NLCS: Taking The Hard Road
Better late than never for two young vets in NL playoffs
See also: ALCS players who took the long route to success
Sometimes it takes players longer to establish themselves in the big leagues than it seems like it ought to—even for those players who once were premium draft picks and/or well-regarded prospects. For many, it takes a year or three of wandering in the wilderness—after initial big league trials and tribulations—to make good on that potential.
To honor four such players, we present one from each League Championship Series participant, the Dodgers, Phillies, Rays and Red Sox. We'll take a look at where they came from and where they are presently. The National League is up first, with the Americans to follow tomorrow.
DODGERS: Hong-Chih Kuo, lhp, age 27
Born: Tainan City, Taiwan.
B/T: L/L. HT: 6-1. WT: 235.
Career Transactions: Signed as nondrafted free agent by Dodgers, June 19, 1999 . . . On disabled list, April 3-Sept. 8, 2003.
Kuo is not the classic example of a player who required multiple big league trials to establish himself. He pitched well as a rookie in 2006, after all, going 1-5, 4.22 in 28 games (five starts), with 71 strikeouts and 33 walks in 60 innings. However, the Taiwanese lefty pitched so little in his formative years (just 42 innings in the five seasons from 2000 to 2004) that he faced tremendous odds of ever making an impact in the big leagues. But from that point forward, beginning in 2005 at age 23, he's been quite effective when healthy.
Last Prospect Handbook sighting (2006, Dodgers' No. 14): "Kuo's comeback was one of the minors' most remarkable stories of 2005. The first Taiwanese player to sign with a U.S. team out of high school [Note: he received a reported $1.25 million bonus, which paled in comparison with the $2.2 million that Taiwanese righthander Chin-Hui Tsao received from the Rockies that same year.], he blew out his elbow while striking out seven of the 10 batters he faced in his first pro game in 2000. After Tommy John surgery, he returned in June 2001 but made just 14 appearances before requiring the operation again in 2003. When he came back in 2004, he lasted six innings before needing more surgery to clean out scar tissue. Vero Beach pitching coach Marty Reed encouraged Kuo to push himself to recover, and his work paid off. Kuo stayed healthy throughout 2005, reaching the majors on the strength of an 89-98 mph fastball that rises and run. His smooth, simple delivery enables the ball to get on hitters quickly. He's aggressive and challenges hitters up in the zone. His breaking ball ranges from 78-83 mph and has a 10-to-4 break. It's in between a curveball and slider right now but has the makings of an average pitch. Understandably, Kuo lacked feel for his breaking ball and rudimentary changeup last year. Though he struggled with this command in the majors, he still struck out 10 of the 26 batters he faced. If he remains healthy and throws strikes, he could open 2006 in Los Angeles."
Recent track record: Kuo had a killer 2008 season as an eighth-inning option for the Dodgers. He posted a 2.14 ERA and whiffed 10.8 batters per nine innings, but just as importantly he established new career lows at the big league level with 2.36 walks and 0.45 home runs per nine. Unfortunately for the Dodgers, Kuo left his Sept. 14 appearance with triceps soreness, and he was kept of the NLDS roster because of elbow soreness—and also because of the Cubs' dearth of lefthanded bats.
Kuo still can run his fastball up to 93 mph and he relies on a mid-80s slider as his second pitch. He's enjoyed great success against big league batters, especially lefties, who he's limited to .231/.294/.360 averages in 205 plate appearances. He's not a specialist, though, as righties have managed just .235/.321/.349 averages in 542 PAs.
Kuo pitched only about 50 innings for L.A. and Triple-A Las Vegas in 2007, suffering another elbow ailment that cut short his season. He had surgery that July to remove a bone chip from the joint.
Postseason experience: Kuo started Game 2 of the 2006 NLDS against the Mets, going 4 1/3 innings and allowing two runs on four hits.
PHILLIES: Jayson Werth, of, age 29
Born: Springfield, Ill.
B/T: R/R. HT: 6-5. WT: 225.
School: Glenwood HS, Chatham, Ill.
Career Transactions: Selected by Orioles in first round (22nd overall) of 1997 draft; signed June 13, 1997 . . . Traded by Orioles to Blue Jays for LHP John Bale, Dec. 11, 2000 . . . Traded by Blue Jays to Dodgers for RHP Jason Frasor, March 29, 2004 . . . On disabled list, April 1-Oct. 10, 2006 . . . Granted free agency, Dec. 12, 2006 . . . Signed by Phillies, Dec. 19, 2006.
Drafted as a catcher, Werth spent most of his first six pro seasons on the farm in the Orioles and Blue Jays systems. Toronto moved him out from behind the plate in 2002, to the outfield, and Werth subsequently received cups of coffee with the Jays that year and again in 2003. He didn't gain any traction, though, as Toronto flipped him for Jason Frasor during spring training 2004. Werth's athleticism began to show that year, as he batted .262/.338/.486 with 16 homers and 47 RBIs in 89 games for the Dodgers. He didn't hit for as much power in 2005 while he battled a wrist injury, and the same ailment knocked him out for the entire 2006 season, after which he became a free agent when the Dodgers non-tendered him. The Phillies astutely signed him that off-season for $850,000.
Last Prospect Handbook sighting (2004, Blue Jays' No. 17): "After ranking second on this list a year ago, Werth's worth has slipped as the likes of Reed Johnson, Gabe Gross and Alexis Rios have passed him. Injuries played a part, as Werth got a late start to the season after straining his wrist in spring training. It forced him to te disabled list and a rehab assignment in high Class A, and he was playing catch-up all year. He no longer plays catcher, which also diminished his value. He played solely in the outfield in 2003, and one Jays official termed him an emergency catcher only. Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi considered Werth too tall at 6-foot-5 to be a catcher. He has made a nice transition to full-time outfield, however. Werth runs well enough to play center field and has a plus arm in right. Offense is the bigger question. Werth swings and misses too much to be an everyday hitter at this point. His size has created a swing that's too long and has too many holes, sabotaging his plus power. If he makes adjustments, he could be an average corner outfielder, and his versatility makes him a valuable reserve. That's likely to be his role in 2004 in Toronto, and Werth could be trade bait for a National League team that covets his flexibility."
Recent track record: The Phillies have taken full advantage of Werth's strengths, using him as a fourth outfielder in 2007 before installing him as the starting right fielder during the second half of this season. He pushed aside veteran Geoff Jenkins to win the job outright. Given a career-high 418 at-bats this season, Werth responded with a line of .273/.363/.498 with 24 home runs and 67 RBIs in 134 games. Showing his athleticism, he stole 20 bases in 21 attempts. Though primarily a right fielder, Werth also played 31 games in center and 28 more in left.
Philadelphia had been reluctant to give Werth regular playing time versus righthanded pitchers prior to this season because he's shown a pronounced split in his career. He crushes lefties, with .291/.374/.545 averages in 497 career plate appearances; but he's somewhat more mortal against same-siders (.251/.347/.408 in 961 PAs.), a trend that has continued through his Philadelphia tenure, which has included OPS marks of .767 and .760.
Postseason experience: Werth has batted .273/.351/.727 in 33 postseason at-bats for the 2004 Dodgers and then the 2007-08 Phillies. He's clubbed three homers, four doubles and a triple, and he's even 1-for-1 on the basepaths.
Better late than never for two young vets in NL playoffs
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PrintSee also: ALCS players who took the long route to success
Sometimes it takes players longer to establish themselves in the big leagues than it seems like it ought to—even for those players who once were premium draft picks and/or well-regarded prospects. For many, it takes a year or three of wandering in the wilderness—after initial big league trials and tribulations—to make good on that potential.
To honor four such players, we present one from each League Championship Series participant, the Dodgers, Phillies, Rays and Red Sox. We'll take a look at where they came from and where they are presently. The National League is up first, with the Americans to follow tomorrow.
DODGERS: Hong-Chih Kuo, lhp, age 27
Born: Tainan City, Taiwan.
B/T: L/L. HT: 6-1. WT: 235.
Career Transactions: Signed as nondrafted free agent by Dodgers, June 19, 1999 . . . On disabled list, April 3-Sept. 8, 2003.
Kuo is not the classic example of a player who required multiple big league trials to establish himself. He pitched well as a rookie in 2006, after all, going 1-5, 4.22 in 28 games (five starts), with 71 strikeouts and 33 walks in 60 innings. However, the Taiwanese lefty pitched so little in his formative years (just 42 innings in the five seasons from 2000 to 2004) that he faced tremendous odds of ever making an impact in the big leagues. But from that point forward, beginning in 2005 at age 23, he's been quite effective when healthy.
Last Prospect Handbook sighting (2006, Dodgers' No. 14): "Kuo's comeback was one of the minors' most remarkable stories of 2005. The first Taiwanese player to sign with a U.S. team out of high school [Note: he received a reported $1.25 million bonus, which paled in comparison with the $2.2 million that Taiwanese righthander Chin-Hui Tsao received from the Rockies that same year.], he blew out his elbow while striking out seven of the 10 batters he faced in his first pro game in 2000. After Tommy John surgery, he returned in June 2001 but made just 14 appearances before requiring the operation again in 2003. When he came back in 2004, he lasted six innings before needing more surgery to clean out scar tissue. Vero Beach pitching coach Marty Reed encouraged Kuo to push himself to recover, and his work paid off. Kuo stayed healthy throughout 2005, reaching the majors on the strength of an 89-98 mph fastball that rises and run. His smooth, simple delivery enables the ball to get on hitters quickly. He's aggressive and challenges hitters up in the zone. His breaking ball ranges from 78-83 mph and has a 10-to-4 break. It's in between a curveball and slider right now but has the makings of an average pitch. Understandably, Kuo lacked feel for his breaking ball and rudimentary changeup last year. Though he struggled with this command in the majors, he still struck out 10 of the 26 batters he faced. If he remains healthy and throws strikes, he could open 2006 in Los Angeles."
Recent track record: Kuo had a killer 2008 season as an eighth-inning option for the Dodgers. He posted a 2.14 ERA and whiffed 10.8 batters per nine innings, but just as importantly he established new career lows at the big league level with 2.36 walks and 0.45 home runs per nine. Unfortunately for the Dodgers, Kuo left his Sept. 14 appearance with triceps soreness, and he was kept of the NLDS roster because of elbow soreness—and also because of the Cubs' dearth of lefthanded bats.
Kuo still can run his fastball up to 93 mph and he relies on a mid-80s slider as his second pitch. He's enjoyed great success against big league batters, especially lefties, who he's limited to .231/.294/.360 averages in 205 plate appearances. He's not a specialist, though, as righties have managed just .235/.321/.349 averages in 542 PAs.
Kuo pitched only about 50 innings for L.A. and Triple-A Las Vegas in 2007, suffering another elbow ailment that cut short his season. He had surgery that July to remove a bone chip from the joint.
Postseason experience: Kuo started Game 2 of the 2006 NLDS against the Mets, going 4 1/3 innings and allowing two runs on four hits.
PHILLIES: Jayson Werth, of, age 29
Born: Springfield, Ill.
B/T: R/R. HT: 6-5. WT: 225.
School: Glenwood HS, Chatham, Ill.
Career Transactions: Selected by Orioles in first round (22nd overall) of 1997 draft; signed June 13, 1997 . . . Traded by Orioles to Blue Jays for LHP John Bale, Dec. 11, 2000 . . . Traded by Blue Jays to Dodgers for RHP Jason Frasor, March 29, 2004 . . . On disabled list, April 1-Oct. 10, 2006 . . . Granted free agency, Dec. 12, 2006 . . . Signed by Phillies, Dec. 19, 2006.
Drafted as a catcher, Werth spent most of his first six pro seasons on the farm in the Orioles and Blue Jays systems. Toronto moved him out from behind the plate in 2002, to the outfield, and Werth subsequently received cups of coffee with the Jays that year and again in 2003. He didn't gain any traction, though, as Toronto flipped him for Jason Frasor during spring training 2004. Werth's athleticism began to show that year, as he batted .262/.338/.486 with 16 homers and 47 RBIs in 89 games for the Dodgers. He didn't hit for as much power in 2005 while he battled a wrist injury, and the same ailment knocked him out for the entire 2006 season, after which he became a free agent when the Dodgers non-tendered him. The Phillies astutely signed him that off-season for $850,000.
Last Prospect Handbook sighting (2004, Blue Jays' No. 17): "After ranking second on this list a year ago, Werth's worth has slipped as the likes of Reed Johnson, Gabe Gross and Alexis Rios have passed him. Injuries played a part, as Werth got a late start to the season after straining his wrist in spring training. It forced him to te disabled list and a rehab assignment in high Class A, and he was playing catch-up all year. He no longer plays catcher, which also diminished his value. He played solely in the outfield in 2003, and one Jays official termed him an emergency catcher only. Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi considered Werth too tall at 6-foot-5 to be a catcher. He has made a nice transition to full-time outfield, however. Werth runs well enough to play center field and has a plus arm in right. Offense is the bigger question. Werth swings and misses too much to be an everyday hitter at this point. His size has created a swing that's too long and has too many holes, sabotaging his plus power. If he makes adjustments, he could be an average corner outfielder, and his versatility makes him a valuable reserve. That's likely to be his role in 2004 in Toronto, and Werth could be trade bait for a National League team that covets his flexibility."
Recent track record: The Phillies have taken full advantage of Werth's strengths, using him as a fourth outfielder in 2007 before installing him as the starting right fielder during the second half of this season. He pushed aside veteran Geoff Jenkins to win the job outright. Given a career-high 418 at-bats this season, Werth responded with a line of .273/.363/.498 with 24 home runs and 67 RBIs in 134 games. Showing his athleticism, he stole 20 bases in 21 attempts. Though primarily a right fielder, Werth also played 31 games in center and 28 more in left.
Philadelphia had been reluctant to give Werth regular playing time versus righthanded pitchers prior to this season because he's shown a pronounced split in his career. He crushes lefties, with .291/.374/.545 averages in 497 career plate appearances; but he's somewhat more mortal against same-siders (.251/.347/.408 in 961 PAs.), a trend that has continued through his Philadelphia tenure, which has included OPS marks of .767 and .760.
Postseason experience: Werth has batted .273/.351/.727 in 33 postseason at-bats for the 2004 Dodgers and then the 2007-08 Phillies. He's clubbed three homers, four doubles and a triple, and he's even 1-for-1 on the basepaths.
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