Batter's Box Interactive Magazine Batter's Box Interactive Magazine Batter's Box Interactive Magazine
Photo of the Day The Drabek Duo!

The POTD focuses on Kyle Drabek and his Cy Young Award winning father.  They were spotlighted on JaysVision in between innings of Thursday's game against Texas.



Drabek was acquired from Philadelphia along with catcher Travis d'Arnaud and outfielder Michael Taylor.  Taylor was dealt to Oakland for first baseman Brett Wallace, who was flipped to Houston for outfielder Anthony Gose.

Drabek earned the ranking after winning 12 of 15 decisions between Clearwater and Reading with an earned run average of 3.19 in 2009.  He struck out 150 batters in 158 innings, showing no ill-effects of the Tommy John elbow surgery that cut short his 2007 and 2008 campaigns.

Drabek pitched at a Houston-area high school, The Woodlands High, and went 13-0 with a 0.92 ERA in his senior season.  According to Baseball America's 2010 Prospect Handbook, the 22 year-old right-hander throws a fastball in the 88-93 mile per hour range with a power curveball that is rated a 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale.  His changeup is his third pitch.  If you want to look at Drabek's pitches and mechanics, click here.

Kyle's father is Doug Drabek, a 155 game winner in the major leagues who enjoyed a 13 year career with the Yankees, Pirates, Astros, White Sox and Orioles.

Kyle Drabek was named the Eastern League's Pitcher of the Year Award after a 14-9 season and a 2.92 ERA.  He struck out 132 batters over 162 innings with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.

Doug Drabek won the 1990 Cy Young Award after compiling a record of 22-6 with a 2.78 ERA to help lead the Pirates to the first of three consecutive National League East titles.

Kyle Drabek is shown wearing #35 in the picture on the right, which currently belongs to Lyle Overbay.  However, he will be wearing #4 when his makes his major league debut against the Orioles.  That's the same number he wore during his time in Reading last year.  He wore his dad's #15 with New Hampshire this season but that number is taken by Fred Lewis.  I'm surprised he didn't choose #32!  :D

Hopefully, he'll enjoy more success than the last pitcher to wear a single digit for the Jays - Josh Towers, who wore #7.    Best of luck to Kyle Drabek as he takes on Brad Bergesen in a 7:05 start at Camden Yards.  You can bet this guy will be watching!!  Maybe not, it's on Sportsnet 1!

Posted by #2JBrumfield on Wednesday, September 15 2010 @ 12:02 AM EDT.
The Drabek Duo! | 10 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.
bpoz - Wednesday, September 15 2010 @ 09:14 AM EDT (#222489) #
Um... K Drabek needs to be put on the 40 man roster. I wonder who will be dropped.
Have a great ML debut Kyle.
[ Reply to This ]
Gerry - Wednesday, September 15 2010 @ 10:22 AM EDT (#222490) #
Rommie Lewis headed to Florida yesterday to have his shoulder checked out.  If it is serious he could go on the 60 day DL.
[ Reply to This ]
slitheringslider - Wednesday, September 15 2010 @ 07:26 PM EDT (#222527) #
I don't want to beat a dead horse but I'm absolutely furious with Rogers that I can't watch Kyle Drabek's debut because of this Sportsnet One bs...

Now I'm done venting.

[ Reply to This ]
Anders - Wednesday, September 15 2010 @ 07:27 PM EDT (#222528) #
Just for the record, I hate Rogers Sportsnet.
[ Reply to This ]
jmoney - Wednesday, September 15 2010 @ 09:00 PM EDT (#222529) #
Shaw launched SP1 today so I got to watch Drabek who looked pretty good. The Blue Jay bats the last while have been pretty ugly. If they're not hitting solo shots they're just up there hacking and it's ugly.
[ Reply to This ]
greenfrog - Wednesday, September 15 2010 @ 09:49 PM EDT (#222530) #
I thought Drabek did very well in his debut. He had a good fastball (sitting at around 93-95, and touching 96), a curve that was mostly sharp, and he threw some cutters and the odd changeup. His command was quite respectable - although his walk rate is a bit high, he doesn't seem to be especially wild. I also liked that he hung tough with runners on. Basically, he seems like a competitor. All of which makes me hope that he makes the rotation next spring, where he can work with BW and learn from the other starters on the team.
[ Reply to This ]
scottt - Wednesday, September 15 2010 @ 11:03 PM EDT (#222533) #
The 84-85 pitch wasn't a slider?



[ Reply to This ]
Thomas - Wednesday, September 15 2010 @ 11:09 PM EDT (#222534) #
The 84-85 pitch wasn't a slider?

It is a cutter, I believe. Drabek doesn't throw a slider.

[ Reply to This ]
ayjackson - Wednesday, September 15 2010 @ 11:34 PM EDT (#222535) #
I believe that's what they call the power curve, boys. The scouting report says it sits at 84-87 mph.
[ Reply to This ]
BalzacChieftain - Thursday, September 16 2010 @ 08:16 AM EDT (#222540) #

His boxscore line was deceiving as well.  A lot of hits allowed, but mainly of the single variety.  And as stated above, he had some walks but he was always around the plate.  I think he had trouble getting his curve across some of the time simply due to nerves, maybe overthrowing it and bouncing it in there a few times.  Still, the O's offered at a few bowling balls, which means that pitch must have some serious bite.  I can only imagine what Drabek will do once he hones the organizational changeup as well.

[ Reply to This ]
The Drabek Duo! | 10 comments | Create New Account
The following comments are owned by whomever posted them. This site is not responsible for what they say.