Rick Porcello

2013

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2012

While not as solid as his rookie season, Porcello was able to bounce back from a down 2010 campaign to show he’s still capable of living up to his first-round pedigree. For the second time in his three-year career, Porcello finished 14-9. He lowered his ERA from 4.91 to 4.75 while posting a career-best 104:46 K:BB ratio in 182.0 innings. The low strikeout totals still don’t invoke a pitcher with Porcello’s type of arsenal, so there’s still plenty of room for growth in the category for the young gun. At 23, Porcello has already proven he’s a capable major league pitcher, but he’ll need to continue showing progression in making batters swing and miss before taking that next step.

2011

After a stellar rookie campaign, Porcello took a step back in 2010, finishing the season 10-12 with a 4.92 ERA and 1.389 WHIP in 27 starts. While Porcello started the 2010 season slowly, he was able to turn things around after a brief stint in the minors, posting a 6-5 record and 4.00 ERA after the break. The 22-year-old sports a mid-90s fastball and solid secondary pitches, which includes an improving slider that induces loads of groundballs. Unfortunately, his solid arsenal hasn't translated into high strikeout totals, as Porcello has managed just 4.7 K/9IP through two seasons. Despite his struggles last season and lack of strikeouts, the former first-round pick remains an intriguing talent with plenty of upside. That upside alone makes him worth looking at late in drafts as you fill out your rotation.

2010

The former first-round pick completed his rapid ascent to the majors last year by being a surprise addition to the rotation out of spring training. The 21-year-old right-hander didn’t disappoint, finishing 14-9 with a 3.96 ERA and 1.336 WHIP in 170.2 innings. The one area where he didn’t impress was in strikeouts (89), but that total should increase as Porcello matures and learns how to keep hitters off balance by mixing in his secondary pitches better with his upper-90s fastball. The Tigers were understandably cautious with Porcello, as the team limited his innings and pitch counts during his first season of professional ball, but we should continue to see improvements in most categories as the reins are loosened.

2009

Porcello, Detroit's top pick in 2007, posted a 72:33 K:BB ratio in 125 innings at High-A Lakeland as a 19-year-old. Porcello did not use his slider for most of the season, which enabled him to focus on his curveball and change-up. Don't let the lack of strikeouts scare you away from him in your prospect drafts. The lack of a slider likely accounted for the lower-than-expected strikeout numbers from a pitcher who works in the mid-90s with his fastball. Porcello could get a chance to compete for a rotation spot in the spring but that would be rushing him. It is more likely that the Tigers push him up to Double-A, and at 20-years-old he'll be among the youngest players at that level. The future looks bright.

2008

Universally regarded as the best high school pitcher in the 2007 draft class, Porcello fell to the bottom part of the first round due to his ties to agent Scott Boras and a scholarship to North Carolina. Porcello didn't pitch after being drafted as the Tigers opted to have him start a throwing program. He can hit 97 mph and works in the mid-90s with his fastball. He has a plus change-up and two quality breaking balls. The Tigers think he could be the anchor of their rotation down the road but like all young arms, he'll need to stay healthy.