Baseball Beginnings

By John Klima
April 1, 2009

Tyler Skaggs has the misfortune of being a left-handed high school starting pitcher in Southern California in the same year that another high school left-handed starter, Tyler Matzek, is on more top-end wish lists than just about any pitcher north of Stephen Strasburg. But that doesn’t mean that Skaggs isn’t in demand. Instead, his tantalizing combination of a left-handed starter who could one day throw three quality major league pitches is more than enough to earn him his own attention.

Right now, his greatest weapon is his curveball, a must for any aspiring professional pitcher, especially a left-hander. Skaggs has nice radar gun readings, but his breaking ball is what will initially get him in the door and translates into his money pitch. With long and loose limbs and the type of body that should fill out, Skaggs could become a power pitcher, or he could pitch comfortably in the low 90s, which would be more than enough to complement his breaking ball. After a recent start in which Skaggs didn’t take the mound until an hour after he warmed up because no umpires showed up, Baseball Beginnings caught up with the Santa Monica High School pitching prospect.

BB: Are you surprised at how far you’ve risen and as fast?
Skaggs: Actually, yeah. I kind of came from nowhere. I went to Area Codes, then went to Jupiter. I threw well, threw my game, and worked hard. I didn’t do a lot of club. I stayed at school. I didn’t do a lot of showcases or anything.

BB: What do you think was the break for you?
Skaggs: Inviting me to USA tryout in North Carolina off the season. I did well there, but didn’t make the team. That got me invited to the Area Codes. I went from there. I had been playing baseball all the time, but I never got invited to play club.

BB: What aspects of your pitching do you feel are most important to develop?
Skaggs: Right now, the off-speed stuff. The composure is fine, the fastball is fine and everything else is fine. Mostly curveballs.

BB: How would you assess yourself right now?
Skaggs: Right now its command but I think it can be power later on.

BB: What do you think it’s going to be?
Skaggs: Power. Today wasn’t a really good example.

BB: How do you feel about pro versus college at this stage?
Skaggs: I like college. Cal State Fullerton is great. But pro would be nice. I wouldn’t have a problem with it. It just depends on how everything works out.

BB: Are you a challenge yourself guy?
Skaggs: Definitely.

BB: Does the opportunity to face better hitters appeal to you?
Skaggs: Yes.

BB: Toughest hitters you’ve ever faced?
Skaggs: Matt Davidson, Jonathan Singleton and Bryce Harper.

Coming up, we have Skaggs video.

Watch Tyler Skaggs Scouting video
Read Tyler Skaggs Scouting report
Tyler Skaggs Drafted by the Los Angeles Angels
Catching up with Tyler Skaggs

Categories: '09 Meet the Player
Tags: 2009 Draft, Tyler Skaggs