Logan Darnell
| IP | 24 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 7.125 |
| WHIP | 1.625 |
| BB/9 | 3 |
| SO/9 | 8.25 |
- Full name Logan Reece Darnell
- Born 02/02/1989 in Nashville, TN
- Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 220 / Bats: L / Throws: L
- School Kentucky
- Debut 05/06/2014
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Drafted in the 6th round (195th overall) by the Minnesota Twins in 2010 (signed for $125,000).
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After 2009 sandwich pick James Paxton ran afoul of the NCAA and left for an independent league, Kentucky hoped fellow lefthander Darnell would assume his role as No. 1 starter. That didn't go as well as planned, as Darnell went 5-3, 5.62, missed two weeks with shoulder tendinitis and eventually returned to the bullpen. The 6-foot-2, 210-pounder profiles better as a reliever because he has one plus pitch, and his arm action and the effort in his delivery are better suited for shorter stints. As a reliever, Darnell works at 91-93 mph with his fastball. He'll flash a sharp slider intermittently, and his changeup is more effective. Projected as a top-five-round pick coming into the season, he now figures to go between the sixth and 10th rounds.
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A reliever for two seasons at Kentucky, Darnell got a chance to start in 2009 in the Alaska League, then posted a 5.50 ERA as a junior, falling out of the Wildcats' rotation. Minnesota signed him for $125,000 as a sixth-rounder. He reminds some scouts of Brian Duensing in terms of his stuff and pitch selection. Darnell isn't afraid to work inside, especially against righthanders, even if he lacks a dominant fastball. He isn't a soft-tosser, going after hitters with an 88-92 mph fastball that he controls well, though he's short of having true fastball command. He has improved his feel for using his fastball and setting up his changeup, which is a plus pitch at times and ranks as his best offering. Hitters can't just sit on the changeup because he has a pair of decent breaking balls in his curveball and slider. While neither is a consistent swing-and-miss pitch, he can throw both for strikes in fastball counts. He has more faith in the slider. Darnell got hit hard when promoted to Double-A last year and figures to start 2012 back in New Britain.
