Dan Schlereth

A strong finish to the 2011 season has Schlereth locked in as a left-handed arm in the Tigers bullpen. After a rough first half of the season, Schlereth went 2-1 with a 1.93 ERA, 1.114 WHIP and 20:12 K:BB ratio in 23.1 innings after the break. His 5.69 BB/9IP is still a concern, but there’s little doubt Schlereth can succeed as a left-handed specialist after limiting lefties to a .174 batting average. While he might never develop into the closer many projected when he was selected in the first round of the 2009 draft, the 25-year-old southpaw has the arsenal (mid-90s fastball, big curveball) to be a solid mid-innings reliever for years to come.

Schlereth was considered a candidate to be on the Tigers' Opening Day roster last season, but the team opted to send him to Triple-A Toledo to work on his command before giving a shot in the big leagues. Schlereth responded by compiling a 2.37 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 49.1 innings for the Mud Hens. The 24-year-old lefty's solid showing in Toledo led to 18 appearances out of the Tigers' bullpen late in the season. He finished 2-0 with a 2.89 ERA and 19:10 K:BB ratio in 18.2 innings for the Tigers. With Phil Coke moving to the starting rotation, Detroit will be looking for a left-hander out of the bullpen to step up in 2011. Schlereth's mid-90s fastball and big curve should have a chance to nab that gig in spring training and vault him into a late-inning setup role.

Schlereth was called up by the D-Backs in late May in an effort to stop the bleeding in their bullpen. He didn't stick around long, getting optioned back to Double-A Mobile and missing several weeks after breaking a rib while pitching in June. When he was healthy, the results were very encouraging. Schlereth racked up 22 strikeouts in just 18.1 innings, but struggles with walks ultimately limited his role in 2009. The hard-throwing lefty should immediately slide into a late-inning role after he was traded to the Tigers for a Detroit bullpen that is looking for a new closer after Fernando Rodney departed. A first-round pick in 2008, Schlereth has the tools (92-94 mph fastball, big 12-to-6 curveball) to eventually work as a closer.

Schlereth was selected by the D-Backs in the first round of the draft in June and he managed to log 12 innings between Missoula and Low-A South Bend in his professional debut. Despite the small sample size, Arizona could put him on the fast track after his impressive career as a reliever at the University of Arizona, as long as he continues to improve his command. After undergoing Tommy John surgery his senior year of high school, Schlereth stayed generally healthy throughout his collegiate career. Scouts are impressed by Schlereth's poise and while he has the mentality of a closer, his stuff profiles better in a set-up role. Schlereth consistently hits 93-94 mph with his fastball, while also mixing in a good change-up and a 12-to-6 curveball. He could begin the year at Double-A and contribute to the D-Backs' bullpen as early as this season, but don't expect regular contributions until 2010.