Chris Spurling
| IP | 219 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 4.315 |
| WHIP | 1.324 |
| BB/9 | 2.712 |
| SO/9 | 4.068 |
- Full name Christopher Michael Spurling
- Born 06/28/1977 in Dayton, OH
- Profile Ht.: 6'6" / Wt.: 240 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Miami (OH)
- Debut 04/02/2003
- Drafted in the 41st round (1,246th overall) by the New York Yankees in 1997.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
-
The Spurling-for-Luis Sojo deal seemed like a nothing-for-nothing trade last August, but Sojo wound up getting the World Series-winning hit for the Yankees and Spurling emerged as a prospect with the Pirates. Spurling throws fairly hard, but his success comes from consistently throwing strikes. He's aggressive and challenges hitters with a 91-93 mph fastball, along with a good slider. His fastball appears harder because he has a very smooth delivery. Spurling put up decent numbers in the Yankees organization after signing as a draft-and-follow, but he was far from spectacular. So it's hard to tell whether his success with the Pirates is a trend or simply a one-month aberration. While Spurling has had success by just attacking opponents in the lower levels, it remains to be seen if his stuff is good enough to get more advanced hitters out. Spurling will begin this season in Double-A and has the chance for a promotion to Triple-A. If he succeeds at those levels, he could help to solidify a shaky Pirates bullpen in 2002.
