Scout's View: Steven Register

By Will Kimmey
June 1, 2004

Steven Register, rhp, Auburn

Register has recorded 25 saves in three years to rank just four behind Finley Woodard in Auburn history. He might have a hard time getting out of second place though, because coach Steve Renfroe moved one of college baseball's most reliable closers into the rotation with three weeks remaining in the regular season. Renfroe sensed the 6-foot-1, 162-pound junior righthander was wearing down a bit and wouldn't be able to make multiple appearances out of the bullpen during a series. Register, who was 6-0, 3.78 with 49 strikeouts and 14 walks in 50 innings, struck out seven Georgia batters and allowed three runs in six innings in his second start. An area scout offered his opinion on Register.

"He's a strike-thrower; he has good command. He's got an average fastball with above-average life that sinks and bores. He can be up to 93 (mph), but he doesn't get a good hip turn or get balanced over the rubber and in turn, he's never quite consistent with his release point and sometimes loses the life on his fastball.

"He's got an average to plus slider with a short break and some tilt. At times, it's an out pitch. His changeup is not an average pitch. He's got to use it more to get better, but he doesn't have to at the college level.

"He's got a very quick arm, but I'd be surprised if he's a pound over 170. He's not real durable physically. I haven't seen him go out on back-to-back nights and have the same stuff.

"On the field, he's a very tougher competitor. He goes after hitters and you see a side of him you don't see off the field.

"Long term, I see him as a quality middle reliever, on the right club he could be a set up man. Some people like him in the second or third, but he's probably a fourth-rounder for me."