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New Arms of the Week - First of June

This week we introduce nine young pitchers from three countries. PITCHf/x data after the jump.

Antonio Bastardo (PHI) Undrafted Free Agent 2007 - 9/21/85 Hato Mayor, Dominican Republic - Started 2009 closing games in Double-A and made two starts in the Majors this week

Tommy Hanson (ATL) - 22nd round 2006 Riverside Community College - 8/28/86 Tulsa, OK - We've seen Tommy's PITCHf/x before thanks to an exhibition start in April; the only shock about his call-up is that it coincided with the release of Tom Glavine

Blake Hawksworth (STL) 28th round 2001 - Bellevue Community College - 3/1/83 North Vancouver, BC - Second stint in Triple-A Memphis was a big improvement over 2008

Steven Jackson (PIT) 10th round 2004 by Arizona - Clemson University - 3/15/82 Eutawville, SC - Waived by the Yankees in May, was part of the Randy Johnson trade in 2007

Matt Maloney (CIN) 3rd round 2005 by PHI - University of Mississippi - 1/16/84 Sandusky, OH - Known for his command, acquired from the Phillies in 2007 in the Kyle Lohse trade

Vin Mazzaro (OAK) 3rd round 2005 - Rutherford High School - 9/27/86 Hackensack, NJ - Proved tough to hit in his second brief stint in Triple-A and was a two-start pitcher this week for the A's

Travis Schlichting (LAD) 4th round 2003 by TB  - Round Rock High School - 10/29/84 Denver, CO - Drafted as an infielder, the Dodgers are his third team, and first to call him up

Jess Todd (STL) 2nd round 2007 - University of Arkansas - 4/20/86 Kilgore, TX - Moved to the bullpen for 2009, had 32 K and 7 BB in 24.1 innings for Memphis; played in 2008 Futures Game, so this isn't his first look via PITCHf/x

Wes Whisler (CHA) 2nd round 2004 - UCLA - 4/7/83 Noblesville, IN - Not overwhelming stuff (just 4.8 K/9) but attractive Triple-A ERAs (3.92, 2.81)

Key:
CH = change-up
CU = curveball
F2 = Two-seam fastball (sinker)
F4 = Four-seam fastball (fastball)
FC = Cutter
FS = Splitter
SL = Slider or Slurve
pfx_x = spin movement in inches, lateral (negative is to catcher's left)
pfx_z = spin movement in inches, vertical (negative top spin/more sink than gravity)
deg = spin axis, adjusted for arm angle
rpm = spin rate

Pitcher Pitch # v LHH v RHH MPH pfx_x pfx_z Deg RPM
Wes Whisler CH 5 0 5 79.7 6.5 4.4 122.1 1,483.3
Wes Whisler F2 3 2 1 89.1 10.2 3.6 109.4 2,143.6
Wes Whisler F4 17 12 5 88.7 5.8 9.4 147.2 2,217.5
Wes Whisler SL 5 2 3 84.5 1.7 4.2 158.3 865.9
Pitcher Pitch # v LHH v RHH MPH pfx_x pfx_z Deg RPM
Steven Jackson CH 18 7 11 84.5 -7.3 5.7 231.8 1,765.2
Steven Jackson F2 41 19 22 90.9 -6.5 8.2 218.1 2,119.4
Steven Jackson F4 9 4 5 91.2 -3.1 11.1 194.9 2,333.3
Steven Jackson SL 10 0 10 83.8 1.3 3.8 147.6 887.0
Pitcher Pitch # v LHH v RHH MPH pfx_x pfx_z Deg RPM
Antonio Bastardo CH 14 0 14 84.9 7.1 9.4 142.4 2,223.1
Antonio Bastardo F4 161 63 98 92.9 5.3 11.3 154.5 2,571.6
Antonio Bastardo SL 29 18 11 83.0 -2.0 3.1 222.1 808.2
Pitcher Pitch # v LHH v RHH MPH pfx_x pfx_z Deg RPM
Blake Hawksworth CH 6 3 3 82.5 -9.7 1.6 260.5 1,808.6
Blake Hawksworth CU 7 2 5 76.3 2.4 -5.8 22.8 1,069.6
Blake Hawksworth F2 14 10 4 92.8 -10.3 5.0 244.0 2,361.6
Blake Hawksworth SL 1 0 1 87.0 -2.3 2.7 219.8 691.4
Pitcher Pitch # v LHH v RHH MPH pfx_x pfx_z Deg RPM
Travis Schlichting CH 4 4 0 86.4 -8.1 4.4 241.7 1,762.7
Travis Schlichting F2 24 15 9 94.0 -7.3 7.7 223.3 2,220.9
Travis Schlichting F4 6 3 3 93.8 -4.5 9.8 204.6 2,229.4
Travis Schlichting SL 6 1 5 83.6 2.7 0.9 105.9 581.3
Pitcher Pitch # v LHH v RHH MPH pfx_x pfx_z Deg RPM
Tommy Hanson CH 1 1 0 83.8 -2.8 8.0 199.3 1,600.6
Tommy Hanson CU 29 15 14 76.0 7.1 -7.4 44.1 1,738.1
Tommy Hanson F2 4 3 1 92.4 -9.0 6.0 236.3 2,250.8
Tommy Hanson F4 92 35 57 93.6 -5.8 8.8 213.5 2,229.7
Tommy Hanson SL 32 8 24 84.4 3.0 0.7 110.3 736.8
Pitcher Pitch # v LHH v RHH MPH pfx_x pfx_z Deg RPM
Matthew Maloney CH 34 0 34 80.3 10.3 5.8 119.3 2,107.5
Matthew Maloney CU 6 1 5 72.5 -2.9 -5.8 276.5 1,063.9
Matthew Maloney F4 45 4 41 89.2 7.8 10.3 142.8 2,538.2
Matthew Maloney SL 4 1 3 78.7 0.9 -2.1 26.9 435.8
Pitcher Pitch # v LHH v RHH MPH pfx_x pfx_z Deg RPM
Vin Mazzaro CH 15 14 1 86.7 -6.8 3.4 243.2 1,466.0
Vin Mazzaro CU 17 5 12 82.3 2.6 -2.8 41.1 720.1
Vin Mazzaro F2 139 71 68 93.5 -9.3 5.8 237.4 2,292.4
Vin Mazzaro F4 4 1 3 94.4 -6.7 9.2 215.7 2,379.1
Vin Mazzaro SL 34 7 27 86.5 0.0 2.7 182.3 616.0
Pitcher Pitch # v LHH v RHH MPH pfx_x pfx_z Deg RPM
Jesse Todd CH 2 1 1 82.9 -3.9 0.5 261.9 760.8
Jesse Todd F2 19 12 7 90.1 -3.7 2.8 232.3 951.4
Jesse Todd F4 24 12 12 90.3 -2.5 4.8 205.8 1,107.9
Jesse Todd SL 16 7 9 84.7 2.7 -0.6 103.1 662.6

Background info from Baseball Cube and Minor League Ball