Bats/Throws: S/R
Height/Weight: 6’2”, 192 lbs
Acquired: 16th Rd 2006 (Davis & Elkins College)
Born: 12/03/84 (Landstuhl, Germany)
Why Ranked Here: Stoner has simply continued to retire batters even as he’s worked to more advanced competition. That success in AA and the winter leagues especially, counts for something. Stoner works with a four pitch mix where his curveball is his second and his changeup his third offering. The curve at 76 has nice velocity and bite. In July in Binghamton, Stoner was throwing 88-90, sitting mostly at 89, a slightly below average MLB fastball in terms of velocity. In the AFL, a scout was quoted in another publication as saying that the fastball was “average,” a more optimistic assessment than was common among those who saw him in the Eastern League.
2008: Stoner cruised through the Florida State League in 2008 on his way to a mid-June promotion to AA Binghamton. After a rough outing at the end of June, Stoner posted a 3.47 ERA in his final 11 AA starts. Working out of the bullpen in the AFL, he was solid. Stoner’s final 2008 assignment, a five-game run in Puerto Rico spilled over into 2009 but was very fine as well.
Dr. Pangloss Says: Stoner’s ability to throw strikes (2.63 BB/9) will keep him employed. An average fastball and an average breaking ball (which he already possesses) would slot Stoner comfortably into a bullpen role. Add a second average off-speed pitch and he’s a candidate at the back of a rotation.
On the Flipside: I am concerned about Stoner’s velocity. I saw him with a slightly below average MLB fastball in AA in 2008. More recently, in Puerto Rico, Andy Braunstein reported that Stoner, at the end of a long season was throwing 85-88. Stoner did not strike out seven batters per nine innings at any of his stops after A-ball in 2008. With that many balls in play, more powerful upper level hitters could make him pay more frequently.
Projected 2009 Start: Binghamton
| G/GS | ERA | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO | BB/9 | SO/9 | SO/BB | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 9/9 | 2.6 | 52 | 46 | 17 | 15 | 3 | 9 | 48 | 1.56 | 8.31 | 5.33 |
| AA | 15/15 | 4.33 | 79 | 80 | 39 | 38 | 7 | 29 | 59 | 3.30 | 6.72 | 2.03 |
| AFL | 11/0 | 3.66 | 19.67 | 17 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 7 | 15 | 3.20 | 6.86 | 2.14 |
| PWL | 5/4 | 1.50 | 24 | 20 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 16 | 2.25 | 6.00 | 2.67 |
| Total | 40/28 | 3.35 | 174.67 | 163 | 69 | 65 | 11 | 51 | 138 | 2.63 | 7.11 | 2.71 |
Just a question… Didn’t Greg Maddox and Tom Glavine, among others probably, have very successful Major league careers with average to below average fastballs?
Not saying Stoner is as good as the are, but if he keeps retiring hitters with command and control, he has to at least be given a chance to get big leaguers out no?
Both guys reached the big leagues with average or better fastballs. Both traded velocity for precise command over the course of their careers. Both have such good command that their fastballs “play up.”
So, if I am interpreting this right, the guy must have sound mechanics, and a good idea of how to pitch. That I base on having solid control and being able to throw decently 3 pitches.
To me, it sounds like a perfect guy to “webbize”. That is, teach him that 4th pitch to make him nasty. Splitter, something like that.
I seem to recall that Webb was decidely average in the minors, and didn’t take off until he learned (at a fairly late stage of development) his splitter/sinker.
Toby I am sure can confirm this, or slap me down for being delusional!
Stoner has a fourth pitch, using a slider to go along with fb, cb and changeup. Webb’s sinker, his primary pitch is a plus plus MLB offering for its velocity and movement. You can’t just teach that to everyone.
Hello as a friend of Tobis growing up and having the honor of playing and throwing with this young prospect in Oakland MD I have to say he has gone a far way since when he got drafted. Last nights performance was awesome. 7 innings 1 hit. Im currently deployed overseas in afghanistan with the US Army. I listin to all his games online and about to upgrade to start watching them. what i have noticed is that he starts off in a leauge not so good then finds his grove…just like he has in AAA..the last 2 starts were awesome even though the one before last night he had a terrible bullpen outing after him to screw up his win he didnt get. The question I have for you is do you see a near future with tobi in the bigs (this year or next). And whould he be better in the bull pen or where he is at? It seems like he can go a good 7 innings some nights but others gets rocked and taken out in 3…what are your thoughts?? thanks–SSG Alexander Tressler US ARMY ATC
Alex,
Thank you for your service to this country.
Maybe Stoner can use his off-speed pitches to keep batters off-balance for short stretches out of the ‘pen. I just can’t see him starting in the big leagues. Even with his recent success in AAA, his K/BB ratio is still13/12 in 27.1 IP. 1. With that few K/IP, and so many balls in play, he’ll give up hits to big league hitters. 2. That many walks at the MLB level will produce so many baserunners that the hits will turn into runs.