Tyler Robertson Book Comment

Tyler Robertson, LHP, Minnesota Twins
Bats: L    Throws: L     HT: 6-5     WT: 220   DOB: December 23, 1987

(Book will have his statistical record)
A third round pick from a California high school in 2006, Tyler Robertson spent the early months of '07 in extended spring training, but when he finally got to Beloit he blew the league away. His K/BB, K/IP, and H/IP marks were all excellent. He got a lot of ground balls. He was tough on both lefties and righties. He came up short on the innings requirement, but his ERA would have ranked second in the league. But despite his statistical dominance, scouts aren't wild about him. There are mixed reports about his velocity. Baseball America quotes scouts putting Robertson's fastball at 87-90 last year. But he threw 90-92 in high school, and scouts I talked with saw him hit that for Beloit. His slider is excellent and his curveball is effective, but scouts hate his stiff delivery, predicting that it will lead to arm problems down the road. The Twins have smoothed it out a bit, but don't want to make huge changes considering how well it has worked for him. The delivery adds deception in any event, and personally, I think the delivery issue is probably a bit overblown. I don't think his injury risk is significantly higher than it is for other pitchers his age. Right now, his statistical dominance gets him a Grade B+, and I think he's one of the best young lefties in the game.