Zack Von Rosenberg Stats & Scouting Report

IP	273.0
ERA	4.81
WHIP	1.330
BB/9	2.1
SO/9	6.9

Full name Zachary R. Von Rosenberg
Born 09/24/1990 in Lake Charles, LA
Profile Ht.: 6'5" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Zachary
Drafted in the 6th round (175th overall) by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2009 (signed for $1,200,000).

View Draft Report

Von Rosenberg doesn't light up radar guns like fellow Louisiana high school righthander Brody Colvin, but he's a much more polished pitcher with an exceptional track record of winning at the prep level. Von Rosenberg won state championships and pitched the clincher in each of his four seasons, a 5-A title at Barbe in 2006 and 4-A titles at Zachary the last three years. He has advanced command of three solid pitches: an 88-91 mph fastball with good life, a curveball with nice depth and a changeup with deception. He has a 6-foot-5, 205-pound frame and a clean delivery, so his velocity should increase, especially when he stops playing shortstop when he's not pitching. He did work in the low 90s more regularly late in the spring, and some area scouts prefer him to Colvin. Both players have scholarships from Louisiana State that they'll likely turn down when they go in the first two rounds of the draft.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

Von Rosenberg is a high school hero in Louisiana, as he started and won four state championship baseball games and was an all-state punter. It seemed certain that he would attend Louisiana State, where he planned to play both sports, until the Pirates offered him $1.2 million as a sixth-round pick in 2009. He has yet to come close to duplicating his amateur success in the pro ranks, and he hasn't even advanced beyond low Class A. When his velocity was down at the start of last season, Pittsburgh kept him in extended spring training for two months before shipping him to West Virginia. Von Rosenberg shows flashes of two plus secondary pitches in his curveball and changeup, but his lack of fastball command handicaps him. His fastball doesn't overpower anyone at 88-91 mph, and he has yet to figure out how to keep it down in the strike zone. Von Rosenberg finished 2012 by allowing five earned runs in his last four starts, throwing complete games in his final two outings. The Pirates hope he can build on that momentum when they send him to high Class A this season.
Von Rosenberg was a legendary high school pitcher in Louisiana, winning the state championship game in each of his four years split between two schools. A quality athlete, he planned to pitch at Louisiana State and also punt for the Tigers' football team. Rated the 41st-best player in the 2009 draft by Baseball America, he fell to the sixth round because of signability questions but turned pro for $1.2 million. Von Rosenberg hasn't yet to live up to his hype, going 6-15, 4.90 in three pro seasons. As they do with many of their young pitchers, the Pirates have had him focus on honing his fastball command. He has thrown strikes but hasn't missed many bats with an 86-90 mph fastball that he can sink or cut. Once he began adding in his curveball in the latter stages of last season, he pitched much better, finishing with six perfect innings in his final start. He also throws a slider and changeup, though he has yet to establish a plus pitch that can carry him at upper levels. He'll move up to high Class A in 2012 and try to show that he can become more than a back-of-the-rotation starter.
Von Rosenberg won four state championship games in four years at two Louisiana high schools, showing top-two-rounds talent. But his commitment to Louisiana State caused him to slide until the sixth round of the 2009 draft, and it cost the Pirates a $1.2 million bonus. After signing late and pitching just one pro inning that summer, he opened 2010 in extended spring training before reporting to State College. Kept on tight pitch counts, he recovered from a slow start to post a 0.96 ERA in his final six outings. Von Rosenberg offers an advanced feel for pitching and a wiry, projectable frame that portends improved stuff in the future. His fastball currently ranges from 87-91 mph and he's able to locate it to both sides of the plate. His changeup took a big step forward last summer, showing nice spin and deception. His curveball has 11-to-5 break at times, though it also can get loopy. A good athlete who was an all-state pitcher in high school, he has a loose, easy arm action. Pittsburgh will continue to handle Von Rosenberg with care, though he'll make his full-season debut at West Virginia in 2011. If he can get stronger and add some more power to his pitches, he could become a No. 3 starter and possibly more.
Von Rosenberg became a high school hero in Louisiana after winning four state championship baseball games in four years as well as earning all-state honors as a punter. His talent dictated selection in the first two rounds of the 2009 draft, but teams shied away because of what was perceived as an airtight commitment to Louisiana State. However, the Pirates lured him into pro ball with a $1.2 million bonus. Von Rosenberg has good command of a three-pitch arsenal. His fastball sits at 88-91 mph and the velocity could increase as his body matures and he focuses on pitching after also playing shortstop in high school. He also has good depth on his curveball, a deceptive changeup and an uncanny feel for pitching for a teenager. Von Rosenberg has no glaring weak points, other than the fact he has pitched only one pro inning. He'll need to learn how to adjust to pitching every fifth day and to the grind of a full pro season. He has yet to physically mature. Von Rosenberg is so advanced that the Pirates will push him to low Class A if he performs well in spring training. Despite his youth, he could reach the major leagues quickly, and he projects as a solid No. 3 starter.

Minor League Top Prospects

Von Rosenberg's polish and projectability made him one of the top prep pitching prospects in the 2009 draft, and the Pirates bought him out of a commitment to Louisiana State with a $1.2 million bonus. His first pro season got off to a rough start, as he went 0-3, 7.50 in June, but he made adjustments as the season progressed, posting a 2.11 ERA in the next two months before the Pirates shut him down to get him some rest before instructional league. "With the way he started to the way he finished, he showed me serious maturity," State College pitching coach Mike Steele said, "going from the high school superstar and turning himself into a major league prospect." Von Rosenberg still is filling out his slender frame, and he figures to add velocity to his 87-91 mph fastball as he matures because he has a loose, easy arm action. He pitches to both sides of the plate with his fastball, and he's also capable of throwing his changeup and breaking ball for strikes in any count. His changeup took a major step forward this summer, and it has good four-seam spin and deception. He snaps off a biting curveball with 11-to-5 break at times, but the pitch also can get loopy. His feel for pitching indicates he'll succeed at refining his offspeed pitches, and if his fastball velocity jumps, he could be a frontline starter.

Career Transactions

West Virginia Power released RHP Zack Von Rosenberg.
West Virginia Power activated RHP Zack Von Rosenberg from the 7-day disabled list.
RHP Zack Von Rosenberg assigned to West Virginia Power from Jamestown Jammers.
RHP Zack Von Rosenberg assigned to Jamestown Jammers from Bradenton Marauders.
Bradenton Marauders activated RHP Zack Von Rosenberg from the 7-day disabled list.
Bradenton Marauders placed RHP Zack Von Rosenberg on the 7-day disabled list.
Bradenton Marauders activated RHP Zack Von Rosenberg from the 7-day disabled list.
Bradenton Marauders placed RHP Zack Von Rosenberg on the 7-day disabled list.
RHP Zack Von Rosenberg assigned to Bradenton Marauders from West Virginia Power.
Zack Von Rosenberg assigned to West Virginia Power from State College Spikes.
Zack Von Rosenberg assigned to State College Spikes from West Virginia Power.
Zack Von Rosenberg assigned to West Virginia Power from GCL Pirates.
Zack Von Rosenberg assigned to GCL Pirates from State College Spikes.
Zack Von Rosenberg assigned to State College Spikes from GCL Pirates.
Zack Von Rosenberg assigned to GCL Pirates.
Pittsburgh Pirates signed RHP Zack Von Rosenberg.