- Full name Peter John Bevis
- Born 07/28/1980 in
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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The Australian native spent three years in Rookie ball and emerged as a prospect once he went to a low three-quarters delivery. Unlike most sidearmers, he's not a soft tosser. He features a nasty 93-94 mph fastball complemented by a big-breaking 66-67 mph curve. Bevis has had success getting strikeouts with his curve in the minors, but some scouts say it won't be as effective in the majors, as it's more of a surprise pitch than an effective breaking ball. Scouts also worry about his delivery, which combines a long arm action, a stiff shoulder and plenty of effort. Still, Bevis has struck out more than a batter an inning at every stop since he went sidearm, including an impressive 12.7 strikeouts per nine innings in Double-A. He's unlikely to make the Mets bullpen out of spring training, but could make his big league debut later in 2004. -
Signed as a 17-year-old out of Australia in 1998, Bevis spent three seasons in Rookie ball as a starter, doing little to attract attention as a prospect. The Diamondbacks dropped his arm slot to three-quarters last year and made him a reliever. The changes turned Bevis' career around, just as they had for Bret Prinz in 2000. Bevis also bulked up and watched his velocity soar from the high 80s to 92-94 mph, occasionally touching 95-96. He mixes in a power curveball as well as a bigger, slower bender to keep hitters guessing. He still needs to refine his command. After starting 2001 in extended spring training, Bevis didn't surrender a run in his first 10 appearances at short-season Yakima and finished the season as the Double-A closer after Jose Valverde was shut down with a tender shoulder. He also earned a save against Canada at the World Cup in Taiwan. Bevis could return to El Paso to start 2002.
