Bats/Throws: R/L

Height/Weight: 6’0”, 190 lbs

Acquired: 18^th Rd ’07 (Georgia College & State U.)

Born: 8/6/85

Why Ranked Here: Antonini graduated from both full-season A-ball leagues in his first full professional season, and that success from a left-hander counts for something. His fastball is fringe-average from the left side, sitting at 88-89 when I saw him in July. He touched 91, but did not pitch at that velocity. The fastball plays up thanks to good command as he can spot it to both sides of the plate. His changeup is his second pitch, but when he didn’t finish the pitch, it stayed up, and got hit hard in AA.

2008: SAL? Check. FSL? Check. AA? Working on it. Winter ball? No problem. That’s a great year.

Dr. Pangloss Says: Lefties are valuable commodities and Antonini might be competing for a job at the backend of the rotation within two years. A LOOGY job is a possibility, but Antonini’s L/R splits vacillated in very small samples across his many stops in 2008. The fact that Antonini has solid command his fastball gives some reason for hope that he can learn to keep his changeup down more consistently.

On the Flipside: In 2008, Antonini became a two-pitch pitcher against righties, against whom he did not like to throw his sweeping slider. He must tighten the offering.

Projected 2009 Start: AA Binghamton rotation