Ed Yarnall
| IP | 20 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 5.4 |
| WHIP | 1.75 |
| BB/9 | 5.85 |
| SO/9 | 6.3 |
- Full name Harvey Edward Yarnall
- Born 12/04/1975 in Lima, PA
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 235 / Bats: L / Throws: L
- School Louisiana State
- Debut 07/15/1999
- Drafted in the 3rd round (78th overall) by the New York Mets in 1996.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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The well-traveled Yarnall returned to the United States when he signed with Oakland in January. After agreeing to a one-year deal worth $600,000 plus a possible $335,000 in incentives, he'll compete for a big league job in spring training. A Mets third-round pick in 1996, he was used in three trades for all-stars. He went to the Marlins for Mike Piazza, the Yankees for Mike Lowell and the Reds for Denny Neagle. Yarnall was all but handed a spot in the Yankees' 2000 rotation after being named Triple-A International League pitcher of the year in 1999, but handed it back with a wretched performance in spring training. He didn't impress Cincinnati the following spring and was sold to Japan's Orix Blue Wave for $300,000. In Japan, he ranked 10th in the Pacific League in ERA last season. Yarnall has solid stuff but is more deceptive than overpowering. His fastball reaches the low 90s, and he also throws a slider, curveball and changeup. His command never has been better than average, and he can't afford to fall behind in the count. Yarnall could factor into the back of the rotation or the middle of the bullpen. -
Yarnall probably would be wearing a World Series ring if he had shown a smidgen of his talent a little earlier. He was virtually handed the Yankees' No. 5 starter's job in spring training last year but gave it back with a series of poor exhibition performances. That didn't deter the Reds, who are intrigued by Yarnall's arsenal and got him in the Denny Neagle trade. He throws a sneaky fastball that reaches the low 90s, a slider that he commands well and a curveball that he uses to put batters away. The Reds say he has a pitcher's physique, marked by strong thighs and hips, as well as a healthy competitive attitude. They want him to gain consistency and believe that he can reach his potential more quickly out of the New York spotlight. He pitched better after the trade, though his control never was as sharp as it was in 1999, when he was the Triple-A International League's pitcher of the year. Yarnall could compete for a major league rotation spot this spring and will begin the season in Triple-A Louisville if he doesn't win it.
Minor League Top Prospects
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In his first full Triple-A season, Yarnall led the IL in ERA, was second in wins and third in strikeouts to earn league pitcher-of-the-year honors. The former Louisiana State ace, who previously pitched in the Mets and Marlins organizations, made his major league debut this year with the Yankees, and showed he might be there for quite a while. "He's a power pitcher with an explosive fastball," Evers said of Yarnall, who came from the Marlins this spring in a trade for third baseman Mike Lowell. "The last two or three feet through the strike zone, his fastball really has life. He has a good breaking ball and knows how to pitch."
