Top 50 Prospects: #8 – Trevor Bauer
January 24, 2012
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Posted by Daniel "Dee" Clark
#8 Trevor Bauer
Arizona Diamondbacks
DOB: 1/17/1991
Previous Rank: N/A
ETA: 2012
The Sombrero considered Trevor Bauer the No. 3 prospect going into the 2011 draft, exactly where he was selected. Granted, we had Rendon at No. 1 and Bundy at No. 2, and both were selected after Bauer, but we still anticipated Bauer being both the easiest and cheapest sign of the truly elite prospects in 2011 class.
Bauer struggled upon his call-up to Double-A, but he was severely overworked at UCLA, and Towers made the correct move to shut him down rather than including him on the NLDS roster – although he could have helped. After earning the Golden Spikes and setting numerous records at UCLA, Bauer signed an incentive-laden deal worth as much as $7 million, but with only $4.45 guaranteed. The contract was genius, and in a year or two will certainly look like a bargain for the D-Backs.
| Year | Age | Tm | Lg | Lev | W | L | G | GS | IP | HR | BB | SO | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 20 | 2 Teams | 2 Lgs | AA-A+ | 1 | 2 | 5.96 | 7 | 7 | 25.2 | 3 | 12 | 43 | 1.519 | 9.5 | 1.1 | 4.2 | 15.1 | 3.58 |
| 2011 | 20 | Visalia | CALL | A+ | 0 | 1 | 3.00 | 3 | 3 | 9.0 | 1 | 4 | 17 | 1.222 | 7.0 | 1.0 | 4.0 | 17.0 | 4.25 |
| 2011 | 20 | Mobile | SOUL | AA | 1 | 1 | 7.56 | 4 | 4 | 16.2 | 2 | 8 | 26 | 1.680 | 10.8 | 1.1 | 4.3 | 14.0 | 3.25 |
| 1 Season | 1 | 2 | 5.96 | 7 | 7 | 25.2 | 3 | 12 | 43 | 1.519 | 9.5 | 1.1 | 4.2 | 15.1 | 3.58 | ||||
Bauer features some of the most unconventional pitching mechanics in the game, but he has always been tested as far as pitch counts go and has never really been injured. We at The Sombrero are onboard in terms of challenging tradition so long as whatever challenges they may be can hold up against the empirical scrutiny of the game.
He features a fastball that can reach 98 mph, a boulder of a curveball that receives consistent 70s and the occasional 80, a plus slider and changeup, and a solid splitter. Bauer is a tremendous athlete that has constantly overcome his lack of physicality. He trains incredibly hard and truly knows what it means to compete. Trevor Bauer should win a Cy Young Award or two for Arizona and represents everything that a young pitcher should desire to be.
Great rundown on Bauer and a bold prediction on his future Cy Young awards. I was able to spend a lot of time with him last week in California and you quickly see how much of a baseball nerd he is. And I say that in a good way. Great kid, who was also very nice.
Interesting fact that Bauer told me. He starts every pitch he throws up and in.