Prospect Review – Christian Friedrich – P – COL

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The Basics
Bats: Right
Throws: Left
How Acquired: Drafted in the 1st round (25th overall) in the 2008 amateur draft out of Eastern Kentucky University
Age: 22

Statistics

2008 – Tri-City (Northwest League – Rockies Short Season A) – 8 starts

• 2-1, 3.25 era, 36 innings pitched
• 50 strikeouts, 8 walks
• .360 BABIP, 1.80 FIP

2008 – Asheville (Sally League – Rockies Single A) – 3 starts

• 0-1, 7.50 era, 12 innings pitched
• 15 strikeouts, 7 walks
• .389 BABIP, 4.62 FIP

2008 Totals

• 2-2, 4.31 era, 48 innings pitched
• 65 strikeouts, 15 walks

2009 – Asheville (Sally League – Rockies Single A) – 8 starts

• 3-3, 2.18 era, 45 1/3 innings pitched
• 66 strikeouts, 15 walks
• .348 BABIP, 1.92 FIP

2009 – Modesto (California League – Rockies High-A) – 14 starts

• 3-2, 2.54 era, 74 1/3 innings pitched
• 93 strikeouts, 28 walks
• .324 BABIP, 2.55 FIP

2009 Totals (2 levels)

• 6-5, 2.41 era, 119 2/3 innings pitched
• 159 strikeouts, 43 walks

Rankings
Baseball America – #2 (COL – 2010)
Baseball Prospectus – #4 (COL – 2009) – 3 star
Project Prospect – #12 (Pitchers – 10/2009), #7 (NL West – 12/2009)
John Sickels – #3 (COL – 2009) – B

Analysis

Friedrich had a very good year in 2009. After pitching well in his second stint with Asheville, Friedrich was sent to the hitter-friendly California League, where he posted excellent numbers as well (2.54 era, 2.55 FIP, 93 strikeouts/28 walks in 74+ innings).

He throws a low 90′s fastball, a very good 12-6 curveball, and also works with a slider and a circle-changeup. He has a 3/4 arm slot delivery, and appears to have a very smooth, easy delivery. This bodes well for his ability to continue to achieve these numbers in my opinion, as he should be able to repeat his delivery very consistently.

Friedrich did miss the better part of a month with a triceps injury, although he did pitch effectively when he came back from the injury. If anything, this probably helped him to limit his innings somewhat. We should see an effect of this sometime next season, as he will likely be expected to jump to somewhere around 170 innings pitched.

Outlook

Friedrich will most likely start the 2010 season in AA, having proven just about everything he could at Modesto. I am looking forward to seeing what he does with a full season’s work this year, and am confident that he will be able to keep up his 10+ strikeout per nine innings at the advanced level. He really looks like he will be a solid Major League pitcher.

Prediction for 2010

9 – 5, 2.75 era, 165 innings pitched, 190 strikeouts, 55 walks

Expected ETA

A September call-up in 2011, with a very good chance to make the rotation out of Spring Training in 2012.

Monday’s Prospect for Review: Desmond Jennings (OF) of the Tampa Bay Rays