Clint Nageotte

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Seattle Mariners #9 prospect in 2006
  Nageotte has hit speed bumps since leading the minors in strikeouts in 2002 and topping the Texas League in 2003. He got crushed in his 2004 major league debut and became a reliever last year after missing most of the first three months with a strained forearm. Nageotte's stuff is still good, but it has taken a downturn in the last two years. He used to own one of the nastiest sliders in the game, but it has lost velocity and sharpness and now grades as a 65 rather than an 80 on the 20-80 scouting scale. His fastball has lost 2-3 mph, sitting at 91-92 mph as he has tried to add sink and command. Most pitchers see their stuff improve when they work shorter stints out of the bullpen, so Nageotte's slippage raises a red flag. He has had health issues over the last three seasons, including elbow tendinitis in 2003 and a lower-back strain in 2004. His control still needs to improve. He never came up with a trustworthy changeup as a starter. Desperate for pitching help, Seattle could move Nageotte back to the rotation. He has a chance to make the Mariners out of spring training but more Triple-A innings wouldn't hurt.
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  Ranked Seattle Mariners #4 prospect in 2005
  Nageotte cruised through the minors, leading the minors in strikeouts in 2002 and topping the Texas League in whiffs in 2003. But when he got to the majors last season, his stuff declined and he got throttled. He threw six shutout innings against the Astros for his lone victory. Nageotte has one of the nastiest sliders in baseball, as it has violent break and tops out at 87 mph. He also owns a power fastball, working from 92-97 mph. That dynamic combination has led several scouts to project him as a closer. In order to remain a starter, Nageotte will have to refine his changeup and throw it more often. He'll also have to throw more strikes with his fastball. He tried to be so fine with his pitches in Seattle that his heater dropped to 88-93 mph and his slider regressed to a slurve. He uses his slider too much, leading to concerns about his durability that weren't eased by elbow tendinitis in 2003 and a lower-back strain in 2004. Nageotte needs some time in Triple-A to straighten himself out. The Mariners will leave him in the rotation for now.
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  Ranked Seattle Mariners #2 prospect in 2004
  Nageotte has succeeded from the day he entered pro ball. He won the Rookie-level Arizona League championship game in 2000, ranked as the Midwest League's No. 1 pitching prospect in 2001 and led the minors in strikeouts in 2002. Last year, he pitched in the Futures Game and topped the Double-A Texas League in whiffs. Nageotte's slider ranks with those of Francisco Rodriguez, John Smoltz and Ryan Wagner as the best anywhere. Nageotte throws his at 84-87mph with late, hard downward break. Sitting on his slider does hitters no good and just sets them up for his 90-95 mph fastball. Nageotte rarely throws his changeup, leading some scouts to project him as a reliever. But his changeup should be effective once he starts using it more. He throws his slider too much, which led to elbow tendinitis that prevented him from closing for Team USA at November's Olympic qualifying tournament. He can improve his command--he tied for the TL lead in walks--as well as his work habits. The Mariners want Nageotte to start 2004 at Triple-A Tacoma and make it to Seattle as a starter. He could help them as a K-Rodesque reliever if needed.
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  Ranked Seattle Mariners #5 prospect in 2003
  An all-state basketball player at his Ohio high school, Nageotte has seen his baseball career take off since he has focused on one sport. He won the championship game of the Rookie-level Arizona League playoffs in his 2000 pro debut, rated as the Midwest League's top pitching prospect as an encore, then led the minors in strikeouts last year. Nageotte's out pitch is a slider that ranks among the best in the minors. It has allowed him to average 11.3 whiffs per nine innings as a pro and gives righthanders no chance against him. His 91-94 mph fastball gives him a second plus pitch. Though he has more than enough fastball, Nageotte doesn't locate it well in the strike zone and often scraps it and goes with his slider. His changeup isn't effective, so right now he just has one pitch that he trusts. With better command, he could lower his pitch counts and work deeper into games. If Nageotte can improve his pitch selection, command and offspeed pitch, he could move to the top of this list. He'll work on those facets of his game this year in Double-A.
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  Ranked Seattle Mariners #5 prospect in 2002
  A basketball star in high school, Nageotte signed too late in 1999 to play that summer. He has made up for lost time, winning the one-game playoff in the Arizona League in 2000 and ranking as the top pitching prospect in the Midwest League last year. He led the MWL in strikeouts and strikeouts per nine innings (11.0). Nageotte had the best stuff in a prospect-laden Wisconsin rotation that also featured Rett Johnson and Derrick Van Dusen. Nageotte's lively low-90s fastball and his wicked slider give him two above-average pitches. Last year he did a nice job of tightening his slider, which had been more slurvy in 2000, and improving his command. Nageotte needs to develop a better changeup so he can combat lefthanders, who hit .263 against him in 2001. He also can refine his control within the strike zone. He must get stronger so he can pitch deeper into games. He had a 2.04 ERA through the first four innings last year, but a 5.33 mark afterward. While some organizations might want to expedite an arm like Nageotte's, the Mariners can be patient because of all the pitching they have. He's ticketed for high Class A in 2002.
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  Ranked Seattle Mariners #27 prospect in 2001
  Nageotte made his pro debut last season after signing too late to play in 1999. He missed most of extended spring training for personal reasons, so the Arizona League was his first real test. He had little trouble adjusting, finishing third in ERA and fourth in strikeouts. He capped off the Mariners' title run there, striking out eight in seven innings of the championship game. His power curveball was one of the best in the league, and his fastball is a plus pitch as well. His changeup is developing but is still his third option. Nageotte's next step likely will be Wisconsin.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Pacific Coast League #11 prospect in 2004
  Nageotte would rank in the middle of the Top 10 if he were a surefire big league starter. The Mariners still envision him becoming part of their rotation, but outside observers think he has a greater chance of making an impact as a power reliever. His stuff and mentality would seem to fit better in the bullpen. Nageotte has a low-90s fastball that can touch 97 mph, and that takes a backseat to his slider, one of the best at any level of the game. He's aggressive and lives for strikeouts, as opposed to setting up hitters and trying to keep his pitch counts down. Nageotte had little use for a changeup in the lower minors and has yet to embrace the importance of having a third pitch if he's to remain a starter. Because his fastball command is spotty, he tends to rely on his slider too much, which hurts his durability. He missed the end of the 2003 season with elbow tendinitis and was finished this August with a lower-back strain.
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  Ranked Texas League #8 prospect in 2003
  After leading the minors in strikeouts last year, Nageotte didn't miss as many bats in Double-A. He still averaged more than a strikeout per inning, however, and ranked 10th in the minors. Nageotte's best pitch is a slider that many scouts regard as an 80 on the 20-80 scouting scale. He throws it so much, though, that managers worry about his approach and his health. He was shut down at the end of the season with elbow tendinitis that cost him a chance to close for the U.S. Olympic qualifying team. "He'll pitch in the big leagues if he doesn't blow his arm out," one manager said. "This guy's Mr. Slider. He throws way too many breaking balls." Nageotte's fastball ranges from 92-95 mph and his changeup is still developing. He needs to improve his understanding of the game and his approach, in particular his work habits and his game preparation.
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  Ranked California League #3 prospect in 2002
  San Jose righthander Jeff Clark had the distinction of the league's top breaking pitch, but nobody could match Nageotte's combination of velocity and nasty slider. "He's athletic, young and aggressive," an AL scout said. "He was 91-94 with good life and one of the best breaking balls in league." A year after Nageotte put his name on the map by leading the Midwest League with 187 strikeouts in 152 innings, he led the minors in strikeouts and broke the San Bernardino record set by Matt Thornton a year earlier. He had a streak of six games with double-digit strikeouts. His biggest needs are to fine-tune his changeup and command.
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  Ranked Midwest League #4 prospect in 2001
  The Timber Rattlers easily led the MWL with a 2.96 ERA, and rival managers commented that Wisconsin's entire rotation seemed to be made up of guys who could throw three pitches for strikes. Lefthander Derrick Van Dusen and righthander Rett Johnson are solid prospects, but Nageotte was clearly the ace of the staff. He won the league strikeout crown thanks to three above-average pitches. His fastball works in the low 90s with nice life, and he added a wicked slider to go with his curveball. His changeup is his fourth pitch and needs the most work.
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  Ranked Arizona Complex League #9 prospect in 2000
  Nageotte was drafted in the fifth round by the Mariners last year but signed too late to play in 1999. He also missed most of extended spring training for personal reasons, so the Arizona League was his first real test. He had little trouble adjusting, finishing third in ERA and fourth in strikeouts. "He dominated with a big, hard curveball," Kuehl said. "It's a phenomenal pitch, the best in the league." Munoz said Nageotte’s fastball also is a plus pitch. His changeup needs refining, but he wasn't afraid to throw any of his pitches at any point in the count.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #73 prospect in 2005
• Ranked Baseball America's #45 prospect in 2004
• Ranked Baseball America's #76 prospect in 2003
• Ranked Baseball America's #72 prospect in 2002

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  Nageotte was drafted in the fifth round by the Mariners last year but signed too late to play in 1999. He also missed most of extended spring training for personal reasons, so the Arizona League was his first real test. He had little trouble adjusting, finishing third in ERA and fourth in strikeouts. "He dominated with a big, hard curveball," Kuehl said. "It's a phenomenal pitch, the best in the league." Munoz said Nageotte’s fastball also is a plus pitch. His changeup needs refining, but he wasn't afraid to throw any of his pitches at any point in the count.