VAVEL USA’s Dan Schmelzer had an opportunity to speak with Chicago Cubs pitching prospect Jake Stinnett. Drafted by the Cubs in the second round (45th overall) in the 2014 MLB June Amateur Draft out of the University of Maryland, Stinnett is an intriguing right handed pitching prospect who appears to have a bright future ahead of him.
Listed at 6-foot-4, 202 pounds, Stinnett is a tall and slender right-hander who throws an impressive mid-to-high 90s sinking fastball, a hard slider with a ton of potential and a change-up that has good movement, but needs some work. He has a natural 3/4 delivery that allows him to hide the ball from the batter very well.
At 22-years-old, Stinnett did get a quick cup of coffee in professional baseball last season, starting out in the Arizona Rookie League where he posted a 7.71 ERA in three appearances (only 4.2 innings pitched). His 2.75 FIP suggests that there was plenty of bad luck involved in his inflated ERA, but it is such a small sample size that there is not much to take away from it anyway.
He finished his first professional season with the Boise Hawks of the short-season Low-A Northwest League. While small sample definitely still applies (two starts, 6.1 innings pitched), Stinnett had better statistically success with a 2.84 ERA, seven strikeouts and two walks.
While he was drafted as a college senior, Stinnett still has a lot of development and project-ability. He entered college as a third baseman/pitcher, and played both positions until his junior year at Maryland, when he starting pitching exclusively.
Stinnett had a solid junior year (2.83 ERA and 1.10 WHIP in 63.2 innings pitched) pitching as both a starter and a relief pitcher, but did not really burst onto the scene until his impressive senior season in 2014. In 16 starts and one relief appearance, Stinnett posted a 2.67 ERA and 0.97 WHIP at Maryland in 2014. He also struck out an impressive 132 batters, while only walking 30 in 118 innings pitched.
Stinnett had an incredible 2014 college season, and only being a full-time pitcher for two seasons suggests that he has a very fresh arm and a ton of potential moving forward.
In a loaded Cubs’ minor league system that is commonly considered to be the best in all of baseball, Stinnett is already appearing on top organizational lists. John Sickles of Minor League Ball had him ranked as the 18th best prospect in the loaded Cubs’ system, while Dave Cameron of FanGraphs ranked him 14th.
Stinnett is thought of as a talented pitching prospect with a ton of potential moving forward. The 2015 season will be an important one for him as he enters full-season professional ball for the first time in his career. Expect big things out of Stinnett, as he clearly has a very bright future moving forward.
Interview:
Dan Schmelzer: First of all, thank you so much for taking the time to answer these questions. When did you realize that being a baseball player is what you wanted to do with your life?
Jake Stinnett: No problem, Dan. I appreciate you reaching out to me! Ever since I started playing baseball, I knew that it was what I wanted to do with my life. I think I was 5 years old when I first started playing tee ball, and from then on all I ever wanted to do was play baseball.
DS: What was the MLB Draft experience like for you?
JS: The draft experience for me was great. It was an honor to be drafted by the Cubs and I am very pleased with how it all worked out. I was in Charlottesville, Virginia for the Super Regional tournament and in the hotel room with all of my teammates watching the draft. Hearing my name called that day was something I'll never forget. It was truly an honor.
DS: Were the Cubs one of the teams who contacted you the most during the Draft process?
JS: I had heard from the Cubs more than any other team throughout the year. Their area scout, Billy Swoope, had been in contact with me quite a bit throughout the year, and it always seemed like he was pulling for me. However, when it came draft day, I still had no idea what team was going to take me until the Cubs contacted my agent (who then contacted me) about taking me with their second pick.
DS: Was it a tough decision to turn down the Pittsburgh Pirates after they drafted you in the 29th round in 2013?
JS: Yes and no. Obviously it had been my dream to play professional baseball my entire life, so turning down that opportunity was tough. At the same time, however, I knew that I would be going back to school for another year with my college teammates, and that made the decision much easier. I knew that if I went back and improved my pitching ability then I would have a good shot at getting drafted again as a senior. I had a lot of help from my family, friends, coaches, and teammates, and we had established a "gameplan" before the draft that really helped me make a decision when it came time.
DS: The Cubs are commonly considered to have the best collection of talent in the minor leagues. Would you agree with that assessment?
JS: Absolutely! Obviously, I am a little biased because I play for them, but I think that it is clear to anyone who watches our minor leaguers play to see that we have some extraordinary talent in our organization
DS: Are you excited to be in an organization that is surrounded by so much hype?
JS: Again, absolutely yes. It is not necessarily the hype that gets me excited, but rather the idea of someday winning a World Series. I am glad that our organization is getting so much attention and recognition, but more importantly I am happy to have the opportunity to play for a historic franchise and win a World Series in the future.
DS: How have things been in the Cubs' organization so far?
JS: They have been great. I started in Rookie ball in the AZL and then made my way up to Short Season in Boise, Idaho. There are a lot of great guys with a ton of talent, and it has been fun competing together. I am really looking forward to this upcoming season.
DS: What has been the biggest adjustment for you going from college to professional baseball?
JS: For me, it has just been preparing to play every single day. In college, we played about 4-5 games a week, where in pro ball we play just about every day. I love to play baseball, so it is easy for me to prepare on a daily basis. But it has definitely been an adjustment I've had to make.
DS: What is the biggest challenge that you face on the field?
JS: That's a tough question. Baseball is a very challenging sport and each game can bring a new challenge. I guess for me, the biggest challenge to myself is just to continue to put in the work each and every day to prepare myself for the task ahead. At this point, I am just trying to do everything I can to improve and move up through the system. So in other words, each day is a challenge to me to see how much I can improve myself as a ballplayer.
DS: Most scouting reports say you throw a sinking fastball, slider and change-up. Are there any other pitches in your arsenal? Or any that you are working on adding?
JS: Right now, those are my 3 main pitches. Although sometimes my two seam fastball can be considered a separate pitch from my four seam fastball due to the amount of sink it has. I would like to add a sharper/shorter slider in the near future, but for now I am working on fine-tuning the 3 pitches I have.
DS: What is your best pitch, or your "go to" pitch?
JS: Depends on the situation. My two seam fastball gets me the most outs, but my slider gets me the most strikeouts. If I had to pick one, I'd say it was my two seam fastball, simply because I think that being able to get hitters out with a fastball is one of the most important aspects of pitching.
DS: Who are some other Cubs' prospects who have grabbed your attention in your short time in the organization?
JS: Everyone. Each player has been drafted for a reason and I think that each guy can at some point be an impact player in the major leagues. We have a lot of talent and a lot of hard workers, and I think that's going to lead to a lot of success.
DS: Obviously you will go where ever the Cubs decide to send you, but if you had to guess; at what level do you think you will start this season at?
JS: If I had to guess, I'd say I was going to start the season in Low-A in South Bend, Indiana. And if I pitched well then hopefully I could earn a spot at a higher level later on in the year. But I'm just going to go out there and get better and compete and let the rest take care of itself.
DS: Realistically, when is the soonest you could see yourself reaching the Major Leagues?
JS: Tough question. I don't think there is a realistic answer to that question because anything can happen in baseball. You see guys make it up in four years and you see other guys make it up the same year they get drafted. And so on and so forth. I'd love to give you a specific answer to that, but I don't have one. I'm just going to try and improve myself as much as possible and force my way onto the major league roster someday.
DS: Jake, I really appreciate you taking the time to answer these questions, and wish you nothing but the best of luck going forward.
JS: Thanks, Dan, I really appreciate that.