in the bullpen, he profiles as a possible closer and could rise quickly to the majors. He'll open 2012 in Double-A.
