Sunday, December 4, 2011
Tribe Prospect Countdown: #28 RHP Kyle Blair
2011 Stats (Rk Arizona/ A- Lake County): 3-5, 5.16, 1.48 WHIP, .259 OBA, 4.4 BB/9, 7.9 K/9
2011 was a lost season for this 2010 4th round pick. Kyle came out of the University of San Diego as a nearly fully formed product and expectation were high. Although his fastball has a somewhat pedestrian velocity (90-92), Blair effectively uses three off-speed pitches. His slider is the true out pitch and, without getting into minutia, is seen by most as a Major League ready swing-and-miss offering as of now. In addition to the plus slide piece, Kyle employs a change that has plus potential and a 12-6 curve that can be simply devastating at times. Given all of the polish, he was expected to make a brief stop in Eastlake last spring before joining the Kinston starting rotation. Unfortunately, injury and inconsistency intervened. After being sidelined with a right knee issue, Blair did not start again after June 26th, the Indians organization choosing to reduced his workload and pitch him from the pen. Even before the stint on the DL, he was not performing to expectation, with his lack of command the greatest concern (15 WP & 40 BB in in 82 IP). Kyle has had a history of injuries, as an oblique strain at USD retarded the development of his fastball control. As a high-floor, low-ceiling kind of guy (by that I mean that he is about as good as he is going to get); he must produce now. Despite his underwhelming 2011, Blair will likely start next season with the newly affiliated Carolina Mudcats (replacing Kinston). The formula for success is simple: stay healthy, spot the fastball and get that WHIP down (by this I mean reduce walks, there is nothing wrong with 81 H in 82 IP). If Kyle can follow the script, there is no reason that he cannot be at AAA by the end of 2012. If not, his future will become quite limited.
Up Next: #27 - RHP Toru Murata
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