Andrew Thurman
| IP | 377 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 5.252 |
| WHIP | 1.464 |
| BB/9 | 3.891 |
| SO/9 | 7.854 |
- Full name Andrew M. Thurman
- Born 12/10/1991 in Orange, CA
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 225 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School UC Irvine
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Drafted in the 2nd round (40th overall) by the Houston Astros in 2013 (signed for $1,397,200).
View Draft Report
Thurman had success with fringe-average fastball velocity as a sophomore, when he went 8-3, 2.66 and threw a no-hitter against Long Beach State, and his velocity spiked this spring, giving him a strong chance to be UCI's highest-drafted player since 1974, when Jeff Malinoff (now a national crosschecker for the Angels) went in the second round. In the first half of this season, Thurman held his 90-93 mph fastball velocity deep into games and routinely topped out at 95. Down the stretch he has worked more at 90-92, bumping 93. He pounds the strike zone but needs to hone his command because he has a tendency to pitch up in the zone. His best secondary pitch is an above-average 77-80 changeup that he is comfortable throwing to righties as well as lefties. The primary knock against Thurman is his lack of a power breaking ball. His below-average 73-77 curveball is serviceable, and he picked up a short 78-80 slider in the Cape Cod League last summer. That pitch flashes fringe-average when it's on, but he tends to yank it out of the zone at times. Scouts and coaches rave about his makeup and work ethic.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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Thurman joined the Braves as part of the Evan Gattis trade with the Astros in January 2015. Since turning pro, he has battled his command and struggled to gain a consistent feel for the most effective velocity on his fastball, which sits in the low 90s but tends to flatten when touching the mid-90s. Thurman was among those injured in high Class A Carolina bus wreck in May 2015 and missed nearly two months. He was promoted to Double-A Mississippi shortly after his return in July and pitched well in instructional league before heading to the Arizona Fall League. Thurman mixes a solid-average changeup with his fastball, and he needs improvement with his curveball and slider. His overall command has been lacking as well, with scouts noting the inconsistencies in his mechanics and hard landing on his front foot. Thurman projects as a reliever in the major leagues unless his secondary pitches make significant strides. Expect him to open 2016 back at Mississippi. -
A second-rounder in 2013 drafted as a potential back-end starter candidate, Thurman saw his prospect status take a hit in 2014 when his stuff backed up at low Class A. He showed average velocity on his fastballbut it tended to be flatter the harder he threw, though he locates the pitch well. Thurman's changeup, which flashes a tick above-average, is now his second-best offering, with his slider and curveball grading consistently below-average and ineffective. His delivery is below-average, with one evaluator calling him stiff with a hard landing on his front foot. Large-framed and not particularly athletic, Thurman is aggressive with his two chief pitches. He now projects as a reliever in the majors, and he'll head to high Class A Lancaster in 2015. -
After spending big on Mark Appel in the first round, the Astros used the rest of the 2013 draft to acquire polished, lower-ceiling prospects who should be able to move quickly through the system. Thurman, a second-round pick, is a perfect example, because he lacks a true plus pitch, but he has a long track record of success because of his above-average control and ability to read batters' swings. He spent his first two years at UC Irvine handcuffing hitters (he no-hit Long Beach State in 2012) even though he had a fringy fastball. In 2013, Thurman's fastball jumped to average velocity, and he now sits 90-92 mph and touches 95. He throws both a slider and curveball. Both are average at best, but they are less destructive than his tick-above-average changeup, which he uses with equal effectiveness against lefthanders and righthanders. Thurman has a solid pitcher's frame, a clean delivery and a long track record of durability. He projects as a back-end starter, and he should move quickly with an assignment to high Class A Lancaster in 2014, if there's room in the rotation.
Draft Prospects
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Thurman had success with fringe-average fastball velocity as a sophomore, when he went 8-3, 2.66 and threw a no-hitter against Long Beach State, and his velocity spiked this spring, giving him a strong chance to be UCI's highest-drafted player since 1974, when Jeff Malinoff (now a national crosschecker for the Angels) went in the second round. In the first half of this season, Thurman held his 90-93 mph fastball velocity deep into games and routinely topped out at 95. Down the stretch he has worked more at 90-92, bumping 93. He pounds the strike zone but needs to hone his command because he has a tendency to pitch up in the zone. His best secondary pitch is an above-average 77-80 changeup that he is comfortable throwing to righties as well as lefties. The primary knock against Thurman is his lack of a power breaking ball. His below-average 73-77 curveball is serviceable, and he picked up a short 78-80 slider in the Cape Cod League last summer. That pitch flashes fringe-average when it's on, but he tends to yank it out of the zone at times. Scouts and coaches rave about his makeup and work ethic.
