Michael Connolly

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #26 prospect in 2004
  Connolly didn't draw a whole lot of interest as a high school player because of his small stature. His younger brother Jon pitches in the Tigers system and has attracted more attention after leading the minors with a 1.41 ERA last year, but Mike has turned in four solid pro seasons and finished up strong last year in Double-A. Connolly's best pitch is an above-average curveball that is tough on lefthanders. His fastball rarely gets past 90 mph but he is able to survive at 86-87 mph because of his ability to spot the pitch. Connolly sometimes catches too much of the plate with his fastball, making him vulnerable to homers. He also needs to become more consistent with his changeup, and his stamina is another issue. Connolly will start in Double-A this year but should reach Triple-A at some point. If he doesn't get to the majors as a starter, his curveball gives him a good chance of making it as a reliever.
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  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #23 prospect in 2003
  Connolly didn't get a lot of exposure in high school because he pitched in upstate New York. Nevertheless, he passed up a scholarship to East Carolina to sign as a 19th-round pick, and he has made swift progress as a pro. He pitched in high Class A last year as a teenager and drew comparisons to touted Lynchburg teammate Sean Burnett. Connolly doesn't have exceptional stuff but he's intelligent and a quick learner. He has a good idea of how to pitch and above-average command of four pitches: a fastball that usually tops out at 90 mph but has good movement, a curveball, slider and changeup. Connolly is on the smallish side and probably won't add much velocity to his fastball. His slight build also leaves some concern about his long-term durability as a starter. Connolly has met every challenge so far and will get a chance to tackle Double-A this season.