Jon Skaggs
| IP | 296 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 4.591 |
| WHIP | 1.439 |
| BB/9 | 4.682 |
| SO/9 | 6.568 |
- Full name Jon Salter Skaggs
- Born 03/27/1978 in Houston, TX
- Profile Ht.: 6'5" / Wt.: 225 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Rice
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Drafted in the C round (42nd overall) by the New York Yankees in 2001 (signed for $600,000).
View Draft Report
At one point it appeared Skaggs would join Baugh and give Rice the unusual distinction of having two seniors drafted in the first round. A ribcage injury sidelined Skaggs briefly and he wasn't as consistent upon his return, so he'll probably just miss. At 6-foot-5 and 230 pounds, he's bigger than Baugh, but Skaggs doesn't throw harder or approach Baugh's feel for pitching. He works at 92-94 mph, though he's much more of a maximum-effort guy. Skaggs' breaking stuff has potential but he can't always get it over the plate. One scout described Skaggs as a guy who always gets into jams and then works his way out, which won't be as easy at the next level. He is 23, so he may not develop much more. A fourth-round choice of the Orioles in 2000, he'll probably move up two rounds this time around.
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Organization Prospect Rankings
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The Orioles selected Skaggs in the fourth round in 2001, but he elected to return to Rice to give the Owls a talented senior tandem along with Kenny Baugh, now a top prospect in the Tigers system. A ribcage injury last spring probably prevented Skaggs from joining Baugh as a true first-round pick--his maximum-effort delivery and sporadic command also were concerns--though the Yankees used their second supplemental first-rounder on him. Skaggs strained his elbow in his first pro start and didn't pitch again during the summer. When he's healthy, Skaggs' fastball sits between 88-94 mph and runs to the right when he keeps it down in the strike zone. His 80-mph curveball has tight downward rotation, and he shows the makings of a well above-average changeup with late fade. Skaggs should be healthy this spring and could jump on the fast track, probably starting in low Class A.
