- Full name Keith Bucktrot
- Born
- Profile Throws: R
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Bucktrot's raw stuff has always tantalized the Phillies. He can fire his fastball up to 95 mph, and it regularly reaches 90-93 with sinking action. After switching from a curveball, his slider bites so hard it also can be considered a plus pitch. His changeup is also solid. But command and poor mechanics have always spoiled the package--so much so that some teams liked him better as a hitter out of high school. Bucktrot has worked to hone his command, trimming his walk totals the past two seasons, but it has come at the expense of his ability to strike out hitters. He missed last June with tendinitis, then followed it with an ordinary summer. Then, in a move that surprised the same official, Bucktrot seemed to translate his pro experience into a newfound maturity in the Arizona Fall League, showing better command while finally seeming to take what his coaches taught him and putting it to work. He issued 11 walks in 31 AFL innings, but with 31 hits allowed and 22 strikeouts. He'll move to Triple-A, with the Phillies hoping that being just a step from the majors will give him a sense of urgency to maintain his work ethic and continue improving. -
Bucktrot always had the makings of plus stuff, but his mechanics were so inconsistent that some teams liked him better as a hitter during his high school career. He improved his command and trimmed his walks per nine innings from 4.4 in 2002 to 2.5 in 2003. Bucktrot improved as much as anyone in the organization in 2003, and part of the credit goes to his makeup. Asked to repeat high Class A, he worked hard and improved the quality of his pitches after getting to Double-A. His heavy fastball sits in the 92-94 mph range with sinking action. It touched 95-96 more often in instructional league. His changeup is a solid-average pitch. Bucktrot switched from a curveball to a slurve, an intermediate step to a hard slider. It should be at least average but is still inconsistent. Despite his repertoire, he doesn't strike out many hitters. Bucktrot reported to the Arizona Fall League, but felt an elbow twinge and was pulled off the roster. He'll begin 2004 back in Double-A but once he's ready, the Phillies won't hesitate to make room for him in what could become a crowded Triple-A rotation. -
Inconsistency has plagued Bucktrot throughout his career. He didn't even have consistent scouting reports as a prep player, as some teams liked him better as a hitter. He struggles to repeat his delivery, pitch to pitch and outing to outing. And there's not one clear problem. Sometimes Bucktrot rushes his delivery. Sometimes his front side flies open. At other times, he throws across his body. Bucktrot's future success is directly related to mastering his mechanics. When's he's on, he can dominate. His fastball sits between 92-94 mph, his power curveball can be a plus pitch at times and his changeup rates as at least average. But he's pretty hittable despite his stuff, and he walks nearly as many batters as he strikes out. Bucktrot had it all working in early August, when he tossed back-to-back complete games, allowing four hits in one and two in the other. In his next start, he displayed his mercurial approach by surrendering 10 hits and five runs in six innings. He figures to repeat high Class A at least at the start of 2003, which has as much to do with his need to refine his delivery as it does the depth of pitching in the system. -
In the 2000 draft, some teams sought Bucktrot for his potent lefthanded bat rather than his live right arm. He was considered a raw, athletic talent coming out of high school, though his draft stock was hurt by off-the-field concerns. The Phillies have seen only positive results since signing Bucktrot, including a seven-inning no-hitter he threw in his second start of last season. He flashed overpowering potential again three starts later, when he carried a no-hitter into the ninth inning before settling for a two-hit complete game. His first full season was full of ups and downs. He followed his two nine-inning complete games with his worst outings of the season. While his 90-94 mph fastball and curveball are both plus pitches, Bucktrot didn't show the ability to repeat his mechanics from start to start. He also flashed the makings of a solid changeup, but lacked mound presence and a consistent feel for pitching. Bucktrot should continue to move up one level at a time, though he'll need to develop command and a better feel for pitching to avoid stalling along the way. -
Some teams might have drafted and developed the athletic Bucktrot as a slugging lefthanded-hitting outfielder, but the Phillies were enamored with his powerful right arm. He fires an above-average fastball into the low 90s and also has a sharp-breaking curveball. He's still learning how to put it all together and showed some dominating potential in the Gulf Coast League. Given his two-way background, Bucktrot still is learning how to set up hitters. Because he was able to rely on two power pitches in high school, he never threw a changeup, but he'll get a chance to develop one as a starter. With his lively arm and projectable 6-foot-3 frame, Bucktrot is a candidate to have a breakthrough season. The Phillies believe he'll be able to handle the South Atlantic League this year.