Jarrod Parker

2013

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2012

After losing his 2010 season to rehab from Tommy John surgery, Parker returned to Double-A Mobile last season and essentially picked up where he left off before going under the knife. As is often the case for pitchers coming back from a torn UCL, Parker's control took some time to return and his walk rate (3.80 BB/9IP) actually improved throughout the second half. The D-Backs capped him at 136.1 innings between Mobile and a late-season start with the big club, which means he could be on a limited innings count in his first full major league season, now with Oakland after he got sent there in the Trevor Cahill trade. Long term, the ceiling remains high as the former ninth overall pick (2007) has the arsenal of a future ace, and now he has a clear shot to earn that title, in a better pitchers' park to boot.

2011

Parker is expected to be 100 percent healthy for spring training following Tommy John surgery in October 2009. During fall workouts, reports indicated he was reaching 97 mph during his throwing sessions, a very encouraging sign for the 22-year-old right-hander. If he had remained healthy, Parker likely would have been in the D-Backs' Opening Day rotation this season, but he may need to spend a couple of months at Double-A Mobile or Triple-A Reno ironing out the wrinkles from his one-year layoff before reclaiming his status as one of the brightest pitching prospects in baseball.

2010

Parker was shut down in August with a strained elbow, but that eventually became a torn elbow ligament and resulted in Tommy John surgery after rest and rehabilitation weren't enough to alleviate the problem. As a 20-year-old last season, Parker was very good at High-A Visalia and Double-A Mobile, but he'll likely have to return to Double-A once he's healthy again. Given that he didn't have the surgery until October, Parker will likely miss the entire 2010 season and try to get back on track as one of the league's most promising young pitching prospects in 2011.

2009

Making his professional debut as a 19-year-old, Parker showed excellent poise and command, while the D-Backs were particularly pleased with the development of his secondary pitches. Parker made strides with his change-up and is also working on a curveball, while he already throws a fastball that touches 98 mph along with a good slider. Those in keeper leagues willing to wait another two or three years for the payoff appear to be in a position for big rewards down the road. He'll move up to High-A for the start of 2009, after he posted a 117:33 K:BB ratio and 3.44 ERA in 117.2 innings at South Bend.

2008

Parker was the D-Backs' top selection in 2007 draft and he'll likely begin his first professional season at Low-A as a 19-year-old. His arsenal includes a 94-97 mph plus-fastball with good life, with both a curveball and changeup that still need some time to fully develop. Parker commands both sides of the plate and has more poise than the typical pitcher possesses out of high school, but don't expect to see him in Arizona until late 2010 or the start of 2011, while his long-term role will hinge on how well his secondary pitches develop since he won't be able to rely as heavily on his heater against older competition.