Scott Elbert

2013

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2012

Elbert hasn't panned out quite the way the Dodgers had hoped when they selected him in the first round back in 2004, but 2012 will be the first spring camp Elbert attends in which he's not fighting for a job. With a 2.43 ERA and 9.18 K/9IP in 33.1 innings, Elbert appears to finally be in position to contribute over a full big league season. With the non-tendering of Hong-Chih Kuo, Elbert could very well be the team's top left-handed bullpen option in 2012.

2011

Elbert remains on the team's radar as a possible bullpen option, but his former top prospect status is but a distant memory. Upon being demoted back to Triple-A in June, Elbert wound up leaving the team and missing four months because he was so upset. Elbert returned in October to pitch well in the Arizona Fall League (15:4 K:BB in 10 innings), but this is a guy who walked 34 batters in 43.1 Triple-A innings last year, so he'll have to pitch lights-out this spring and prove he's matured in order to even win a big league bullpen spot.

2010

Elbert finished 2009 with a 5.03 ERA in 19.2 big league innings, all in relief. Elbert had made 18 starts between Double-A and Triple-A before getting called up, but the Dodgers didn't trust him in that role in 2009. Going forward, Elbert still has some upside (11.4 K/9IP overall in 2009), but he won't have much fantasy value unless he's in the rotation.

2009

Coming off shoulder surgery in June 2007, the Dodgers treated their former first rounder with kid gloves in 2008. Elbert spent the entire year in relief, posting a 2.40 ERA in 41.1 innings for Double-A Jacksonville before getting a late-season callup. Elbert did allow just 22 hits and struck out 46 in those 41.1 innings, but the 20 walks demonstrated that he's not quite all the way back. Elbert could win a job as a left-handed reliever this year, but it's just as likely the organization will return him to the minors to work as a starter.

2008

Elbert was the club's first-round pick (17th overall) back in 2004 and after posting a 2.79 ERA and striking out 10.4 batters per nine innings over his previous two minor league seasons, Elbert entered 2007 as one of baseball's top pitching prospects. Unfortunately, a shoulder injury limited his season to 14 innings. The surgery was deemed minor, but we'll need to see how he's throwing this spring to see if his stuff returns to its pre-surgery form. Elbert has struggled with his command recently, but he has the upside of a No. 2 or No. 3 starter should he prove to be fully healthy.

2007

Elbert has taken, by most observers, the mantle as the team's top pitching prospect from Chad Billingsley. His stuff is among the best in the minors, and allowed him to slightly increase his strikeout rate this past year. What is troublesome is his wavering command, but that's something he'll work on as he begins 2007 back in Double-A. For Elbert, more strikes will likely result in, at worst, a September call-up, and he should be on savvy fantasy owners' radars by now.

2006

The Dodgers took Elbert out of high school in the first round of the 2004 draft and started seeing dividends in 2005, following a solid season at low-A Columbus in the Sally League. His walk rate is too high, and he's not on the same fast track as some of the other top Dodgers prospects, but his ceiling is impressive, and he should be monitored closely in 2006.

2004

Elbert has a low 90s sinking fastball and a hard, overhand-slider that project as plus pitches. He’s also a terrific athlete, his change up features the same sink as his fastball, but his curveball would have to be overhauled for it to be an effective pitch as a pro. Could become a closer if the repertoire can’t be upgraded.