Minnesota Twins add right-handed pitcher Ryan Pressly in Rule 5 Draft - MLB News
The Minnesota Twins were looking to add pitchers to their line-up at the Winter Meetings and that is exactly what they did on Thursday, by selecting Ryan Pressly, a right-handed pitcher in the Boston Red Sox.
The 6ft 3in pitcher will have to stay on the 25-man roster for the Twins throughout the 2012 season; otherwise the Twins will have to offer him back to the Red Sox for $25,000. The Minnesota ball club has previously had success with the Rule 5 Draftees such
as Johan Santana, Shane Mack and Scott Diamond.
The soon to turn 24-year-old was expensive as a starting pitcher with the Class-A Salem Red Sox, posting a high 6.28 ERA, and was later converted into a relief pitcher. In his new role, he performed well and posted a 2.93 ERA in 14 games and a total of a
little over 27 innings, representing the Portland Sea Dogs.
Vern Followell, Twins’ director of pro scouting, saw the pitcher facing the challenges of the transition from an opening pitcher to a relief pitcher and believed that he has so far done well.
"I think this guy is in transition as starting pitchers sometimes are," Vern said. "This guy has been a starter for several years. Boston just moved him to the bullpen, and his velocity has spiked a little bit and his curveball is better."
The pitcher who possesses a fast ball in the mid 90’s and a strong curve ball was drafted in First-Year Player Draft by the Boston Red Sox out of Marcus High School in the 11th round in 2007. He had a good time in the Arizona Fall League this
year as well with 18 strike-outs and just a lone walk in 14 innings, posting a 3.86 ERA.
Vern said that the hurler had two pitches that can come good in the latter part of the game though he will have to add more command of pitching and pressure handling to his repertoire. "This guy definitely has the two pitches to throw late in the game,"
Followell said. "Obviously, a lot more goes into it than that like throwing strikes, commanding and handling pressure."
He also said that this ball club was not always successful in the Rule 5 Draft like some other clubs but they have had some good picks along the way. Vern believes the reason is good enough to keep on trying their hand.
"If you look at the numbers, we're not successful most of the time like everybody else, but we've had some good ones along the way," Followell said. "So that's why we keep throwing our hat in there and giving it a shot."
Ryan Pressly has the talent to do well at the highest level of the game. However, as the cliché goes that a genius is 1 percent inspiration and 99 percent perspiration; he will be looking to put in his best efforts.
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