Collins debut: 5 Ks in two perfect innings
Lefty Tim Collins, the undersized fireballer the Braves got in the Escobar-Gonzalez trade, had five strikeouts in two perfect innings in his Double-A Mississippi debut Friday.
He’s a freak in the best sense, similar to how the term’s applied to Tim Linceum. Because this kid Collins, 20, is quite a bit smaller even than Lincecum. Just 5-7 and about 155 pounds, and yet he throws in the mid-90s and also has a nasty curveball.
The Braves are excited about the lefty, who was anything but a throw-in component in the trade.
I asked Bobby Cox if he knew anything about him, and Cox started talking about seeing video of him. Said he’s extremely athletic, a muscular little guy who’s real aggressive. Apparently the video showed him pitching and also working out, because he made quite an impression on Cox and others with the workout portion.
If you look at his career strikeout/walk numbers and they’re off-the-charts good.
In 43 innings at Double-A New Hampshire before the trade, Collins had 73 Ks with 15 walks and 27 hits allowed, with a 2.51 ERA.
In 196-2/3 career inning, he has 299 strikeouts (more than 13-1/2 per nine innings) with 85 walks and 128 hits allowed. The guy has a 1.083 WHIP parts of four minor league seasons. Not bad for a guy who signed as an undrafted free agent at age 17.
The Braves traded lefty Jo-Jo Reyes to Toronto in the Escobar-Gonzalez deal, and got this lefty from the Jays.
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42 comments Add your comment
Your Mom
July 17th, 2010
2:08 pm
So-so glad Jo-Jo is gone.
Mike
July 17th, 2010
2:13 pm
If I knew undersized kids like him could have a shot at pitching pro ball, I would have never have quit.
Your Dad
July 17th, 2010
2:14 pm
Jays are gonna regret this…
Huntsville Brave
July 17th, 2010
2:18 pm
Saw both Collins and Pastornicky play last night, Collins was pitching down and away, but did not seem to overpower batters. Pastornicky hit the ball well, not much power, but has some speed on the bases.
Delbert D.
July 17th, 2010
2:18 pm
Looks good.
chris
July 17th, 2010
2:19 pm
geez, the braves bullpen in the orginization is STACKED! to say the least
Mike Jay
July 17th, 2010
2:20 pm
The Brave’s minor leagues are stocked with a ton of pitching talent. No room for all of it in the majors so another trade is imminent imo.
BobtheBlogger
July 17th, 2010
2:29 pm
Tyler Pastornicky, the SS included in the trade along with Collins, went 2 for 5 with a triple. Both of these guys are very young and have good minor league stats.
NHFisherCats
July 17th, 2010
2:29 pm
I’ve seen him up close for about a year. Great kid with great stuff and great potential. Was shocked the Jays got rid of him. Big mistake but he was discovered by former gm JP Richardi and they want all of his stuff gone. Great gain for the Braves though. Future closer.
JohnSmith
July 17th, 2010
2:34 pm
I’m astounded by how many people on the Toronto Blue Jays forums are praising this trade for their team. Personally, I think they got hosed, eh?
Ted M
July 17th, 2010
2:35 pm
Wow a 5′7″ pitcher. Can anyone help me out…who are some of the decent short pitcher in the majors?
I can’t recall any 5′7″ pitchers.
Tim Collins
July 17th, 2010
2:48 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ccKZH7jwEw
Tim Collins
July 17th, 2010
2:49 pm
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yGfa-eOALwA
KnightInATL
July 17th, 2010
4:00 pm
Chipper saying he’s 50-50 to play translates to a 5% chance he plays.
SCBravesFan
July 17th, 2010
4:20 pm
Huntsville Brave….
C’mon… He struck out five in a couple of innings…
James
July 17th, 2010
4:53 pm
He can join the team as long as he grows a mullet in tribute to the early 90’s braves.
ByteMe
July 17th, 2010
4:57 pm
I said before that getting Gonzo for Esco was a good trade, but that the gem in the trade was Collins. I predict we see him in AAA to start next year and called up to the show by middle of next year when one of our late relief guys gets hurt.
Delbert D.
July 17th, 2010
5:10 pm
Maybe being 5′7 makes it easier to keep the ball down. A rising fastball might sneak up into the bottom of the strike zone.
Delbert D.
July 17th, 2010
5:20 pm
bleacherreport.com has a list of the best 14 pitchers under 6′0. Billy Wagner is on the list, and he is among the other 5′10 ers the shortest on the list. Lincecum, Valenzuela are 5′11, Whitey Ford is among the 5′10ers. Philly has a 5′9 guy.
oldbrave
July 17th, 2010
5:21 pm
anybody remember Buzz Capra
oldbrave
July 17th, 2010
5:24 pm
he didnt stay around long but could blow you away, think he lead league in ERA one year foer the Braves they never knew how to use him though, relieve, start, long man, he did all at one time or another just seemed not to have a set roll at the time.
Delbert D.
July 17th, 2010
5:32 pm
If MLB hadn’t lowered the mound 5″ in 1969* Collins would be effectively 6′ tall. Duh. Randy Johnson would be 7′5″ tall.
*The Bob Gibson-initiated rule; 1.12 ERA, 13 shutouts and 5 1-0 losses in ‘68
Mathman
July 17th, 2010
6:11 pm
Medlen is probably 5-9 and he is doing just fine
Gil In Mechanicsville
July 17th, 2010
6:42 pm
Height and weight figures for ballplayers are about as accurate as ages given to on line dating services.
Jim Bouton was a short dude as well as Mike Hampton. One thing about a short kid is he won’t be having balance problems.
That said, let’s stop worrying about physical statue and go by ability and heart. if this kid can throw strikes (not walk people) and record outs then good for the Braves.
Yep, I think he just might be the sleeper in this deal.
rick p
July 18th, 2010
2:03 am
“Delbert D.
July 17th, 2010
5:20 pm
bleacherreport.com has a list of the best 14 pitchers under 6′0. Billy Wagner is on the list, and he is among the other 5′10 ers the shortest on the list. Lincecum, Valenzuela are 5′11, Whitey Ford is among the 5′10ers. Philly has a 5′9 guy.”
That’s prolly Bobby Shantz for Philly. Harvey Haddix was around 5-7 I think. He’s the guy with the 12 inning perfect game loss. It’s depressing that I actually remeber this stuff WAY better than say last season
siskel_god
July 18th, 2010
10:31 am
DOB
Heard a lot about this Collins guy, but what about the shortstop? Sounds like he’s got speed to burn and if he hits .260 and can steal 50 bases it seems like he should have been a bit of a higher rated prospect. Any chance we got a steal in this kid?
NHFisherCats
July 18th, 2010
11:00 am
Pastornicky will be a big league shortstop in 3 years. Collins in MLB by end of 2012 at latest. Jays got the short end here.
Collins is closer to 5′6 actually maybe 5′5″. He told me they gave him an inch or two on his bio.
TheWadPartII
July 18th, 2010
10:32 pm
NHFisherCats, where are you picking up this info? Any chance I can ask you a couple of questions?
hAL
July 18th, 2010
11:41 pm
i live in canbada and at the time of the trade tsn our espn reported the jays hated giving collins as part of the dea;l but they really wanteds esco and the gm here is new and felt pressure to improve the jays short term that how mistakes are made also the jays gm has no experience at all i think frank had his lunch lol
Ragnar Danneskjöld
July 19th, 2010
7:39 am
I always assumed Stu Miller was a small guy, but Baseball Almanac lists him @ 5′ 11″. He was the fellow the wind blew off the mound at the Candlestick Park All Star Game back in the 1960s.
Braves Fan Since "80
July 19th, 2010
8:52 am
WOW a double a pair that will not be ready for three years and a washed up shortstop in decline for a decent long relief picture and a top defensive short wit offensive pop potential…. Braves got promise , prospects birds in the bush so to speak….. This is not a slam dunk trade but it is a trade and like all of the rest it’s over but do not try and sell it as wonderful….. the Rays did not trade upton, the cubs did not trade soriano, arimus and the Marlins did not trade Hanley, detroit did not trade Callabrea partying, drinking and fighting wife hours before a playoff…..it’s modern ball if you can not deal with it retire!
old timer
July 19th, 2010
4:46 pm
old brave, they knew how to use Capra. When they first picked him up from the Mets, he worked out of the bullpen. But soon he was starting and led the league with a 2.28 ERA. He got hurt the next year, I think it was, and was never the same pitcher. Braves had a hard time keeping any really good pitcher healthy except Niekro between the 1957-58 club and the 1991 group. Remember Tony Cloninger?
nick p
July 20th, 2010
9:18 am
do we have any good prospects coming up who are fielders?? I love the fact that we ahve so much pitching, but outside of freeman, anybody else who is a good hitting, power or speed, outfielder ot infielder? I think we need balance!
nick p
July 20th, 2010
9:21 am
bye bye, Jo Jo, we gave you many chances, but you still wanted to do what you wanted to do, which by the way was not working and did not work! at least now there is no way we will be able to use you as a starter or reliever, thank god!
nick p
July 20th, 2010
9:23 am
Daniel son, Mr. Miagi says we need balance, so can we get some stud fielders into our organization since chipper will retire?! Perhaps some speedsters!
Mutts
July 20th, 2010
10:26 am
If Collins can bring his stuff to the bigs and be an elite closer for The Braves, he’ll look 6 foot plus to me.
bfred
July 20th, 2010
5:05 pm
The issue with guys that size, especially who throw into the 90’s, is arm injuries. It takes a much faster, more violent motion to generate that velocity than on a guy who’s 6′2″. Just ask Hampton or Martinez.
rob
July 20th, 2010
9:33 pm
saw collins pitch in high school against my team. Guy is a tiny little man but throws gas and his curve ball was the best I’ve ever seen..made us look silly
timinsmyrna
July 20th, 2010
11:12 pm
Was at a Braves function recently. I’d guess Hudson is 5′10″, Wagner is about 5′9″ and Medlen might be 5′8″. And McLouth is shorter than all three. Of course, Lowe, Glaus, and Heyward are HUGE. Baseball players come in all sizes.
bravesfaninhuntsville
July 21st, 2010
12:17 am
I saw the M Braves play the Stars last Friday in Huntsville, and Collins was extremely impressive. I sat right behind home plate, so I had a very good view. The stats that were posted don’t lie (20 pitches, 5Ks and all 6 batters faced retired in two innings work). His curve ball had at least a 6 inch drop as it crossed the plate, and everyone of the Stars batters he faced looked over matched. In fact, I saw several of the Stars just shaking their heads as they walked back to the dugout after striking-out. He’s really a lot of fun to watch, too. He works very quickly and has an exaggerated high kick wind-up similar to Al Hrabosky’s. I know its AA, but based on what I saw of him, it would not surprise me one bit if he’s pitching in Atlanta next year.
Cressey Performance Athletes Excel, Reporters Write About It, Villagers Rejoice | EricCressey.com
July 21st, 2010
7:11 am
[...] striking out five batters in two innings pitched without allowing a walk, hit, or run. In a recent posting about Collins in the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, beat writer David O’Brien wrote the [...]
Cressey Performance Athletes Excel, Reporters Write About It, Villagers Rejoice
July 21st, 2010
10:00 am
[...] striking out five batters in two innings pitched without allowing a walk, hit, or run. In a recent posting about Collins in the Atlanta-Journal Constitution, beat writer David O’Brien wrote the [...]