Richard Lentz
| IP | 191 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 4.194 |
| WHIP | 1.466 |
| BB/9 | 5.984 |
| SO/9 | 11.969 |
- Full name Richard Parker Lentz
- Born 08/06/1984 in Bellevue, WA
- Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Washington
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Drafted in the 19th round (583rd overall) by the Boston Red Sox in 2006 (signed for $150,000).
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Righthander Richie Lentz is part of a storied Seattle baseball family that started with father Mike, the No. 2 overall pick in the 1975 draft. Older brother Ryan (1996-98) and younger brother Andy also have worn the Huskies' purple and gold. Lentz was emerging as a top prospect in 2004, dominating summer ball in the Pacific International League, before succumbing to another family tradition--major injuries. His was Tommy John surgery, and he had worked less than 10 innings in 2006. His velocity is back up to 91-94 mph, and he had yet to issue a walk in limited time, but the redshirt sophomore was fighting health questions and a two-year playing gap when it comes to the draft. He might be drafted and followed through summer ball, and if he maintains his stuff a team could make an August run at him.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Rarely has a team mined the middle rounds of a draft as well as the Red Sox did in 2006. They found Lars Anderson and Josh Reddick, now the system's top two position prospects, in the 17th and 18th rounds. With their next pick, they chose Lentz, who had worked only nine innings at Washington that spring while recovering from Tommy John surgery. After he pitching in front of Boston scouts in the New England Collegiate Baseball League--where he ranked as the No. 1 prospect after his freshman season in 2004--Lentz signed for $150,000. The son of Mike Lentz, the No. 2 overall pick in the June 1975 draft, Richie struggled to find the strike zone in his 2007 pro debut. He still battled his command at times last year, but he shot to Double-A while ranking eighth among minor league relievers by averaging 13.0 strikeouts per nine innings. The Red Sox got him to stay over the rubber more and added more downhill leverage in his delivery, and Lentz got more comfortable with his mechanics. They helped his fastball pick up, as it sat at 93-95 and topped out at 97 with nice armside run. He also regained his faith in his hard slider, which he had shied away from after blowing his elbow out throwing one in 2005. He even flashes a good changeup, though he doesn't need it much as a reliever. Lentz still has several items on his to-do list--throw more strikes, command the left side of the plate, tighten slider--but he has legitimate swing-and-miss stuff. If he progresses as much this year as he did in 2008, Lentz will finish the season in Boston.
