- Full name Jason Stumm
- Born
- Profile Throws: R
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This is the year the White Sox hope to be rewarded for their patience with Stumm, who was compared to Roger Clemens when they made him a first-round pick in 1999. He had Tommy John surgery the next season, a shoulder operation in 2002 and has pitched just 206 innings in five pro seasons. Stumm has regained the mid-90s velocity on his fastball and Chicago believes he has a high upside, probably as a reliever. But the odds are against him reaching his ceiling unless he can stay healthy. His slider, changeup and command all need a lot of work. The Sox liked how he finished 2003 and expect him to come into spring training ready to compete. If he doesn't perform well in the Cactus League, he could lose his spot on the 40-man roster. He'll probably open the year in Double-A. -
Stumm might as well wear a jersey that says "Handle With Care." A former all-everything in three sports, he has been plagued by arm injuries since opting for a baseball career. He was slow to recover from Tommy John surgery in 2000, working just 52 innings the last two years, and underwent shoulder surgery after the 2002 season. He'll be sidelined for the first part of this season. Before surgery, Stumm threw 96-97 mph and was beginning to develop his secondary pitches. The White Sox had limited him to a maximum of two innings in his 22 outings in 2002 and for a time were encouraged by the results. His velocity appeared all the way back but it came at the expense of a shoulder injury. The Sox root for him because he's a good kid and a proven winner, but the odds against him seem to grow every year. -
Mr. Everything as a high school star in the Pacific Northwest, Stumm was the most highly regarded of the truckload of talented pitchers the White Sox collected in the 1999 draft. Now he has become the organization's Concern No. 1. Elbow reconstruction cost him most of the last two seasons and he hasn't had as smooth a recovery as many Tommy John surgery survivors. Stumm returned in a little more than a year to make four outings in the Rookie-level Arizona League last August, but he suffered a setback that may keep his comeback from beginning in earnest this spring. When he was healthy, Stumm could hit 96-97 mph with his fastball. His slider and changeup are works in progress that have been delayed by his pitching just 133 innings in his first 2 1/2 seasons as a pro. Stumm, a league MVP in football and basketball in high school, gets high marks for leadership and character. If he can get back on track, the early adversity could make him a hardened competitor. -
Adversity arrived early for the former all-everything from the state of Washington. Stumm, a league MVP as a quarterback and small forward at Centralia (Wash.) High, set a since-broken club record when he received a $1.75 million bonus in 1999. He made only 25 pro starts before tearing an elbow ligament and needing Tommy John surgery last year. Stumm was throwing 96-97 mph consistently before the 1999 draft. He was able to maintain that velocity late into games. Scouts and coaches rave about his character. He's a leader and a competitor. Stumm was able to get by with his fastball in high school but needs a lot of work on his slider and changeup. The injury will cost him time toward making those improvements. The White Sox aren't too worried about Stumm. He's still very young and they've had plenty of Tommy John survivors in their organization, including Lorenzo Barcelo and Rocky Biddle. Because Stumm didn't have surgery until late in the 2000 season, he'll miss most of 2001. The Sox hope he can be back in time for instructional league.