Josh Judy

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #23 prospect in 2012
  Judy has been quite a find for the Indians as a 34th-round pick signed for $52,500 out of Indiana Tech in 2007. He has averaged at least a strikeout per inning at every full-season minor league stop in the system, and he might be the lone big leaguer out of what was a disastrous draft for Cleveland. He spent most of 2011 in Triple-A, making his major league debut with a scoreless relief inning on May 22 and returning for stints in Cleveland in July and September. Judy throws strikes with a low-90s fastball, getting a lot of deception because of his herky-jerky delivery. He can generate swings and misses with a slider that has late action, though the pitch lacks consistency because he doesn't always stay on top of it. He doesn't have a reliable third pitch to combat lefthanders, who hit him much harder (.834 OPS) than righties did (.581 OPS) last year in Triple-A, a pattern consistent with his career splits. Judy's upside is limited, but he could win a middle-relief job in spring training.
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  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #19 prospect in 2011
  After throwing well in big league camp, Judy began the 2010 season on the disabled list with an elbow injury before returning in mid-May and spending most of the year in Triple-A. He struggled in his first two weeks back, then was one of the most dominant relievers in the International League before finishing his year with a strong showing in the Dominican League. While Judy doesn't have the arm strength of fellow Columbus relievers Zach Putnam and Bryce Stowell, he does have good command of a low-90s fastball that reaches 94 mph. His delivery has a lot of moving parts, but it helps him hide the ball and makes his fastball seem quicker. His slider is a swing-and-miss pitch with late, two-plane break that puts hitters away. Without an adequate changeup, Judy struggles to retire lefthanders. He could break camp in the big league bullpen or return to Triple-A for additional polish at the start of 2011.
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  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #19 prospect in 2010
  After getting his feet wet in Double-A for a couple of months, Judy was nearly unhittable from July through the end of the 2009 season, posting a 1.07 ERA and a 43-6 K-BB mark in 25 innings. He also pitched well in the Arizona Fall League, where he maintained a 1.59 ERA. Judy doesn't have a high ceiling, but he should help Cleveland's bullpen in the near future, possibly as soon as 2010. He struck out more than a batter per inning and induced grounders at an above-average clip with a solid two-pitch mix last season. Judy's fastball comes in at 92-94 mph with solid life and deception that make it a swing-and-miss pitch. He can throw his fastball to both sides of the plate and gets good sink on the pitch at times, which helps him keep the ball on the ground. He backs up his fastball with a solid-average slider that has the potential to be a plus pitch with depth and two-plane break. Judy should get a chance to begin 2010 in Triple-A and could pitch in Cleveland at some point this year.