Austin Hyatt named FSL Pitcher of the Year

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Former Clearwater Thresher, now Reading Phillie Austin Hyatt has been named the Florida State League Pitcher of the Year.  Hyatt, 24, was a 15th round pick in the 2009 draft and threw in 23 games for the Threshers this year (21 starts).  He went 11-5 with a 3.04 ERA in 124.1 innings of work, walking 35 while striking out 156 hitters.  His WHIP stood at 1.08 in High A, while the opposition hit just .220 against him.  Hyatt recently made the jump to Reading and has started 4 games for the RPhils, going 1-0 with a 4.91 ERA in 22 innings.  He is continuing to strike hitters out at a very high rate (25 in 22 innings in AA). Flying a bit under the radar screen because of his advanced age for High A, the numbers have caused more than a few people to take notice as the year progressed.

21 thoughts on “Austin Hyatt named FSL Pitcher of the Year”

  1. Would it be safe to assume that Hyatt’s peripherals warrant a watchful eye? His future may, or may not, be in the rotation, but a pitcher with high strikeout potential still could factor into any bullpen. Perhaps his niche or style of pitching is more effective when being utilized in smaller doses. I’m not counting him out as starter material yet, but it does merit consideration for the phuture.

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  2. I’ve got to say, I am interested about how his stuff plays in the bullpen. Not sure he would be a closer or setup man, but he could be very useful as a strike-throwing “fireman”-type bullpen arm.

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  3. Well deserved. He may not have top of the rotation upside but what really encouraged me was the milb article on July 7 where he mentions the improved command of his changeup. That could mean he has 2 plus off-speed pitches (was mostly fastball and slider guy last season) and might make it as high as a mid-rotation starter. As with most prospects, AA will be his proving ground.

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  5. Numbers from Hyatt even though he is a little old have had me keeping my eye on him. Congrats on being the Pitcher of the Year.

    Fall League rosters announced
    Brummett De Fratus Rizzotti Kissock Zied Rosenberg and Kennelly.

    Couple questions
    Is it safe to assume that the Phillies did not send any starting pitchers because of watching the total innings? I know Zeid starts but was only half a year.
    Second if Zeid throws well should it be assumed he starts in Reading next year?
    Third why send Brummett? He appears to have reached his peek.

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  6. Saw Hyatt pich last night at Reading and was impressed with how many swing and misses he gets with a fastball that sits between 86-90.

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  7. Congratulations! Satisfying that “Aussie” has gotten that kind of recognition.
    From his short pro record it appears that he could fill some need on the big club fairly soon.
    F’r instance, begin ’11 at Reading and prove his numbers at Clrwtr were not an aberration. That would happen if he–with careful care and feeding–could improve his command some and also stretch his innings out initially and then ease him into relief so that with good results he could stop off at Lehigh for a couple cups of coffee, and then proceed to the mlb team by about 2/3 of the season mark. [Just a “plan.”]

    He could be a super bargain as a reliever and available as a starter, too…after relief success breaking him in.

    Along with DeFratus and maybe Mathieson. he could be part of the pen for several years…in-house. Low cost.

    Perceptive choice by our scouts…again.

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  9. saw him in Reading 2 times and was impressed with his stuff. Is it me or are the Phills getting some quality pitchers in the minors right now? I am starting to get excited for the prospects of 2012.

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  10. I went to two of Hyatt’s Reading starts and he does get alot of swing and misses. I was curious if anyone knows anything about the radar gun at the reading stadium. As previously mentioned his FB sits between 86-90 which is not impressive. I’ve heard that the gun is slow there which makes sense because I have not noticed any velocity readings over 92 for any pitcher which can’t be possible. Just curious if anyone has any input on this.

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  11. An uncontrolled variable- as has been pointed out on this site on several occasions- is where the radar gun is aimed. The muzzle velocity- the velocity as it leaves the pitcher’s hand- is always faster than the velocity crossing the plate. I believe that when we read reports of peak velocity on Strasburg or Chapman, it is referring to muzzle velocity. A slow stadium gun may be due to measuring velocity of the pitch as it reaches the hitter. We would need positioning details from the stadium to determine if this is the case.

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  12. A fastball typically loses around 10 mph from the release point to where it crosses the plate. The Reading gun might simply be focused 15 ft (random guess) in front of the mound or something.

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  13. Speaking of radar guns, I realize this is a bit off topic, but word has it that Aroldis Chapman lit up the AAA gun at 105!!!! I’ve been watching baseball for close to 40 years and I’ve never seen anything like that. A couple of 102s (Verlander, Wagner) and once a 103 (Rob Dibble, believe it or not), but never a reading around 105.

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  15. Stood behind the Thresher’s radar gun last night at Brighthouse. Sanchez and Correa were charting the games sitting about four rows below the concourse in Sec. 111 behind home plate. A Joe Blanton look-a-like Esposito pitched the game of his lift and had a fast ball sitting at 88 on their gun with a good slider. Ellis came in the 10th and was hitting 94 mph.

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  17. I would be stoked if Hyatt turned into Durbin.

    Durbin in A+: 147IP, 2.93 ERA, 7.7 H/9, 0.6 HR/9, 3.6 BB/9, 9.9 K/9
    Durbin in AA: 157 IP, 4.64 ERA, 8.8 H/9, 1.1 HR/9, 2.8 BB/9, 7.0 K/9

    Hyatt in A+: 124IP, 3.04 ERA, 7.3 H/9, 0.4 HR/9, 2.5 BB/9, 11.3 K/9
    Hyatt in AA: 22IP, 4.91ERA, 8.6 H/9, 1.6 HR/9, 3.7 BB/9, 10.2 K/9

    Peripherals aren’t all that different, just Hyatt has more strikeouts (obviously small sample size in AA). However, Durbin was 3.5 years younger at the time. Hence, I would be pleased if Hyatt were able to ultimately equate to Durbin.

    Interesting thought – we would be pretty psyched if next year Cosart, Colvin and May posted a year like Durbin had in A+ at age 20, right? I think those three have higher ceilings than Durbin did at the time due to their superior velocity, but still.

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  18. That is a pretty big detail. Durbin being three years younger at the level is everything.
    It would be better if someone could find a pitcher of similar age, who is RH, doesn’t have a good breaking ball, and is not a hard thrower, who became a successful MLB pitcher.

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