A Star in the Making

A Star In The Making Jake Odorizzi makes his way through the Brewers farm system

by Brian Carriveau

S

ome major league baseball teams are afraid to draft high school players, especially in the first round.

There’s a degree of uncertainty surrounding them, the possibility they may not pan out.

Who can blame them for taking the cautious approach?

It’s tough to gauge how a 17- or 18-year-old kid is going to project. Some of them wilt in the crucible of scrutiny it takes to get to the big leagues. Others can’t handle the rigors involved in taking the long, winding road to the sport’s ultimate level.

Recent history shows that the Milwaukee Brewers haven’t been afraid to dip their toes in the high school talent pool, however. They’ve chosen to go the high-risk, high-reward route with a couple of first-round pitchers.

So far, it’s paid off with righthander Jake Odorizzi, a supplemental first-round draft choice from 2008 who’s arguably the top prospect in the Milwaukee minor league system.

“The sky’s the limit with him. He possesses a great body, the frame is 6'2", 6'3", lean, long limbs,” said Jeff Isom, manger of the Class-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, where Odorizzi spent the 2010 season. “He has a fastball in the low-to-mid-90s. And he has three off-speed pitches that he can command as well.”

As promising as that assessment sounds, Odorizzi isn’t a finished product. At least not yet. Only 20 years old during 2010, he’s still a season away—if not more—from donning a Brewers uniform. But there’s reason to believe he’s going to be a very good player when he does reach Milwaukee.

The Road To Round One Jake Odorizzi was drafted by the Brewers with the 32nd pick in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft in 2008, directly out of Highland High School in Illinois. To say that

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organization played an integral part in his high school team’s march toward the Illinois Class 3A state championship. Odorizzi pitched a complete-game shutout in the state semifinals and even scored the winning run on offense in a 1–0 victory that would propel the team to the title game.

If he was nervous or the least bit affected by his newfound fame, he didn’t let it show on the field.

“He really didn’t have a whole lot of time to think about it,” said Hawkins. “He got drafted in the very late afternoon, and then the next morning he was out pitching. And he was loose and easy and ready to go, because he was relaxed... [the draft] was over and he went out and did his job.”

To those that know him, Odorizzi has always Jake Odorizzi also played football and basketball in high school before been relaxed, which probably factored into him being drafted by the Brewers. becoming one of the most sought-after amateur he was ahead of his peers at the high school level would baseball players in the country. have been an understatement.

While other teenagers might be tense playing in front of “Pretty advanced is a mild form of what he was for our professional scouts at such a young age, the Highland High competition,” said Joel Hawkins, Odorizzi’s baseball coach School product didn’t let it overwhelm him. Odorizzi played at Highland. “In our area down here, I’ve never seen a kid as in a prospect league with a team called the St. Louis Pirates overpowering to high schoolers.” when the high school season wasn’t in session, and the The day Odorizzi was drafted, Hawkins and the rest of appearance of scouts became common.

Odorizzi’s teammates had every intention of spending the “I didn’t let it bother me or anything like that,” said moment with him, celebrating the achievement. The only Odorizzi. “I think I did a pretty good job of blocking it out, problem was that Highland had qualified for the Illinois state just playing and trying to win. They were all behind home tournament and had to practice and attend an official function plate and things like that, which everyone saw, but I tried the day before the tournament began. blocking it out as best I could and just continued to do my The team reserved a room in the hotel lobby in Joliet, thing and play my game.”

IL to watch the draft unfold on television, and everyone knew Shortly after he was drafted, Odorizzi would embark their pitcher was a good candidate to go in the first round. upon making the transition from amateur to professional— Four hours elapsed, and the pitcher from Highland had still though a long, arduous trek still lay ahead of him along the not been selected. Picks 26, 27, and 28 had come and gone, path to the big leagues. and they could wait no longer. Hawkins had to get the rest of the team to warm up before their most important game of Rookie Ball the season.

Just weeks after his high school season concluded, Jake Odorizzi was left behind at the hotel (with his agent) to Odorizzi made his professional debut with the rookie league hear his name called. Knowing the effect this event would Arizona Brewers, the lowest rung on minor league ladder. have on the young man’s life, it wasn’t a big deal that he “That was my first taste of actual minor league baseball,” missed the team function. said Odorizzi. “I didn’t know what to expect, or go through, “We finally had to leave, so we weren’t even there to or try to get adjusted. It was kind of more of an adjustment jump up and down and celebrate with him when it occurred,” period, just trying to get accustomed to minor league baseball said Hawkins. “But he got drafted with the 32nd pick shortly and getting to know everybody and playing games on top of after we left. When we got back, we got to celebrate that. So there’s a lot of things going on at once.” with him.”

Considering the circumstances of a young man living The following day, the newest member of the Brewers away from home for the first time and the step up in comp-

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Photo on previous page: Wisconsin Timber Rattlers/Patrick S. Blood Photo this page: Wisconsin Timber Rattlers/Patrick S. Blood

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A Star In The Making

Photo: Wisconsin Timber Rattlers/Patrick S. Blood

etition, his first season as a paid player could be considered a success. Odorizzi went 1–2 for the Arizona League Brewers in 2008. While a losing record may look bad, consider he only pitched in 11 games (four starts) totaling 20.2 innings, and compiled a respectable 3.48 ERA and 1.31 WHIP. In 2009, the Brewers made the choice to only elevate their first-round draft pick to the high-Rookie-level Helena Brewers of the Pioneer League in Montana, which doesn’t even begin play until June. In effect, the organization opted to bring Odorizzi along slowly.

To an outside observer, it was understandable that the Brewers decided to limit their young pitcher to only 20-plus innings in Arizona. Odorizzi had just come off a high school season, in which he pitched a lot of innings, and they didn’t want him to become fatigued. To continue to restrict the righthander’s workload in his second professional season came as somewhat of a curious choice, however. It was as if the organization was keeping the “kid gloves” on him.

“I wanted to be on a full-season team... but there’s nothing I could really do about it,” said Odorizzi. “I just had

When Odorizzi makes it to the major leagues, he’ll trade powder blue for navy blue.

to respect their decision and go pitch wherever I was at. I just kind of had to deal with it and play the season out like I normally did.”

The alternative would have been to promote Odorizzi to the Low-Class-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in 2009, where he could play an entire season. But the Brewers brain trust of general manager Doug Melvin, assistant GM Gord Ash, and minor league farm director Reid Nichols had other plans.

The decision didn’t sit well with everybody in the Odorizzi camp, including his agent, Jason Wood. But at the same time, Wood and Odorizzi appreciate the team’s method of player development.

“I understand when you invest significant money in people, that you work toward that development process more closely and more diligently, and do what’s right for his development,” said Wood. “And I’m not a pitching coach. So, I do want him to move faster through the system, but I do also understand the process, and the Brewers have been very good to him.

“They’ve proven to both he and I that he is a very big part of their future. So I’ll have to trust that they’re doing the right thing, and when it comes time for him to get that opportunity, then he’ll be successful. I’m positive of that.”

Whether he agrees with the decision doesn’t matter, according to Odorizzi. The Brewers front office is the boss, and the worker just does what he’s told.

“The way I look at it is that a lot of people don’t even get to do this job to begin with, so I’m just happy to be here in this organization and do what they want me to do to succeed,” said Odorizzi.

The righthander’s 2009 season in Helena didn’t go as planned. In 47.0 innings over 12 games (10 starts) he went 1–4 with a 4.40 ERA. Part of the reason for the low workload was a forearm injury, which kept him out for action for a period of time.

Odorizzi refused to blame the injury for a pitching performance that wasn’t quite up to his standards. But still, it was the first time he ever had an injury to his throwing arm, which was a cause for concern, and a reason he and the team took their time rehabbing it.

“It was kind of different,” said Odorizzi. “Trying to get used to it, trying to get healthy and things like that, battling an injury. I definitely took better care of myself after that. I didn’t want to be injured ever again. It’s not something to be going through when you’re trying to move up the ranks.”

Nevertheless, there was reason for optimism in an otherwise subpar season. The pitcher from Illinois cut down on his walks, giving up only 1.7 per nine innings pitched, compared to 3.9 the year before. As a result his strikeout-to-walk ratio improved from 2.11 to 4.78.

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Flirting With Perfection

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Odorizzi allowed only .5 home runs per nine innings with the Timber Rattlers in 2010. ninth. In all, he faced only three batters over the minimum and never allowed a runner to get past first base. He wanted to stay in the game but had thrown 117 pitches and could comprehend the decision to take him out.

“At this level, nobody wants to try to ruin somebody’s arm just for a minor league no-hitter,” said Odorizzi. “I’d rather they take me out like they did and save it. I’d rather have a major league no-hitter than a minor league no-hitter.”

For as much as he’ll be remembered for his sterling performance in August, it overshadowed a near no-hitter back in April.

With the 2010 season barely a week old and pitchers not yet able to go the distance, the Rattlers employed a tandem system that used two starting pitchers. It was known coming into the game that Odorizzi would start and then cede to Damon Krestalude in a game against the Burlington Bees.

Odorizzi went the first five innings and didn’t give up a

Photo: Wisconsin Timber Rattlers/Patrick S. Blood

Jake Odorizzi spent the 2010 season with the full-season Class-A Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, where he put together a stellar campaign. The righty worked a career-high 120.2 innings and accumulated a 7–3 record and 3.43 ERA. His peripherals were just as impressive, including 10.1 strikeouts per nine innings and a 1.15 WHIP. Despite an exceptional year, Odorizzi’s time in Appleton will forever be known for the no-hitter he took part in on August 24. He and relief pitcher Adrian Rosario combined to out-duel the Cedar Rapids Kernels on the way to a 3–0 win.

More than just an individual achievement, Rattlers pitching coach Chris Hook likes to focus on how the no-hitter boosted the psyche of the entire team, which had been snake-bitten by the Kernels in the past. In fact, Odorizzi’s last appearance was an 11–10 loss to those same Kernels in which he allowed six runs on seven hits in 4.2 innings on August 16.

“I think, more importantly, you can take back the previous two where we really got taken to the woodshed by the Cedar Rapids club, which we had a difficult time beating all year,” said Hook. “But they beat us something like 12–2, and then the next was like another double-digit loss where they really swung the bats well.”

Odorizzi notes that the no-hitter started out as a pretty normal day. He warmed up, played long toss, and got ready in the bullpen. However, he did notice that all his pitches were pretty sharp prior to the game, and he could locate them pretty much wherever he wanted.

The game started out rather ordinary as well. Like any typical game, no one really notices a no-hitter just an inning or two into the contest. For Odorizzi, he was just trying to get outs and keep his team in the game like usual.

“Things just kept going right and kept going,” said Odorizzi. “I started to just pitch my normal game, and it just escalated from there. I kept getting better and getting stronger as the game went on.”

As in every no-hitter, there was a decisive moment that defined the accomplishment. In many instances, it’s a defensive gem, a diving catch that keeps the “no-no” alive. In this case, it was Odorizzi’s ability to persevere through the last out of a late inning.

“It was the eighth inning, and he was nearing his pitch count,” said Rattlers manager Jeff Isom. “And the last batter that he faced in that eighth inning, I think they had an 11-pitch at bat. The guy kept fouling off some pretty good pitches. Usually when that happens, you’re thinking, ‘Oh, boy.

Usually something’s not going to happen on the good side here.’ And he ends up getting the big out right there.”

Odorizzi eventually struck out Terrell Alliman of Cedar Rapids on his final pitch, and gave way to Rosario in the

A Star In The Making

Photo: Wisconsin Timber Rattlers/Jim Binder

single hit. Then Krestalude came in and was almost as good: He went 3.2 innings without giving up a hit. And then with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, the relief pitcher yielded a hit in what would end as a one-hit shutout.

“That was another special night for both those guys,” said Hook. “It was kind of a salt and pepper type of thing where Jake is a power guy, and had a good fastball that had some life to it up in the strike zone. And then David has a good change-up, and it was a nice combination for both those guys. We went through their lineup fairly easy that day.”

Odorizzi did most of the damage with his fastball that day. He recalls throwing some effective change-ups as well, but when he needed an “out pitch,” it was with the heater.

“Why change a good thing, right?” Odorizzi asked, rhetorically.

With his no-hit and near no-hit performances, Odorizzi cemented himself as one of the best—if not the best—pitchers in the Brewers farm system and suggested he’s capable of helping the pitching-hungry big league club.

“Every time that he goes out on the mound, he’s got a chance to do something special,” said Isom, “Those are two instances that we thought he was capable of, [and] know he’s capable of doing in the future as well. Anytime he takes the mound, you give yourself a chance to win.”

For all his efforts, Odorizzi was named the organization’s Minor League Pitcher of the Year, although he finished his

season the same place it began, with the Timber Rattlers. He’s yet to be promoted in-season, although that could change soon. Likely to begin 2011 with either the Brevard County Manatees or the Huntsville Stars, he could find himself working his way up the organizational ladder as long as he continues to improve.

What’s Left?

The fastball may have been Jake Odorizzi’s go-to offering in his near no-hitter last April, but it’s far from his only pitch.

With a four-pitch repertoire that includes a change-up, slider, and curveball, this top prospect is more advanced than most pitchers his age.

Coming into 2010, the word was his change-up needed the most work. Could he throw one? Sure. But it was probably the weakest of his four pitches. That’s not the case anymore, per Wisconsin Timber Rattlers pitching coach Chris Hook.

“That’s what Jake is, he’s a guy with an incredible feel with all his pitches, and the change-up was the last one to come,” said Hook. “And I think that one the big positives coming out of [2010] is that now he has that and can go into [2011], wherever he ends up, and feel very comfortable about throwing that change-up.”

Of course, it wasn’t just about throwing a change-up; it was about being able to throw it in any count. That was

A happy Odorizzi in front of all the zeros on the scoreboard in Cedar Rapids after his no-hitter.

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given that Greinke is a proven All-Star and Odorizzi has yet to even reach the majors, but he agrees that it’s probably the closest resemblance. “[Odorizzi’s] got a good fastball; he’s got command and control,” said Hook. “He has average to above-average major league off-speed stuff. He’s got a repeatable delivery that looks clean and fluid. So to me, the comparison is Zack Greinke. Is he going to be like Zack and sitting in the 95 to 96 range? I don’t think he’s going to be that kind of guy. I think he’s going to sit 93, 94, and be able to get to 96 at times, but I think he’s going to be that type of guy.”

As for his fastball, Odorizzi says it’s as good as it ever was. He acknowledges that he was able to hit 96 or 97 a couple times in high school, but the ball didn’t usually end up where he wanted it to be. Now he’s working more on control. His fastball normally registers between 90 and 94 on the radar, but he asserts it still hits 95 “plenty of times.”

Following the 2010 season, Odorizzi spent September and October taking part in the Junior Fall League in Arizona, a developmental league by and large for Single-A and Double-A players, one step below the higher-status Arizona Fall League. He then spent a majority of the remainder of the offseason in his native Illinois working out and conditioning in preparation for the 2011 season.

Timber Rattlers manager Jeff Isom thinks Odorizzi could be a #1 starter in the big leagues someday, although his pitching coach tempers the There may be more bobbleheads in Odorizzi’s likeness by the time lofty expectations. he reaches Milwaukee.

“Will he be a #1 starter? I don’t know,” said the mandate from the higher-ups in the Milwaukee Brewers Hook. “But I can see him—if everything goes right— organization coming into last season, according to Hook. being a solid #2 starter in the big leagues.”

Odorizzi didn’t have his change where it needed to be in When considering Odorizzi’s estimated time of arrival April 2010, and that’s part of the reason why he relied on his in the major leagues, 2011 is probably too grand a prediction, fastball in that memorable game against the Burlington Bees. and his chances at a September call-up this season are slim to By the time August rolled around, Odorizzi had honed in his none. However, the moment he dons a Milwaukee Brewers change-up and had all four pitches working. uniform is probably coming sooner rather than later.

“There’s always room for improvement, but ever since I “I would think that there’s a very small chance he’s was drafted, I’ve been working on it,” said Odorizzi. “And then even considered in the big leagues this year. Very, very small this year it kind of came into its own. I’d say right before the chance, if any,” said agent Jason Wood. “I think he’ll be given second half of the season started, I could throw it confidently a shot to make the 40-man roster next year, in 2012. And if in any count for a strike. Personally, I think it’s where it needs he can develop like I think he can, and I know he can, I to be, and it’s effective.” think he can be in that starting rotation in 2012. It wouldn’t When asked to compare himself to a major league player, surprise me.” MSP Odorizzi sees similarities between his four-pitch repertoire and that of 2009 Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke of the Brian Carriveau is the editor of the Maple Street Press Brewers Annual Kansas City Royals. and Maple Street Press Packers Annual. He writes about the Brewers for PocketDoppler.com, and is a Wisconsin newspaper columnist.

Hook admits the association is perhaps a bit ambitious,

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Photo: Wisconsin Timber Rattlers/Ann Mollica

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