Rick Porcello comp? Strikeout rate?

[theplasticman]

Who do you think he compares to? I know he's pretty raw and bound to improve. Kinda shocked he doesn't strike out more batters.

 

[Mudcatsfan]

Bummer, i went to Baseball refernece.com and they apparently don't do comps until you've completed a season. Its always interesting to see who people comp to statistically.

I really can't think of who he's simliar to, but that's because i believe he's truly a work in progress. I think he's already good enough to succeed in the bigs as is, but will add to his repetoire as time goes by.

Which is scary.

 

[jlecates]

Though Porcello is a bit lankier in build I would actually compare him to John Smoltz, both in terms of stuff across the board (including the curve and slider) and also the athleticism. To me the K's are still down because they wanted him to pitch-to-contact last year in the Minors, both to save his arm and also to get him to learn how to pitch and not just dominate with stuff that would have outmatched players in A Ball. I think he is still doing that to a degree, but the stuff is there for him to have some huge K totals down the road.