Heath Rollins
| IP | 655 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 3.82 |
| WHIP | 1.258 |
| BB/9 | 2.721 |
| SO/9 | 7.063 |
- Full name Lewis Heath Rollins
- Born 05/25/1985 in Florence, SC
- Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 185 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Winthrop
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Drafted in the 11th round (319th overall) by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2006.
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Scouts aren't sure whether Rollins will pitch or play the outfield in the professional ranks. He spent most of this season on the hill and at first base for the Eagles, going 11-4, 3.58 in 20 starts. Rollins' athleticism is off the charts, with several scouts seeing him as a center fielder due to his 6.5-second speed in the 60, which gave him 25 stolen bases in his first 30 attempts. As a pitcher, his fastball resides in the 87-90 mph range and touches 93. He also throws a good slider and curveball and shows a decent feel for the changeup while working the outer half of the plate. Rollins' 6-foot-1 frame is the biggest knock against him as a pitcher in pro ball, while his biggest detriment as a hitter is his average power. In college, he saw action at all three outfield positions as well as first and second base, and his makeup and approach are outstanding.
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Rollins continued to develop somewhat under the radar in 2008 and is beginning to attract comparisons to Andy Sonnastine from within the organization. After manning the outfield at Winthrop in addition to starting as a pitcher on Fridays and closing on Sundays, Rollins tied for the minor league lead and set a system record with 17 wins in 2007. His record fell to a misleading 6-12, but he ranked fifth in the Florida State League in strikeouts (115 in 136 innings) and sixth in ERA (3.30). A focused pitcher with above-average command, Rollins pitches at 89-90 mph and can touch 92 with his fastball. He maintains a good angle on his fastball with his solid mechanics and does an excellent job of mixing in a plus slider and an improving changeup. With his slider and his willingness to pitch inside, Rollins limited righthanders to a .205 average last year. His feel for pitching leads the Rays to believe he'll continue to succeed at higher levels, and he pitched well in four Double-A starts at the end of 2008. His primary weakness is his tendency to give up the longball, as his 15 homers allowed in the FSL were the fifth-most in the league. While he has good athleticism for a pitcher, there's little or no projection remaining in his frame. Rollins probably will open 2009 back in Double-A, but he could be in line for a midseason promotion. -
A two-way player in college, Rollins had one of the best seasons of any pitcher in the minor leagues last year, establishing a Rays system record with 17 wins, which tied for tops in the minors. He had a string of six straight starts without allowing an earned run early in the season, finished second in the South Atlantic League in strikeouts (149 in 159 innings) and fourth in ERA (2.54), then went 2-0, 1.38 in the postseason to help Columbus win the league crown. Rollins' strength centers on his ability to change speeds while pounding the strike zone with all four of his offerings. He keeps his 88-92 mph fastball down in the zone. His slider is a true out pitch, and he spins the ball well with his quick arm action. He has a good feel for moving the ball in and out, and he keeps his offerings to lefthanders down and in--though they did hit .272 against him. He can add and subtract velocity with all of his pitches without affecting his plus command. His changeup is fringy and needs more polish and consistency. Rollins' clean delivery is efficient, and he repeats it with ease. He has excellent baseball sense, which can be attributed in part to his experience as an everyday player. He also competes well and is a true student of the game. Considered by many within the organization to be a clone of Jamie Shields, Rollins will get his next challenge in high Class A.
