James Dykstra Stats & Scouting Report

Full name James Andrew Dykstra
Born 11/22/1990 in San Diego, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 207 / Bats: L / Throws: R
School Cal State San Marcos
Drafted in the 6th round (183rd overall) by the Chicago White Sox in 2013 (signed for $30,000).

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Dykstra has a 6-foot-3, 190-pound pitcher's frame and a long trail in the game already. The younger brother of 2008 Padres first-round pick Allan Dykstra, Jimmy Dykstra attended Rancho Bernardo High in San Diego, then went to Yavapai (Ariz.) JC and then spent a season at Louisiana State before winding up at NAIA Cal State San Marcos, where he got plenty of innings. He touched 94 mph early this year but usually works at 90-93, and he showed the ability to command his fastball to both sides of the plate. His aggressive approach and fringy secondary stuff makes him a good fit in a professional bullpen. His offspeed stuff has improved this year--his split-finger and breaking ball are both serviceable.

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Dykstra's older brother Allan was a 2008 first-rounder by the Padres who has reached Triple-A. James played at Yavapai (Ariz.) JC and Louisiana State before finishing his career at NAIA Cal State San Marcos. An outfielder who converted to pitching while at Yavapai and pitched out of LSU's bullpen, Dykstra ranked second among all qualified minor league starters for lowest walk rate last year. He throws a ton of strikes and keeps the ball down and in the ballpark. He has to be fine because he has little life on a solidaverage 88-92 mph fastball and no true plus pitch. He works fast, throws a changeup with confidence that qualifies as his best pitch, and throws his curveball for strikes. He'll need to add a cutter or get more life on his fastball to be more than a fringe starter. He'll move up to Double-A Birmingham for 2015.