Perci Garner
| IP | 9 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 5 |
| WHIP | 1.889 |
| BB/9 | 5 |
| SO/9 | 12 |
- Full name Percival Garner
- Born 12/13/1988 in Dover, OH
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 225 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Ball State
- Debut 08/31/2016
-
Drafted in the 2nd round (77th overall) by the Philadelphia Phillies in 2010 (signed for $470,700).
View Draft Report
Ball State produced a first-round pick (Bryan Bullington, No. 1 overall) and sandwich-rounder (Luke Hagerty) in the 2002 draft, and could repeat the feat again this year with Kolbrin Vitek and Garner. Garner joined the Cardinals on a football scholarship, but didn't see any game action in two years as a quarterback. After he emerged as the best pitching prospect in the Great Lakes League last summer, he gave up football, and he has continued to make strides this spring. Garner opened the season in Ball State's bullpen but moved into the rotation after shutting down a talented Louisville lineup for four innings in mid-March. He has a strong, athletic 6-foot-2, 225-pound frame and a pair of plus pitches in a lively 92-94 mph fastball that reaches 97 and a power curveball. He also throws a slider and a changeup. Garner's inexperience on the mound shows at times. His delivery can get slow and lack rhythm, and improving it would help his control. Though he's a draft-eligible sophomore, he's not considered a difficult sign.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
-
A two-time all-state quarterback at Dover (Ohio) High, Garner passed for 8,800 yards and 86 touchdowns during his prep career before heading to Ball State with the intention of playing football. But he never got on the field as a third-string quarterback before switching to baseball full-time after ranking as the No. 2 prospect in the Great Lakes League during the summer of 2009. He quickly moved into Ball State's rotation and shot up draft boards the following spring, going 77th overall and signing for $470,700 in 2010. Still unrefined, Garner has thrown just 34 innings in two pro seasons because he has had a tender arm and oblique strain. When he has taken the mound, he has shown a 92-94 mph fastball that touches 96 and features late life. He has added consistency to his sharp 79-82 mph curveball, while his low-80s changeup has come a long way. His ability to develop reliable secondary pitches will determine whether he remains a starter or moves to the bullpen in the long run. Garner has smoothed out his delivery and is starting to understand his mechanics better, which should help. The Phillies hope to get him a full season of innings in low Class A in 2012. -
Garner was a two-time all state quarterback at Dover (Ohio) High, passing for 8,800 yards and 86 touchdowns during his career before heading to Ball State with the intention of playing football. But he didn't get on the field as the third-string quarterback in two seasons of college football, so he turned his focus to baseball. He dropped football altogether after ranking as the best pitching prospect in the Great Lakes League in the summer of 2009. Garner began last spring in Ball State's bullpen before quickly moving into the rotation and up draft boards. Some clubs considered him a first-round talent, but the Phillies nabbed him in the second round and signed him for $470,700. He pitched just four innings before Philadelphia shut him down for precautionary reasons with a tender arm. Garner is new to pitching and has a lot to learn, but he has two major league-quality pitches right now. His fastball sits at 90-94 mph and touches 96, and he backs it up with a tight curveball that comes in around 80 mph. His changeup is in its nascent stages, and he tends to overthrow it. Garner is a good athlete, though some scouts thought he was a bit stiff because of his husky frame. The Phillies are working to smooth out his delivery, and he'll struggle with control and command until he feels comfortable with it. Garner will pitch as a starter for in low Class A this year to build up his innings, though he might fit better in a bullpen role in the long run.
