by Jim Brown
*MLBDepthCharts.com considers any player not on a team's 40-man roster, in AAA, or ranked as a top 10 prospect by Baseball America or top 11 prospect by Baseball Prospectus before the 2010 season as an 'under the radar' player.
Under the Radar Minor League NL Pitching Performance of the Week
LHP Tony Cingrani, Rookie Level Billings (CIN)
season stats: 0-2, 1.84 ERA, 29.1 IP, 18 H, 4 BB, 45 K in 9 starts
August 9-August 16: 8 IP, ER, 5 H, 2 BB, 15 K in 2 starts
My UTR-mate Marc Hefferan and I had our annual baseball outing this past weekend. It's a great time spent talking about our past UTR picks and those who almost made the list, all the while watching some minor league ball. Discussions during our first game at Double-Altoona were all about the performances of this week and who was leading the pack. I stated that I might have my choice already in the bag, when LHP Michael Strong (Rookie Level Helena Brewers) struck out 13 hitters on August 9th. Marc stated that "it's not over until it's over", a creed that we hoped to see true after watching ex-MLB'er Oliver Perez serve up a grand slam in the first inning at our second game at Double-A Harrisburg. Side note…we were there to see #1 prospect Bryce Harper. It was over for the Senators, as they couldn’t overcome the early 4-run deficit with Harper going 0-for-3. It was also over for Strong, as he couldn’t string together two quality starts to make the UTR. Strangely, it was the pitcher who opposed Strong on August 9th that would end up earning the UTR honors for the week. With two strong outings, striking out 15 over 8 limited innings, the 22 year-old increased his season total to 45 against just 4 walks in 29.1 IP. Cingrani was 'under the radar' even before hitting the pro ranks. A 3rd round pick out of Rice in this year's draft, the lefty had struggled mightily as a junior at Rice, and the two years while at South Suburban College (Ill), even though he broke the strikeout records at SSC. Cingrani’s struggles had him contemplating hanging up his cleats, but the pitching coach convinced him to stay at Rice for his senior year. That off-season, Cingrani totally re-tooled his mechanics and moved to the Owls bullpen for the 2011 season. The start-from-scratch approach was a 180-degree turnaround as Cingrani was one of the best in Conference USA (4-2, 12 saves in 32 appearances, 1.74 ERA) with a 10.4 K/9 rate.
The Reds have decided to give Cingrani another shot in a rotation, but have been stretching out his innings to ease him back into the starter's workload. He throws a power fastball that has potential for improvement. He topped the guns at 97 mph as a reliever, but levels into the low 90’s as a starter. The outcome of his mechanics overhaul has shown a quicker, easy arm action with deception that keeps hitters off-balance. He has potential for a good change-up and solid breaking ball and shows a skill of mixing his off-speed pitches with his plus fastball. The fastball may have him destined him for a relief role, but overall improvement of his secondary pitches could keep him in the rotation.
Relief Pitcher of the Week
RHP Kevin Quackenbush, Lo-A Fort Wayne (SD): 2-0, 0.28 ERA, 32.0 IP, 18 H, 10 BB, 52 K, 16 Sv in 27 appearances over 2 levels; 6.1 IP, 0 ER, H, 2 BB, 12 K, 4 Sv in 5 appearances over the past week
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UTR Minor League NL Hitting Performance of the Week
UTR Minor League AL Performances of the Week - posted later today
Under the Radar 2011 Archive
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