Nick Green

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #29 prospect in 2009
  Signed for a mere $1,500 out of Darton (Ga.) JC after turning down $80,000 from the Astros out of high school, Green could be about to pay big dividends. Angels GM Tony Reagins has declared that Green will be in the mix to fill a rotation opening if one exists in spring training. The organization still has faith in him after he got bombed in Triple-A in August and in the Arizona Fall League. Green has one of the best changeups in the system, with late sink and some screwball action, but he has little margin for error because he lacks a swing-and-miss pitch. His fastball sits at 88-91 mph and his curveball parks in the mid-70s. He throws strikes and can work both sides of the plate, but he's extremely vulnerable when he pitches up in the strike zone. He led the Pacific Coast League in homers surrendered last season with 31. Green doesn't have huge upside, projecting as a No. 4 starter at best, but he should make his big league debut in 2009 if he can improve his command.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #8 prospect in 2008
  One of the cheapest prospects on any list, Green turned down $80,000 from the Astros as an 11th-rounder out of high school only to sign with the Angels two years later for $1,500. He took home Double-A Texas League all-star honors last year before taking the series-ending loss in the Pacific Coast League playoffs. He took the biggest step forward of any Los Angeles prospect in 2007, earning a spot on the 40-man roster. Green pounds the zone with an 86-93 mph fastball, mid-70s curve and a dastardly changeup. His changeup graded as a 70 pitch for more than one TL scout, with late sink resembling that of a screwball. He works quickly, pitches to contact and is efficient, spotting his stuff to both sides of the plate. He repeats his simple yet deceptive delivery well. He's durable and hasn't missed a turn in his rotation in two years. Green doesn't have the upside of some of the Angels' bigger arms. He gets a lot of flyball outs and can be prone to homers. His fastball and changeup are not swing-and-miss pitches, and he already has maximized his feel for pitching. Green's sleeper status has expired, and he has a ceiling as a reliable No. 4 starter. He'll spend 2008 in the Triple-A rotation.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #23 prospect in 2007
  Green was not even recruited by Abraham Baldwin Junior College in his hometown of tiny Tifton, Ga., so he went to Darton Junior College in nearby Albany. He turned down $80,000 from the Astros as an 11th-rounder in 2003, and he wound up sliding to the 35th round a year later, when the Angels inked him for $1,500. He moved from the bullpen to the rotation in 2005 and has been a reliable, durable member of minor league rotations since. Green has a good feel for pitching and the best changeup in the system. His fastball velocity improved this year and sat between 88-92 mph. His arm works well and he uses a herky-jerky, deceptive delivery. Green's circle changeup has late, hard, screwball-like action with plus sink and fade. His 76-78 mph curveball is inconsistent, with occasional tight, 11- to-5 break. One scout graded it higher than Green's changeup after watching him strike out 11 in eight shutout innings in August. He mixes his pitches well, moves the ball around, pitches inside and gets ahead in counts. His willingness to pitch to contact is one of his assets. Ticketed for Double-A in 2007, Green profiles as a back-of-the-rotation starter.
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  Ranked Los Angeles Angels #29 prospect in 2006
  Green wasn't even recruited by Abraham Baldwin Junior College in his hometown of Tifton, Ga., so he went to Darton Junior College in nearby Albany. He turned down $80,000 from the Astros when they drafted him in the 11th round after his freshman season in 2003, and wound up signing for $1,500 as an Angels 35th-rounder in 2004. Green joined the Cedar Rapids bullpen last May and moved into the rotation for good in late July, going 3-1, 2.72 in his final seven starts. His main weapon is a changeup that rates as the best in the organization. One scout graded it a 70 on the 20-80 scale because of its late, hard sink. Green gets ahead in the count with an 88-91 mph fastball. He also has a serviceable breaking ball and a splitter. He has good mechanics, though his delivery has some effort to it. He throws strikes but will have to improve his location against more advanced hitters. Green will remain a starter in high Class A this year.