Archive for the “Deryk Hooker” Category

ESPN:

Hooker, a seventh-round pick in the 2007 amateur draft, was slated to be in Quad Cities rotation this season.

“We’re disappointed,” Cardinals general manager John Mozeliak said. “How he deals with it will be a big test for him.”

That’s an awfully PC response, which is what you’d expect at this stage in the game.  Keep an eye out for more comments by the front office.

Mark Diapoules – One of the last draft and follows and an interesting sleeper. Diapoules posted some nifty numbers at the Quad Cities, striking out nearly a batter per inning (52 in 55.2) while getting two ground-outs for every air-out. Diapoules was promoted to his home town of Palm Beach, and his hit, strikeout and walk rates all trended in the wrong direction, but he didn’t embarrass himself. A tall and lean bodied hurler, Diapoules can touch 93, but gets better sink on his fastball when he’s throwing it in the 86-91 MPH range. He throws from a high 3/4 arm slot and is said to have effortless mechanics. Diapoules also throws a tight slider and a change-up, both with average potential. He still has some projectability to his body and could be someone that blossoms into an above average major league starter. He will need to refine his command a little bit to take it to the next level. I look for him to start his season playing again for the home crowds at Palm Beach.

Anthony Ferrara – Ferrara was a well-known prep prospect for some time and was thought to be a potential first rounder, but his draft stock took a tumble when fears about the health of his shoulder arose. Dr. Jim Andrews prescribed rest rather than surgery. He throws a 89-91 MPH fastball but has been clocked as high as 95 in shorter stints. Ferrara also has a curve and a change with the potential to be average or a little better. Ferrara was assigned to the GCL this past season, and there struck out 36 in 30 innings. Getting a high upside arm like Ferrara’s in the 7th round of the draft could prove to be a real steal. We probably won’t see him again until the short season squads start, it’s most likely Johnson City for his next stop.

Deryk Hooker – The kid has been a strikeout machine since being drafted in the 7th round in 2007, with 120 of them in just 96 professional innings. He’s also shown exceptional command of the plate, with a sterling 4:1 K:BB ratio. Following his 2007 debut where he shredded the Gulf Coast League (8.4 BB%, 35.9 K%, 1.92 FIP in 31.0 IP), Hooker was similarly dominant in the Appy in 2008 (7.9 BB%, 31.1 K%, 2.65 FIP in 42.2 IP). Upon being promoted to the Quad Cities, Hooker’s rates took a hit (6.5 BB%, 19.4 K%, 3.80 FIP in 22.1 IP), but he remained solid. At 6-4, Hooker throws from a downhill plane with a heater in the 89-92 range, touching 94. He also has a true 12-6 yakker and the makings of a solid average changeup, which explains the results. Now for the bad: Depending on who you talk to, Hooker’s mechanics are iffy to horrid. He’ll fly open on his right side and is also said to throw across his body. The first flaw is easily fixed, the second could relegate his ceiling to relief. Look for Hooker to put up solid numbers again for the Quad Cities.

Can’t live without BA, but right now I’m researching Deryk Hooker and all I get is conflicting information.

2007:

Hooker produces easy velocity from a steep, downhill plane, with a fastball that sits at 90-93 mph and tops out at 94. He commands his heater to both sides of the plate and complements it with a true 12-to-6 curveball. His changeup also has the potential to be a plus pitch.

He’s mechanical at times in his delivery, and when he gets too deliberate he’ll fly open on his front side. But that’s an easily correctable flaw.

So he’s young and has three solid pitches? Awesome.

From a chat, 2007:

He throws from a steep, downhill plane anywhere from 90-94 mph that he commands to both sides of the plate and has an above-average 12-to-6 curveball. Changeup still coming, and an effective third pitch will be key to dictate future success.

Wait, I thought he already had a changeup?

2008:

He pitches at 89 and touches 92, and he commands the pitch to both sides, but he throws across his body, leading to questions about his delivery and arm action. All of Hooker’s secondary offerings are below-average — his curveball is a lazy floater that he gets underneath most times, his slider is a sweeper that moves across only one plane, and he slows his arm down to throw his changeup.

Wow. Now I’m really confused. Now he has one pitch, it’s a tick or three MPH’s down from the year before, and his breaking pitch and changeup are now garbage?And why didn’t the scout they talked to the year before mention his awful mechanics. All they said his he can fly open at times, just a correctable flaw.

Which one is it BA?

Don’t get me wrong, I love Baseball America. I think their writers are fantastic. I buy the book every year, subscribe to the site, and they’re the first magazine I grab off the rack when I go to the local bookstore. Butthis conflicting information is a little aggravating. Is it because a scout saw Hooker during a bad outing or two and another scout saw him in pure form before? Did he regress? Thoughts, anyone?

Or at least says Baseball America, who decided to try and destroy our Niko Bandwagon before it leaves the gate.

It’s that time of year again, and BA has started their top twenties for each league. No Cardinals made the GCL’s list and only Niko Vasquez made the Appy, coming in at # 13. Despite Niko’s impressive stats (which are probably better than any other ranked position player), BA isn’t ga-ga for Vasquez. Unfortunately it’s subscriber content only, but the gist is the scouts they talked to aren’t impressed by his average bat speed, lack of plate discipline, power potential, speed. They note that he is more suited for 2nd or 3rd base and peg him as more of an offense first utility infielder. Ouch.

Whoever the scouts BA are talking to, their reports certainly don’t match those we’ve seen of Keith Law and Alex Eisenberg. Most I’ve seen expect 15-20 homers and for him to be a starter. I’m not sure what to believe at this point…

From the ensuing chat we find Matt Eddy is not too high on Deryk Hooker, either. Underwhelming secondary stuff, throws across his body, upside is middle relief. Double ouch.