Eric Surkamp

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #25 prospect in 2013
  Surkamp entered last spring as an outside candidate to make the Giants rotation after a strong 2011 season in which he led the Eastern League in the pitching triple crown categories before receiving his first big league callup. But Surkamp's elbow had other plans. He was shut down after one exhibition game with a strained forearm, tried to rehab for two months without success and ultimately had Tommy John surgery in July. His rehab has gone well, but he won't be ready to return until midseason. When healthy, Surkamp profiles as a good back-of-the-rotation starter. He features a dynamic curveball and isn't afraid to throw inside even though his best fastball is a two-seamer that just brushes 90 mph. Surkamp has a solid changeup and has been successful at getting ground-ball outs. He has flashed a cutter, too. Surkamp probably won't get much late life back on his fastball until 2014, but his one premium pitch and his presence on the mound make him a name to keep in mind.
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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #7 prospect in 2012
  Surkamp was zooming toward the Double-A Eastern League's pitching triple crown in August when the Giants suddenly needed a starter for the pennant race after Jonathan Sanchez sprained his ankle. Surkamp gave up one run in six innings in his first big league start against the Astros, then beat the Padres twice before badly losing his command in his final three outings. He didn't make it out of the first inning on Sept. 24, when the defending World Series champions officially were eliminated at Arizona. Surkamp's fastball sits in the upper 80s and touches 91, but he had success with it in Double-A because he attacked hitters inside--something he didn't do enough in the big leagues. His two-seamer tails and sinks and induces groundballs. He uses his plus curveball with two strikes to finish off hitters and his solid changeup plays well against righthanders. Surkamp also continues to experiment with a cutter. The key to his success is his ability to locate his pitches. After surgery in 2010 to repair a torn labrum in his hip, he has re-established himself as a durable presence. GM Brian Sabean said after the season that Surkamp wasn't ready for the majors. A solid back-of-the-rotation starter for the future, he'll hone his craft in Triple-A to begin 2012.
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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #9 prospect in 2011
  Surkamp was on his way to leading Giants minor leaguers in strikeouts for the second consecutive season and was within a week of being promoted to Double-A when he partially dislocated his hip while fielding a ground ball in mid-July. He had surgery to tighten the labrum in his hip and should be 100 percent for spring training. He's a product of Cincinnati's famed Moeller High, whose alumni include Buddy Bell, Ken Griffey Jr. and Barry Larkin. Surkamp's fastball sits in the upper 80s, but he gets good sink on it and throws it to both sides of the plate from a three-quarters delivery that adds deception. Coaches believe he can throw harder, both because of his size and the fact that he didn't use his fastball much in college. His curveball and changeup are both plus pitches and he commands his entire arsenal, generating plenty of swings and misses. He also has toyed with a cut fastball to give him another weapon against righthanders. San Francisco is aggressive with starting pitchers who throw strikes and has a limited inventory of them in the system, so expect Surkamp to move quickly if healthy. He could put up gaudy numbers this year in the Double-A Eastern League, a pitcher's paradise compared to the Cal League.
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  Ranked San Francisco Giants #19 prospect in 2010
  A product of Cincinnati's famed Moeller High--the alma mater of Buddy Bell, Ken Griffey Jr. and Barry Larkin--Surkamp impressed with Team USA and in the Cape Cod League before an up-and-down junior season at North Carolina State hurt his draft stock in 2008. Stolen as a sixth-round pick for $135,000, he ranked third in the minors and first in the system in strikeouts (169) and strikeouts per nine innings (11.6) in his first full pro season. He fanned 12 more in the Calfornia League championship clincher over High Desert after a promotion for the playoffs. Surkamp is a three-quarters slinger whose upper-80s fastball appears harder because he hides it well and it looks like it's coming out of his shirt. He's a good athlete whose best pitch is a curveball with plus depth and snap. He also commands an average changeup. He often struggles in the first two innings before settling down, which probably will dissuade club officials from trying him in relief. He has enough stuff and ability to remain a starter, and he could reach Double-A at some point this season.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Eastern League #11 prospect in 2011
  In an organization noted for power arms, Surkamp is an anomaly who pitched too well for the Giants to ignore. After leading the EL in ERA (2.02) and WHIP (1.08), he earned a promotion to San Francisco, where he won two of his six starts. A prep and college teammate of Yankees farmhand Andrew Brackman, he has all the touch and feel that Brackman lacks. Surkamp's fastball sits in the upper 80s with late tailing action and sink, and his delivery adds deception. His ability to command his fastball sets up his secondary stuff, which he uses wisely. His changeup sinks and tails like his fastball after an adjustment he made on his grip with Richmond pitching coach Ross Grimsley. Surkamp learned to pitch without relying on his average-to-plus curveball, which the Giants had him shelve for a time to work on his other pitches. His fringy cutter-type slider gives hitters another pitch to think about. "He slices and dices 'em up," Machemer said. "He commands the inner half well and just never gets hit hard. I can see him in a rotation for 10 years."
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  Ranked California League #19 prospect in 2010
  Surkamp finished third in the minors last season with 169 strikeouts and ranked among the leaders against in 2010 when he hurt his hip fielding a grounder in mid-July. The injury required surgery and ended his season. Surkamp fools batters with finesse rather than overpowering them. He hides the ball well with his delivery and has above-average command of three pitches, the best of which is a big-breaking curveball with depth. He locates his sneaky 87-90 mph fastball to both sides of the plate and has a changeup that grades as a plus pitch at times. "He's a lefthander who really knows how to pitch," Weinstein said. "He's a very polished-package lefty."

• December, 2011 Scouting Report
  Background: Surkamp was zooming toward the Double-A Eastern League's pitching triple crown in August when the Giants suddenly needed a starter for the pennant race after Jonathan Sanchez sprained his ankle. Surkamp gave up one run in six innings in his first big league start against the Astros, then beat the Padres twice before badly losing his command in his final three outings. Scouting Report: Surkamp's fastball sits in the upper 80s and touches 91, but he had success with it in Double-A because he attacked hitters inside--something he didn't do enough in the big leagues. His two-seamer tails and sinks and induces groundballs. He uses his plus curveball with two strikes to finish off hitters and his solid changeup plays well against righthanders. Surkamp also continues to experiment with a cutter. The key to his success is his ability to locate. After surgery in 2010 to repair a torn labrum in his hip, he has re-established himself as a durable presence. The Future: GM Brian Sabean said after the season that Surkamp wasn't ready for the majors. A solid back-of-the-rotation starter for the future, he'll hone his craft in Triple-A to begin 2012.