Meet Tim Collins

by erik on May 2, 2009 3:12 PM EDT

Quite an ordinary name for such an unusual pitcher. Just look at these numbers:

Yr.	Level	Age	IP	H	K/PA	K/BB	FIP
2007	R	17	6	6	29.20%	3.5	2.14
2008	A	18	68.1	36	36.70%	3.06	2.50
2009	A+	19	14	4	50%	6.5	0.46

Judging by the strikeout rates, you'd be tempted to think Collins is some blue chipper that throws 100 miles per hour, yet Collins is far from that. He went undrafted but signed with Toronto as a free agent. He's generously listed at 5-7 and 155 pounds; not exactly an intimidating figure on the mound. Collins is a lefty, and his fastball sits at around 88 MPH. His strikeout pitch is his curveball which grades as above average, and he has a less than spectacular change-up. And yet, despite his short stature and lack of overwhelming "stuff", he's faced 52 hitters this season and has struck out half of them. This just isn't supposed to happen.

Granted, it's only the Florida State League and it's only 50 batters, but yikes. We see very few successful pitchers of his stature, but when we do, it's usually because they have a trick or two up their sleeve -- Roy Face had a forkball. Bobby Schantz threw the knuckler. And to a lesser extent but in this present era, Danny Ray Herrera throws a screwball. Nothing about Collins' repertoire really stands out.

I have no idea how he is racking up these video game-esque strikeout numbers, but he is, and he has my attention.

Tweet Comment 18 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

Any post with an Elroy Face mention is worthwhile.

by R.J. Anderson on May 2, 2009 3:35 PM EDT reply actions

Guys like Collins

Almost always flame out once they get to higher levels. Not that I’m not rooting for him to succeed, I’m just saying.

by Brendan Scolari on May 2, 2009 4:06 PM EDT reply actions

I'm approximately .067% familiar with minor leaguers.

Could someone perhaps provide context as to how many guys in A or AA have impressive K rates in 10+ IP this year or 30+ IP in previous years? How old is he?

Beyond the Boxscore // Calling BJ Upton lazy is lazy.

by Sky Kalkman on May 2, 2009 6:03 PM EDT up reply actions

he's only 19

There are only five other pitchers in his league with k/pa percentages above 30%. last year there were only three and the highest was 41%. the season before that, there were only two pitchers with that high of a k rate.

by erik on May 2, 2009 7:15 PM EDT up reply actions

for more of a contextual type of number

tRA+ was 144 last season and 177 this year. 177!

by erik on May 2, 2009 7:19 PM EDT up reply actions

I could look for more examples later

But look at the silly K rates Chuck James put up in the minors , 517 K’s in 465 innings. There’s also Tyler Clippard, with 765 K’s in 752 innings.

At some point, you reach hitters who are advanced enough to handle the junk and you have to be able to throw somewhat hard. There are exceptions, but for the most part soft tossers in the minors don’t succeed.

by Brendan Scolari on May 2, 2009 10:54 PM EDT up reply actions

by larry on May 3, 2009 11:57 AM EDT up reply actions

what multiple sources?

i’ve heard he hits 90, but he doesn’t “live” there.

by erik on May 3, 2009 11:24 PM EDT up reply actions

well, okay.

there’s a reason i prefer using a range when talking velocity. he was sitting at 90 last week. goldstein has said his range is 88-93, iirc. tempest in a teapot either way.

White Sox Minor League Updates: http://twitter.com/SouthSidelarry

by larry on May 6, 2009 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions