Michael Cederoth
| IP | 118 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 3.127 |
| WHIP | 1.449 |
| BB/9 | 6.025 |
| SO/9 | 10.831 |
- Full name Michael Sean Cederoth
- Born 11/25/1992 in El Cajon, CA
- Profile Ht.: 6'6" / Wt.: 215 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School San Diego State
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Drafted in the 3rd round (79th overall) by the Minnesota Twins in 2014 (signed for $703,900).
View Draft Report
Cederoth showed 94-96 mph heat at his best coming out of a San Diego area high school in 2011, but his delivery, command and maturity all needed work, so scouts were content to let him develop at San Diego State. He flashed great promise in his first two seasons at SDSU, but lapses of control kept him from achieving greatness as a starter, and the Aztecs moved him to the bullpen after one poor start this spring. He has flourished in a relief role, attacking hitters with an explosive fastball that sits easily at 94-97 mph and touches 98-100. Sometimes the heater is straight, but other times it cuts, whether by design or not. Cederoth tried to throw four pitches as a starter, but streamlining his repertoire has also helped his slider improve out of the bullpen, where it has shown later, harder break at 83-85 mph. His delivery still isn't pretty, and his walk rate (5.5 per nine innings this spring) remains a red flag, so he'll likely remain a reliever in pro ball. But he has big league closer upside, and he was generating late first-round buzz down the stretch this spring.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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One of five straight college relievers the Twins drafted in 2014, Cederoth returned to the rotation at Rookie-level Elizabethton with encouraging results. Signed for $703,900 as a third-round pick, he ranked as the No. 19 prospect in the Appalachian League. A starter his first two years at San Diego State, Cederoth showed much better control his first professional summer with 3.6 walks per nine innings compared with 5.2 for the Aztecs. Tall and long-levered with a lean build and good athleticism, Cederoth hit 100 mph as a college junior but dialed it back to a peak of 96 mph, and 92-94 average, in the Appalachian League. When he stays on top of his fastball, the pitch features heavy armside run and sink from a high three-quarters arm slot. His tight curveball has the potential to be average, but command remains an issue. His changeup has flashed average but was a distant third in his narrowed summer repertoire. He still has a long arm action, but Twins pitching coaches got him to be more direct to the plate with his delivery. While Cederoth could always go back to the bullpen, the Twins intend to put him in the rotation at low Class A Cedar Rapids to open 2015.
Draft Prospects
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Cederoth showed 94-96 mph heat at his best coming out of a San Diego area high school in 2011, but his delivery, command and maturity all needed work, so scouts were content to let him develop at San Diego State. He flashed great promise in his first two seasons at SDSU, but lapses of control kept him from achieving greatness as a starter, and the Aztecs moved him to the bullpen after one poor start this spring. He has flourished in a relief role, attacking hitters with an explosive fastball that sits easily at 94-97 mph and touches 98-100. Sometimes the heater is straight, but other times it cuts, whether by design or not. Cederoth tried to throw four pitches as a starter, but streamlining his repertoire has also helped his slider improve out of the bullpen, where it has shown later, harder break at 83-85 mph. His delivery still isn't pretty, and his walk rate (5.5 per nine innings this spring) remains a red flag, so he'll likely remain a reliever in pro ball. But he has big league closer upside, and he was generating late first-round buzz down the stretch this spring.
Minor League Top Prospects
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Cederoth, who had one of the biggest arms in college baseball, was a starting pitcher his first two years in college but was put into the bullpen after one start in his draft year, plagued by control issues that caused 5.2 walks per nine in his career. He seemed to have late helium in the draft process as he ran his premium fastball up to 100 mph while sitting 94-97, and was selected as the second of five straight college relievers drafted by the Twins. Cederoth, who has a lean, athletic build with long levers, maintained a plus fastball in his transition to the rotation this summer, sitting 92-95, touching 96. His fastball produces heavy arm-side run and sink when he's on top of it. He also varies his fastball life for glove-side run, though it is flat when up in the zone from his high three-quarters arm slot. He used a four-pitch mix in the college rotation but simplified his repertoire in the bullpen and in pro ball. His breaking ball showed at least average potential while flashing better with tight rotation, but scouts said he had a tough time commanding it. Cederoth's changeup has flashed average but was not used frequently this summer. His delivery was more direct to the plate in pro ball after striding towards first in college. But his arm action remains long in the back. He has the body, fastball and breaking ball to start, and he threw more strikes this summer (3.6 walks per nine). His pitchability, delivery and control will need to improve to remain in the rotation or he will fit as a flame-throwing late-game reliever.
