Madison Bumgarner

2013

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2012

Bumgarner ended April with a 6.17 ERA and 1.757 WHIP last year, but he was one of baseball's best pitchers the rest of the season, posting a 2.83 ERA and 1.142 WHIP (and that's with him allowing eight runs while recording just one out during a June outing). Over the final four months of last season, Bumgarner recorded an incredible 145:24 K:BB ratio over 126.2 innings. His 3.10 xFIP ranked seventh-best in baseball. Bumgarner's fastball velocity is now all the way back, and his slider is one of the best pitches in the game, though it should be noted he threw it 32.4 percent of the time last year, which was the fourth-highest rate in MLB, so there's some concern there. Still, at 6-foot-4, 215 pounds, he appears to be a horse and hasn't yet shown any signs of arm trouble. Bumgarner is extremely difficult to homer against, and with plus command and a rising strikeout rate, he enters his third year in the league with massive upside.

2011

After experiencing some success at the Triple-A level, Bumgarner was called up to San Francisco in late June and never looked back, posting a 3.3 K/BB ratio with a 3.00 ERA and 1.306 WHIP over 18 starts. He pitched far better on the road than at home, but that's likely an anomaly that won't continue into 2011. While still nowhere close to what it was when he came out of high school, Bumgarner's fastball velocity crept back up last year (averaged 91.3 mph), and he became a dominant pitcher down the stretch. In September and through the playoffs, he posted a fantastic 50:9 K:BB ratio over 50.2 innings, with a 1.54 ERA and a 1.101 WHIP. With a deceptive delivery, plus curveball and a changeup that's developing into a dominant pitch, Bumgarner has the potential to be a No. 2 starter (if not an ace) for years to come, and pitching in the NL West is always a plus for prospective fantasy owners. Bumgarner is someone to target in 2011.

2010

After dominating Low-A as a 19-year-old in 2008, Bumgarner posted a 1.93 ERA and 1.028 WHIP in Double-A last season, but his strikeout rate dropped significantly (from 10.45 K/9IP to 5.80 K/9IP). It’s hard to argue with a 20-year-old recording a 1.93 ERA in Double-A, especially since he also more than held his own in a brief audition with the Giants in September: 1.80 ERA, 1.100 WHIP, .229 BAA over 10.0 innings. However, his fastball velocity was noticeably lower, which is cause for concern moving forward. After frequently reaching the mid-to-upper 90s, Bumgarner averaged just 89.2 mph with his fastball with the Giants. He’s still one of the best prospects in baseball, but it’s a development worth watching. There’s a chance he opens 2010 as the team’s No. 5 starter, but he’s more likely to get more seasoning in the minors before eventually getting recalled to San Francisco.

2009

Bumgarner was flat-out dominant in 2008, finishing Low-A Augusta with a 1.46 ERA and a 164:21 K:BB ratio over 141.2 innings. A 6-4, 215-pound lefty, Bumgarner possesses an overpowering fastball, and his secondary pitches are developing much quicker than originally anticipated. He’ll begin 2009 in either High-A or Double-A, and the Giants have been conservative with him thus far. Bumgarner won’t be up in San Francisco for a couple of years, but he’s easily one of baseball’s 10 best prospects.

2008

The Giants selected Bumgarner out of high school with the No. 10 pick in last year's draft. Possessing one of the best arms in the draft, Bumgarner's heater can reach 94-95 mph with movement. However, his breaking ball and changeup are below average, and he will need considerable development time in the minors. The Giants have done well with similar pitchers, so this fits with their history. He's years away, but the southpaw has ace potential.