- Full name Jeff Verplancke
- Born
- Profile Throws: R
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Organization Prospect Rankings
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Though he spells his name differently, Verplancke is the cousin of professional golfer Scott Verplank. Jeff's older brother Joe is a former Diamondbacks farmhand. Jeff chose baseball over soccer, which he played on a partial scholarship at Cal State Los Angeles. The Mariners drafted him in the second round in 1998, but didn't sign him after he was diagnosed with a torn elbow ligament and needed Tommy John surgery. Verplancke had the operation, didn't pitch in 1999 and was set to transfer to Long Beach State that fall before the Giants signed him just before classes were to start for a $600,000 bonus. San Francisco used him as a starter in his first pro season to build up his endurance and get him more innings. He since has blossomed with a move to the bullpen, becoming the club's top closer prospect ahead of the likes of Luke Anderson, Jackson Markert and Wesley Hutchison. Verplancke has two plus pitches: a 94-mph fastball with heavy bite down in the strike zone, and a plus slider. He still struggles with command and wore down in the Arizona Fall League. A strong spring, though, could catapult him into the bullpen mix to setup Felix Rodriguez and Robb Nen.