Danny Hultzen

Danny Hultzen
Free agent
Pitcher
Born: (1989-11-28) November 28, 1989
Bethesda, Maryland
Bats: Left Throws: Left

Daniel Alexander "Danny" Hultzen (born November 28, 1989) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. Hultzen attended the University of Virginia, where he starred for the Virginia Cavaliers baseball team. He was drafted and selected second overall by the Seattle Mariners in the 2011 MLB draft.

High school career

Hultzen attended St. Albans School in Washington, D.C. starting in seventh grade. There he was named First-Team All-American by Baseball America.[1] Hultzen was drafted to the Arizona Diamondbacks in the 10th round of the 2008 MLB Draft. However, Hultzen didn't sign, opting to attend college.

College career

Hultzen enrolled at the University of Virginia, where he played college baseball for the Virginia Cavaliers baseball team in the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC). In 2009, Hultzen won ACC Freshman of the Year for baseball and was named First-Team All-ACC. He was also named to the ACC Academic Honor Roll and All-ACC Baseball Team.[1]

In 2010, Hultzen was named ACC Pitcher of the Year. He is the first Virginia Cavalier to win the award.[2] He was also named First-Team All-ACC a second time. Over the 2010 season, Hultzen finished with a 10–3 record and an ERA of 1.59 in  96 1⁄3 innings. In 2011, Hultzen won the John Olerud Award, awarded annually by the College Baseball Foundation to the best two-way player of the season.[3]

Professional career

On June 6, 2011, Hultzen was the second player selected in the 2011 Major League Baseball draft, taken by the Seattle Mariners. Hultzen signed a major league contract with Seattle on August 15. The deal is worth a minimum of $8.5 million over five-years, with a $6.35 million signing bonus.[4] He was named to appear in the 2012 All-Star Futures Game.[5]

Hultzen missed the majority of the 2013 season due to a shoulder injury. After the 2013 season, he underwent surgery to repair a torn labrum and rotator cuff in his shoulder, and missed the entire 2014 season.[6]

Hultzen will sit out the 2017 season, partially because he is returning to the University of Virginia to finish his university degree, and will attempt a professional baseball comeback in 2018.[7]

Scouting report

Hultzen was considered one of the most polished prospects in the 2011 draft class due to the excellent command he has over his pitches.[2]

In addition to his pitching, Hultzen is considered an excellent position player, although it's unlikely that he'll ever be developed as a position prospect.[2]

His main pitch is a four-seam fastball at 91–94 mph. He also has a two-seam fastball with similar velocity. His off-speed pitches are a slider and vulcan changeup in the low 80s.[8][9]

Hultzen struggled with his control in AAA in 2012, walking 43 hitters in  48 2⁄3 innings.[10] Addressing those concerns, Hultzen said, "You need to learn how to fail in this game ... I haven't faced a lot of failure as a pitcher. You need to learn how to cope with it, and I think I have. Hopefully most of it is behind me."[9]

References

  1. 1 2 Virginia Cavaliers: Danny Hultzen, University of Virginia
  2. 1 2 3 Danny Hultzen and the 2011 MLB Draft, The Good Point, June 6, 2011
  3. ↑ "Hultzen wins Olerud Award". Augusta Free Press. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  4. ↑ Nicholson-Smith, Ben. "Mariners Sign Danny Hultzen". MLBTradeRumors.com. Retrieved August 16, 2011.
  5. ↑ Mayo, Jonathan (May 24, 2013). "Prospects pack rosters for 2012 All-Star Futures Game | MLB.com: News". Mlb.mlb.com. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Mariners prospect Danny Hultzen has shoulder surgery, likely out for 2014 | HardballTalk". Hardballtalk.nbcsports.com. Retrieved February 9, 2014.
  7. ↑ http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/mariners/danny-hultzen-among-the-list-of-mariners-minor-leaguers-granted-free-agency/
  8. ↑ "Brooks Baseball · Home of the PitchFX Tool - Player Card: Daniel Hultzen". Brooks Baseball. Retrieved October 1, 2012.
  9. 1 2 Laurila, David (November 27, 2012). "Q&A: Danny Hultzen, Mariners Pitching Prospect". Fangraphs. Retrieved November 27, 2012.
  10. ↑ "Danny Hultzen Minor League Statistics & History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 1, 2012.

External links

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