Ryan Vogelsong

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #13 prospect in 2003
  Vogelsong was ready to move into the Pirates rotation after he was acquired from the Giants, but he blew out his elbow in his second start and needed Tommy John surgery. He returned to the mound last July. Erratic performances kept him from getting called back to Pittsburgh, though he did post a 2.78 ERA in his last four Double-A starts. Vogelsong has four pitches he can throw for strikes, including a 94 mph fastball he spots on both sides of the plate. His slider has good tilt and his curveball is solid while he continues to refine his changeup. He's a bright guy with a good grasp of how to pitch. Vogelsong is still a bit of a question mark after major surgery. He tends to get down on himself and lose confidence when things aren't going his way. He likely will begin 2003 in Triple-A but could move into the big league rotation when an opening arises. He needs a strong spring training to keep from getting lost in the shuffle of the organization's increasing pool of young arms.
• 
  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #7 prospect in 2002
  San Francisco traded Vogelsong and Armando Rios to the Pirates for veterans Jason Schmidt and John Vander Wal prior to the 2001 trade deadline. Vogelsong was sent to Nashville to build up arm strength as a starter after serving as a reliever for the Giants. He was part of Pittsburgh's late-season callups and tore an elbow ligament in his second start, necessitating Tommy John surgery in mid-September. Vogelsong doesn't have one dominant pitch but has command of four good ones. His fastball reaches 94 mph and he throws it to both sides of the plate. He also has a fine curveball, a late-breaking slider and an improving changeup. Vogelsong has outstanding makeup, as he's intelligent and noted for his competitiveness. Vogelsong's future is cloudy after surgery. He'll miss all of 2002, which figured to be his first full season in the major leagues. The Pirates hope Vogelsong eventually can slot into the middle of their rotation, maybe even as a No. 2 starter.
• 
  Ranked San Francisco Giants #5 prospect in 2001
  Vogelsong's gangly 160-pound frame out of high school detoured him to Kutztown, an NCAA Division II program. He grew significantly and is still growing, having added an inch and 15 pounds of muscle since being drafted. After battling tendinitis early in his career, he came back strong in 2000 and pitched well in the Arizona Fall League. He was leading the Texas League in strikeouts at the time of his promotion to Triple-A last year. Giants officials like Vogelsong's stuff as much as Ainsworth's. His fastball has similar velocity (92-94 mph) and life when he pitches to both sides of the plate. He has a solid curveball, and his hard slider is effective against lefthanders. He added a changeup that has developed nicely. He lacks Ainsworth's polish, but so do most Double-A pitchers. Vogelsong gets stubborn with his curveball, which he thinks is his best pitch, while the organization prefers his slider. He will join Ainsworth this year at Fresno, which has one of the Pacific Coast League's most challenging parks for pitchers. He figures to slot in behind Williams and Ainsworth in a future rotation, and has the stuff to become a quality reliever if the rotation gets too crowded.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Pacific Coast League #16 prospect in 2001
  Vogelsong made an impression both in the PCL and in the big leagues, and was a key player in the Jason Schmidt deadline deal between the Pirates and Giants. That's all by the boards for now, however, as Vogelsong's season ended during a start in September. He tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and is expected to miss all of next season after Tommy John surgery. Vogelsong showed a 93-mph fastball and knee-buckling curveball when he was on this season. He's aggressive and goes right after hitters. "He's good. I didn't understand why he was in the minor leagues," Geren said. "I've seen him for three years, and from what I've seen he looks like a major league pitcher."
• 
  Ranked Texas League #16 prospect in 2000
  Vogelsong reached Double-A last year in his first full pro season, but got hammered before being shut down with a tender arm. The second time around, he lowered his ERA from 7.31 to 4.23 and led the TL with 147 strikeouts in 155 innings. "He's just a power pitcher right now but he's a good one," Round Rock coach Mark Bailey said. "He throws hard with movement, and he gave us as much trouble as anyone." Vogelsong throws in the mid-90s, and his breaking ball and changeup have the potential to be above-average pitches. Scouts are concerned by his maximum-effort delivery, and one suggested he should be moved to the bullpen to reduce the stress on his shoulder.

• December, 1999 Scouting Report
  Vogelsong reached Double-A last year in his first full pro season, but got hammered before being shut down with a tender arm. The second time around, he lowered his ERA from 7.31 to 4.23 and led the TL with 147 strikeouts in 155 innings. "He's just a power pitcher right now but he's a good one," Round Rock coach Mark Bailey said. "He throws hard with movement, and he gave us as much trouble as anyone." Vogelsong throws in the mid-90s, and his breaking ball and changeup have the potential to be above-average pitches. Scouts are concerned by his maximum-effort delivery, and one suggested he should be moved to the bullpen to reduce the stress on his shoulder.