James Parr
| IP | 36 |
|---|---|
| ERA | 5.25 |
| WHIP | 1.667 |
| BB/9 | 3.5 |
| SO/9 | 6.5 |
- Full name James R. Parr
- Born 02/27/1986 in Albuquerque, NM
- Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School La Cueva
- Debut 09/04/2008
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Drafted in the 4th round (131st overall) by the Atlanta Braves in 2004 (signed for $230,000).
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RHP James Parr (Hawaii) was instrumental in leading La Cueva High to consecutive 3-A state titles and a streak of 56 wins in a row--12 shy of the national record. Parr, who hit .548-14-51 and played shortstop when he didn't pitch, was the unquestioned ace, going 9-0, 1.25. A year ago, he posted similar numbers: .573-14-61 as a hitter, 8-0, 1.94 as a pitcher. A 6-footer, he has good arm strength, though his velocity fluctuated from a high of 93-94 mph to 85-87. Parr attracted national crosscheckers, but it's unclear whether he could go in the first four or five rounds, or in the teens. If he doesn't sign, he's expected to go both ways at Hawaii and be in the rotation as a freshman.
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For years Parr held promise, but he never really lived up to his potential after going 13-4, 3.41 in low Class A during his first full pro season. The light came on during 2008, as he solved Double-A, pitched even better in Triple-A and earned a big league callup. He won his major league debut on Sept. 4 with six shutout innings of two-hit ball in a 2-0 triumph against the Nationals. Parr has a classic sneaky-fast fastball. It rarely exits the high 80s, but it features boring, arm-side life. His ability to mix his pitches keeps hitters from teeing off. In addition, he throws a big-breaking curveball with tight spin and a changeup, both of which showed significant improvement last season. The keys to Parr's recent success were his ability to get ahead in the count by commanding his fastball and learning to trust his stuff. He has a cerebral approach and understands he must live in the bottom of the strike zone in order to get big leaguers out. He'll go to spring training with a chance to earn a spot in Atlanta's rotation, though the Javier Vazquez trade diminishes his chances. -
A two-way standout at Albuquerque's La Cueva High, where his teams won 58 straight games and consecutive New Mexico 5-A state titles, Parr committed to the University of Hawaii before signing with the Braves. The day before Atlanta made him a fourth-round pick in 2004, he won the home run derby at a high school all-America showcase, where his competition included slugging Braves farmhands Eric Campbell and Jon Mark Owings. The Braves liked him better on the mound, however, and he didn't disappoint them by tying Chuck James for the system lead in victories and ranking fourth in ERA in 2005, his first full season. Parr alternated between starting and relieving through mid-July before responding to a full-time job in the rotation by winning six straight starts. After sitting in the high 80s during his pro debut, Parr's fastball spiked back into the low 90s and topped out at 94 mph last year. His fluctuating velocity has been an issue since high school. His heater features excellent movement and bores in on righthanders. Parr complements his fastball with a plus curveball that has tight spin and a good break. He has good command and mixes his pitches well. Parr needs to improve the quality of his changeup in order to remain a starter. He also must work down in the strike zone more consistently. His next stop will be high Class A.
