Drafted in the 2nd round (53rd overall) by the Detroit Tigers in 1997.
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After turning down an Arizona State scholarship to sign with the Tigers, Loux had an impressive pro debut (.129 opponent average) in the Gulf Coast League in 1997--so impressive that he has had trouble living up to it ever since. Yet he has won a total of 21 games in Triple-A the last two seasons and is still just 23. Loux had arthroscopic elbow surgery following the 2000 season and pitched without his usual velocity in 2001 in a gritty effort. He continued to struggle in the first half of last year, with a 6.40 ERA through mid-June, before making a dramatic turnaround. He threw shutouts in three of his next four starts and had a 3.11 ERA in his final 12 outings. When he's pitching well, Loux works both sides of the plate with a 90 mph sinker, a good changeup and a curveball. He's competitive, which works both for and against him. There were concerns about Loux' conditioning earlier in his career, but he has addressed those issues and gotten in better shape. Loux was hit hard when called to the major leagues for the first time in September, hurting his chances of making Detroit's rotation in 2003.
Loux underwent surgery to clean out loose deposits in his elbow following the 2000 season. When he came back last year, his sinking fastball had dipped from its usual 92 mph to 88. The Tigers expected as much and believe he'll regain his velocity in 2002. In the meantime, Loux proved that he could pitch effectively at less than his best. He won 10 games in Triple-A while showing more maturity than in the past. Intensity had never been a problem, but channeling it properly had been. Loux' curveball and changeup are both effective, and he has a good feel for pitching. He didn't throw as many strikes last year as he had in the past, but that was another byproduct of the surgery that should be overcome with time. He'll be back at Toledo to start this season.
Loux turned down a scholarship to Arizona State to sign with the Tigers out of high school and promptly dominated the Gulf Coast League in 1997. During the next two seasons, he struggled with his conditioning and his poise. He started putting it all together in Double-A in 2000. Loux throws hard, usually in the low 90s and sometimes going a bit higher. But it's the movement on his fastball that makes him effective. He also has a good curveball and an excellent feel for pitching. He's a competitive kid who makes a good pitch when he really needs one. He has been durable as a pro and is advanced for a 21-year-old. Loux needs to improve his changeup if he's going to be an effective pitcher in the major leagues. He'd be wise to continue harnessing his emotions on the mound as well. He will start 2001 in Triple-A. It's possible he will reach the major leagues later in the season if he performs well.
Background: Loux, drafted 53rd overall in '97, turned down a scholarship to Arizona State University to sign with the Tigers for $390,000. He subsequently dominated the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League, going 4-1, 0.84 and allowing just 19 hits in 43 innings. Loux didn't miss many bats at West Michigan in '98, though he pitched better during the second half of the season. Strengths: Loux' velocity was down at the start of this season, but it was back up to the 92-mph range by the end of the season. His fastball has good movement, usually downward. He also has the makings of a major league breaking ball and changeup. Weaknesses: Loux has a stocky build and tends to put on weight. He needs to get himself in better shape. He also didn't bounce back well when hit hard. The Future: After getting hit so hard at West Michigan, Loux will likely climb one step to Class A Lakeland in 1999. He probably needs three full minor league seasons before he's ready for Detroit.
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