Written by Greg Fertel
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29 May 2007
- Age: 24
- Height: 6'4"
- Weight: 235 lbs
- Acquired: Traded from the Diamondbacks with others for Randy Johnson
- Throws: Right
Scouting Report: Ohlendorf throws 92-93, using both a 2-seam fastball and a 4-seamer. He generates excellent movement on both pitches. Ohlendorf used to throw harder, but the Snakes decided to slow him down in favor of better control. He backs up his fastball with an average curveball and a below average changeup. His aforementioned control is plus when he is on his game. Ohlendorf's secondary pitches have a long way to go if he's going to be good at the major league level.
History: Ohlendorf, a Texas native, was scouting by the Longhorns and several other big baseball programs as a kid in high school. However, he elected to attend Princeton (which he got in to on his own academic merits) and was drafted in the 4th round after he graduated. He had a lackluster start to his professional career, pitching 157 innings with a 4.53 ERA in 2005. His K/BB ratio was good at 144/48, but the Dbacks felt that he was too hittable within the strike zone. They toned down his velocity and got him throwing a sinking fastball. The results were great, with a 3.29 ERA in 182 innings, with just 29 walks allowed. However, the results came at a cost to his strikeout rate. He fanned just 129. Those results got him traded to the Yankees.
This Season: Ohlendorf entered spring training with high expectations. Yankee coaches loved his sinker and he was given a starting spot in the then-crowded Scranton rotation. He did not respond well. Ohlendorf pitched 34 2/3 innings before hitting the disabled list with a back injury, allowing 20 earned runs (5.19 ERA), and 19 walks. His strikeout rate has risen with 25 Ks, but Ohlendorf is pitching a lot more like it's 2005 and not 2006. He's at his best when he keeps the ball on the ground and doesn't walk anyone. The Yankees have been encouraging him to throw his changeup a lot more than the Tigers did, which is where a lot of those hits are coming from. He should return from the DL soon.
Outlook and Movement: Ohlendorf won't see the majors this season. The Yankees aren't going to add him to the 40-man any time soon. He should not take too much time once he rights himself to be major league ready. I could see him being included in some kind of November trade. It's difficult to envision a scenario where Ohlendorf leapfrogs Clippard, DeSalvo, Horne, White, and everyone else in 2008 to make the major league club unless they are all traded away or the Yankees have worse injury luck than they've ever had. I'm not sure if the Yankees want to think about this yet, but it would be interesting if Ohlendorf's mid-90s fastball returns with control in shorter relief outings.
Ranking: I ranked Ohlendorf at #23 out of respect for his 2006 season. Arizona figured something out with him, and it worked. A good fundamental pitcher who throws modestly hard, does not walk anyone, and keeps the sinker down in the zone will find work in the majors. I'm not sure if it's going to be as a starting pitcher ala David Bush or a middle reliever ala Luis Vizcaino, but the ability is there. Ohlendorf is a smart guy and I'm wagering that he'll find some way to leverage his ability through this struggle and back to effective baseball.
Next up: #22 Colin Curtis
