Draft Report: Whitley Hurts Thumb, Out Three Weeks

Sources tell Baseball America that righthander Forrest Whitley injured his non-throwing thumb in a workout and will miss at least three weeks.

Whitley has fractured the base of his thumb. The Alamo Heights (San Antonio) High senior had come out of the gate well, showing scouts an improved body and reaching 97 mph with his fastball the last time he stepped on the mound.

At the Area Code Games, Whitley weighed in at 6-foot-6, 253 pounds. One scout estimated that he’s lost about 30 pounds, helping to alleviate concerns about his weight and giving him a more athletic look in a uniform.

Whitley pitched for Team USA last summer, and also made two appearances at the Area Code Games. He is known for his power fastball, which sat in the low to mid-90s during the summer. He also throws a hard cutter and a tight-spinning curveball. This spring, scouts want to see Whitley learn how to best utilize his stuff, as his strikeout approach often lead him to high pitch counts, and his pure stuff is good enough to induce weak contact.

Alamo Heights’ season begins today, and they’ll welcome Whitley’s return as soon as possible.