Porcello leads FSL in ERA

Rick Porcello

Joker Marchant Stadium

May 28, 2008

Tigers prospect Rick Porcello has Florida league's best ERA
BY JON PAUL MOROSI • FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER • August 29, 2008

Rick Porcello completed his first professional season Wednesday with an outing that recalled his impressive stint with the Tigers during spring training.

Porcello, the Tigers' first pick in the 2007 draft, pitched six innings and got the victory in the Lakeland Flying Tigers' 1-0 win at Ft. Myers. He allowed three hits, walked one and improved to 8-6.

Of the 14 outs that came in play, 13 were ground balls -- thanks in large part to a hard sinker that averaged 92 m.p.h. and reached 95.

"He was outstanding," said Jon Matlack, the club's minor league pitching coordinator. "He ended like he started: throwing the ball extremely well."

Porcello, a 19-year-old right-hander, is the second-youngest starter in the Florida State League, according to research through Retrosheet.org. His 2.66 ERA led the league, and he compiled that mark while on a 75-pitch limit in each start.

Wednesday's start was Porcello's first since Aug. 12. (He had been sidelined because of an illness.) He pitched 125 innings, and Matlack expects him to pitch in the instructional league this fall. Porcello did not use his slider most of the season, which enabled him to focus on his curveball and change-up. Matlack said he has seen progress with both pitches -- particularly the change-up.

"From a developmental standpoint, this young man did everything he was asked to do this year," Matlack said. "I'm extremely pleased with the results."