Tommy Hunter to Oklahoma

by Adam J. Morris on Jul 1, 2008 2:17 PM CDT

Mike Hindman reports at the DMN blog that Tommy Hunter has been promoted to Oklahoma.

The Rangers have been real aggressive with Hunter, who was a 2007 sandwich pick that reportedly was thought to be someone who could end up moving quickly. Hunter started the season at Bakersfield, has had a handful of starts at Frisco, and while he now presumably will move into the Oklahoma rotation, I wouldn't be shocked if he's pitching in Arlington out of the bullpen before the end of the 2008 season.

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Awesome news...

So the carosel of promotions begins again.

Nice to see developement of a guy that some teams considerd a slight reach at the time.

by laxtonto on Jul 1, 2008 2:20 PM CDT 0 recs

dang 75 word limit

Thats it. No more fanposts for me. Well… maybe. I’ll just let Adam post the news.

As for Hunter, I think the Rangers really like his ability to throw strikes. He has only given up 1.8BB/9IP. Another young pitcher to root for, he turns 22 on Thursday.

Brandon Boggs 2008 Texas Rangers ROY

by RangerMad on Jul 1, 2008 2:22 PM CDT 0 recs

fwiw...

...I also think that his makeup has a lot to do with them moving him quickly…I think he’s viewed as someone with a lot of maturity who can handle challenges without getting messed up mentally if he struggles…

by Adam J. Morris on Jul 1, 2008 2:24 PM CDT up 0 recs

so much

for Diamond mentoring him in Frisco.

Do we know who takes his place in the Frisco rotation? Jeremy Hellickson?

by clark on Jul 1, 2008 2:29 PM CDT up 0 recs

My guess

one of the spare bullpen arms or someone off the street

by zywica on Jul 1, 2008 2:35 PM CDT up 0 recs

I'm guessing it will be someone from Bakersfield.

Possibly Clinton, but there is at least one guy in High A who’s been progressing nicely.

The RoughRiders are off Wednesday, so they might skip Hunter’s spot in the rotation. We might not know for a couple of days… or until after tonight’s Bakersfield and Clinton games are over.

by NoNameOnCard on Jul 1, 2008 4:36 PM CDT up 0 recs

Heh. Though, maybe it only took one start for TD to convince Hunter to throw more heat.

Maybe that’s all the encouragement he needed to get his game a notch closer the ML-ready.

Go Rangers!

by rooster on Jul 1, 2008 2:55 PM CDT up 0 recs

isnt his low K's

somewhat worrisome?

"Do they know who I am? Do they know my status? Thats what I thought."
-Miles 6/21/08

.501 or bust!

by Jayslick on Jul 1, 2008 2:30 PM CDT up 0 recs

Yes

But then, he’s not a high ceiling type. He’s a guy whose ceiling is probably as a Joe Blanton type low-3/high-4 starter (although I know z disagrees with me on whether that adequately describes Blanton).

by Adam J. Morris on Jul 1, 2008 2:41 PM CDT up 0 recs

A young Jaret Wright

Baseball Time in Arlington

by jparks77 on Jul 1, 2008 2:48 PM CDT up 0 recs

Speaking of Blanton

I think Beane missed the time to deal him if he was going to get max value. Of course, they’re contenders right now, so things have changed since the offseason in that regard.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 1, 2008 2:52 PM CDT up 0 recs

that train's about a year late...

by oc on Jul 1, 2008 10:27 PM CDT up 0 recs

when did he ever have "real" value?

eom

Every pitch thrown to Josh Hamilton is recorded as an E1. -- clark

by knockoutking on Jul 1, 2008 11:14 PM CDT up 0 recs

If you take his AA stint as a whole, the more disturbing thing is that his walk rate (17 in 52 IP) basically doubled and his K rate (28) was cut in half.

On the flip side, it’s not enough to call it a trend, but it’s good to see him giving up fewer hits his last two starts (nine in 14 innings).

He’s a good prospect though. He should be versatile enough with his stuff to survive in the back of the rotation or be a real asset in the pen.

by zywica on Jul 1, 2008 3:05 PM CDT up 0 recs

Thanx guys

i hope he does great, just looking at his numbers i wasnt blown away but if he can keep his walks down, i dont see why he cant do decent.

if his K’s go down though like they did in AA and his BB doesnt improve, i dunno how any1 will get overly excited about a 1st rounder for that, no matter how quick he has arrived. im excited he’s already in AAA, but quick progression is not a high requirement in my book when it comes to high picks, i want top end talent around the area he was drafted and it can take its time getting here.

maybe thats just me though. overall im surprised b/c he’s done better and progressed quicker than i thought. that cant be bad i guess.

"Do they know who I am? Do they know my status? Thats what I thought."
-Miles 6/21/08

.501 or bust!

by Jayslick on Jul 1, 2008 4:21 PM CDT up 0 recs

Sweet

No matter how you slice it, his progress is a breath of fresh air. Almost all of the organization’s pitching prospects are below AA and won’t help until 2010, and with Diamond struggling, Hunter joins Harrison as meaningful arms who could help soon.

by zywica on Jul 1, 2008 2:30 PM CDT 0 recs

Johan Yan

I’m always anxious to see positives from Yan, and he’s back in AZL, but I like what he’s doing. He’s always struggled mightily with his control of the strike zone, but he has an 7/5 BB/SO ratio so far, which gives him a .448 OBP.

by zywica on Jul 1, 2008 4:21 PM CDT 0 recs

Hunter was basically toying with Texas League hitters.

Hunter’s walk rate in AA is a bit of a trend, but one that belongs to Texas League umpires, not Hunter himself. For some reason, Texas League umpires tend to have really tight strike zones.

In Hunter’s first start, he threw roughly 35 curveballs – an above average pitch that he commands extremely well, making it a plus-plus pitch for him. After Diamond put the $5 fine on any curveball beyond 20, Hunter started throwing his fastball more. He would sit routinely at 92-93 early in games, and fade a little to around 90-91 late in games. Hunter started working both sides of the plate more easily and started throwing more change ups.

In Hunter’s last home start for Frisco, he threw 20 curves through 6 IP and didn’t throw a change up until the 7th inning. He challenged hitters all night with his fastball and kept them off-balance with his curve.

Presumably, Hunter won’t be holding back any part of his arsenal while with OKC. AAA will test Hunter’s ability to keep the ball down. The lefties will test Hunter’s ability to locate his change up – something he will definitely need to succeed as a starter at the major league level.

by NoNameOnCard on Jul 1, 2008 4:28 PM CDT 1 recs

tight strike zone?

The Southern League has a higher walk rate than that of the TX League, which doesn’t seem outrageous. I’m not doubting you, but what are you basing that on?

I’m not real worried about Hunter’s control myself, I think his Frisco time will prove to be an outlier in that regard.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 1, 2008 4:54 PM CDT up 0 recs

For what it's worth

I’m not concerned about Hunter’s control either. But when walks go up and strikeouts go down (especially when they do dramatically like that) at a new level, it can be a sign that the pitcher is having to work much harder to make his stuff work. On one hand, I think that Hunter’s stuff is not so outstanding that he can just cruise at any level, so that angle makes some sense. On the other, the pace at which he’s progressing should really, really be factored in, especially since he wasn’t even a full time starter in college. His last couple of starts were quietly very promising.

by zywica on Jul 1, 2008 5:37 PM CDT up 0 recs

In Hunter's case, I believe it was...

(1) trying to get contact earlier in counts
(2) learning how to get guys out without over-playing his curve

by NoNameOnCard on Jul 1, 2008 5:59 PM CDT up 0 recs

Er...

That’s an explanation of the low strikeout totals to go with my imperfect explanation of his increase in walks.

by NoNameOnCard on Jul 1, 2008 6:01 PM CDT up 0 recs

I attribute my assessment to

comments from coaches, players, other observers, and my own two eyes. On any given night in the Texas League (in Frisco, at least), the corners of the strike zone may not exist.

It doesn’t happen every night. There are definitely nights where both teams watch strike three more times than a professional team should. Typically, though, close calls favor the hitter.

by NoNameOnCard on Jul 1, 2008 5:58 PM CDT up 0 recs

Thanks

For whatever reason, I always sit on the 3rd base side there, so I’ve never gotten a good feel for that side to side stuff.

As to your above points about Hunter’s walks, I think you’re right on. He really was attacking the zone, contact be damned. This is not a guy who is going to require visits to the mound to tell him to stop nibbling. I was encouraged by his most recent starts where it seemed he was putting things together. Apparently the organization agreed.

Time you enjoy wasting was not wasted.

by t ball on Jul 1, 2008 6:27 PM CDT up 0 recs

NoNameCard +1

you have the best info on the rangers of any poster here. much appreciated.

"Do they know who I am? Do they know my status? Thats what I thought."
-Miles 6/21/08

.501 or bust!

by Jayslick on Jul 1, 2008 5:44 PM CDT up 0 recs

yeah!

That’s really all I have to say….well, except for ROLL Tide!

Now they just need to promote Andrew and Brennan!

http://www.mvn.com/milb-rangers

For old times sake...C'mon Kelly! :-)

by Beverly23 on Jul 1, 2008 5:08 PM CDT 0 recs

+1

Garr had me at “Clinton.”

Go Strangers.

by hightowersmith on Jul 1, 2008 6:36 PM CDT up 0 recs

promoting to Arlington by the end of this year?

You’ve lost your mind haven’t you AJM? I’d say that’s reall aggressive. Has any other prospect made it to their parent team that quick?

The bloggerformelyknownasBigBaddBubbaJ

by NYTXFAN on Jul 1, 2008 5:38 PM CDT 0 recs

Sure

lots do it, in fact someone does most years. I wouldn’t be shocked if he could handle it. My issue is that I don’t think it makes sense to add him to the 40 man roster for that cameo, especially since he won’t be contributing to a pennant race. This public service announcement is dedicated to dirkatron.

by zywica on Jul 1, 2008 5:42 PM CDT up 0 recs

Ditto

My issue is that I don’t think it makes sense to add him to the 40 man roster for that cameo,

I agree.

by Adam J. Morris on Jul 1, 2008 6:02 PM CDT up 0 recs

I don't believe he'll see Arlington this year

for that exact reason. This winter’s 40 crunch is going to be interesting (unless some trades are made), and I don’t think the Rangers will run into a good enough reason to add a guy who won’t need to be protected until after the 2010 season.

by NoNameOnCard on Jul 1, 2008 6:05 PM CDT up 0 recs

It's all about the 40, bitches

It’s all that matters.

Believe that.

The 40 Trumps All!!!

by thedirkatron on Jul 2, 2008 3:34 PM CDT up 0 recs

There is really no reason too

If we weren’t having anyone needing to be added to the 40 or plenty of room after the season, I’d say it might be worth it to give him a brief September call-up. That’s just not the case and we’ll be looking at a tight situation as always this year.

By 2028, Mark Teixeira will be in the HOF.
-The Outlaw

by Gdawg1 on Jul 1, 2008 7:09 PM CDT up 0 recs