Remember Him?

by FLATigersFan on Jun 4, 2006 12:19 AM EDT in Detroit Tigers News

I'm a little late posting this, but Tigers pitching prospect Kyle Sleeth took the mound for Lakeland the other night as they took on the Brevard County Manatees (Brewers FSL Affil). Kyle pitched 3 innings, giving up 3 earned runs on 5 hits. He struck out 1 batter and walked 2.

Sleeth was the first pick for the Tigers in the 2003 amateur draft (3rd overall) out of Wake Forest University. He was named the Tigers top prospect in 2004 by Baseball America, and appeared on many other Tigers prospects lists. Looking to be a future star pitcher in Detroit, Kyle was forced into Tommy John Surgery, seriously de-railing any near plans to make it to the big leagues. He did not pitch at all last season and this recent start was his first one since.

Here is a scouting report on Sleeth following the Tigers taking him in the 2003 draft:

Sleeth tied an NCAA record with 26 straight victories, a run that lasted from his freshman campaign in March 2001 until a 7-5 loss April 4 to Florida State. He went 7-3 in his junior season this spring, posting a 2.81 earned-run average and 102 strikeouts in 96 innings.
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In going with Sleeth, the Tigers furthered their efforts toward adding harder-throwing pitchers to a farm system well-stocked with young finesse pitchers. His repertoire earned him comparisons with Pittsburgh's Kris Benson, also an ACC product who went high in the draft.

The 6-foot-5, 210-pound Sleeth owns a fastball that generally reaches the low to mid-90s on the radar gun. He improved on his slider enough in his junior year to make it his out pitch and complemented it with what he called a slurve.

Hopefully this is just the first step on the road to recovery.

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