Homer Bailey

2013

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2012

How many ways can we describe Homer Bailey's unfulfilled potential? It seems as if we could write similar profiles for him every year. Once again, he spent time on the DL with a shoulder problem. Once again, he was a little unlucky, with a 69 percent strand rate. He turned in a nearly identical ERA from 2010, while striking out one less batter per nine innings. And yet, and stop us if you've heard this before, he's still relatively young, turning 26 in May. This is a critical season for Bailey, as he'll start to become more expensive for the Reds, and they'll have to decide how much of a commitment they want to make toward him.

2011

Bailey demonstrated some improvement in 2010, raising his strikeout rate while maintaining decent walk and home run rates. His overall record looks a little worse than it could have been, thanks to a 68-percent strand rate and a .321 BABIP against. Will it be enough to stick in the starting rotation? His spot is pretty tenuous, with Travis Wood, Mike Leake and perhaps even Aroldis Chapman battling with Bailey for the final two spots after Bronson Arroyo, Johnny Cueto and Edinson Volquez. He has the talent to succeed, and he's still young enough to turn that talent into performance.

2010

Investing in pitching prospects is often a matter of faith without evidence - there are times when you have to trust the scouting reports and pedigree and hope that the pitcher in question eventually fulfills his promise. Bailey is finally on that path, finishing the season on a 6-1 run with a sub-2.00 ERA. While many will point to his starts against the Astros and Pirates as the reason for his success, he also had great home starts against the Cardinals and Dodgers in that stretch. Furthermore, his velocity, often dormant in 2008, returned in 2009, as he frequently was clocked in the 95-97 mph range deep into his starts. There's enough here to believe that he's for real.

2009

There's no way to sugarcoat Bailey's awful 2008 season - his 7.93 ERA accurately reflects just how poorly he pitched at the major league level. His fastball has lost a couple of mph from previous seasons, and he hasn't successfully adjusted to that reality. Still, Bailey has a lot of raw talent remaining, and he'll be just 23 in 2009. Patience should be the order of the day, both for the Reds (or a possible trade partner) and for you in dynasty leagues. Just keep him on your reserve roster as long as you can.

2008

Many Reds fans will tell you that the Reds waited too long to call up Bailey, but the opposite is probably more likely to be true. Bailey had a hard time finishing off hitters, both in the majors and at Triple-A Louisville. He often struggled to command his offspeed pitches, and that lack of a second pitch led to his problems finishing off hitters. If you own him in a keeper league, don't get too discouraged - this is all part of the normal developmental cycle - we've just been spoiled by so many good rookie seasons the past few years. He'll likely start 2008 at the major league level as the third or fourth starter, barring a spring training collapse.

2007

Bailey's timetable to reach the majors got accelerated following a superb 2006 season. After blowing through High-A Sarasota, he maintained his strikeout rate in Double-A Chattanooga while keeping his walks and hits allowed down. Reds GM Wayne Krivsky has said that he intends to have Bailey begin the year at Triple-A Louisville, and there are good reasons (both developmental and financial) to do so. Don't be surprised if he's not up until midseason, no matter how good he looks (and how poor the Reds' fifth starter alternatives appear) this spring.

2006

The Reds' first-round pick in 2004 showed glimpses of potential in 2005 at Low-A Dayton, but he's still a long-term project. His strikeout and hit rates are both impressive, but his command (particularly of his curveball) is lacking. Don't expect him to reach the majors in any significant capacity until 2008.

2005

The Reds first-round draft pick and the number seven player drafted overall, Bailey was considered to be the high school pitcher with the most upside in the 2004 draft. He was used sparingly after signing with the team and is on a long developmental track. His selection was a bit of a surprise, given the Reds' brutal history with high school pitchers taken in the first round (Chris Gruler, Jeremy Sowers, Ty Howington).

2004

Has a smooth, easy motion that belies an explosive mid-90s fastball and a quality curveball. Needs to further develop a changeup and like most high school pitchers, hasn’t yet been tested. From the ranks of the Texas high school system, he's considered the next Josh Beckett by most of the Lone Star faithful.