2008 Projection: Jesse Crain
Jesse Crain is next on the list as I work through the remainder of the bullpen for the 2008 projections series. Crain is working his way back from 2007 shoulder surgery and so far hasn't had much luck this spring. Here are his projected and recent numbers:
| Year | Age | ERA | W | L | INN | HR | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 ZiPS | 26 | 3.80 | 7 | 5 | 71.0 | 7 | 22 | 44 |
| 2007 | 25 | 5.51 | 1 | 2 | 16.3 | 4 | 4 | 10 |
| 2006 | 24 | 3.52 | 4 | 5 | 76.7 | 6 | 18 | 60 |
Crain was sidelined in mid-May last season with a torn labrum and rotator cuff. He had become a mainstay in the Twins' bullpen after in 2006 he was able to control his walks and dramatically increase his strikeout totals. He struggled early in 2007 before it became apparent that he was pitching with some discomfort. He spent the remainder of the season recovering from shoulder surgery.
The success rate for pitchers coming back from the type of surgery Crain had is typically not as good as good as those that have the type of surgery Francisco Liriano is coming back from.
Because Crain relied on his mid-to-upper 90s fastball to get hitters out, his outlook for 2008 probably isn't good. I have yet to hear reports of his velocity this spring, but typically pitchers don't regain that when returning from rotator cuff surgery.
Crain has thrown just two innings this spring and in a recent minor-league level appearance he took a line drive off his knee. Nothing was broken, but it only sets him back further as he tries to work back from the injury.
Other 2008 projections
Topics: Jesse Crain, Francisco Liriano