Ozzie Ball Posted July 1, 2008 Share Posted July 1, 2008 (edited) Steven Upchurch, RHP Born: 09/14/1989 Place: Mobile, AL Height: 6'5" Weight: 190lbs Throws: Right Bats: Right Acquired: 12th round pick, #360 overall in the 2008 First Year Player Draft. PGCrosschecker Scouting Report: SCOUTING REPORT (3/1): Upchurch has barely started to fill out his lanky, 6-foot-5, 190-pound frame. He throws from an effortless, over-the-top release point with outstanding downhill angle to the plate. Upchurch throws mostly in the 90-92 mph range and gets good running action on his fastball when he heeps it down in the zone. He’ll add velocity as he fills out his body. His curveball and changeup are both potential plus pitches that he shows very good present feel for, though he needs to quicken his arm speed when throwing his curve. His arm action is pretty ideal for a slider as well. One of the things that Upchurch does best, aside from project through the roof, is attack hitters. He’s a very aggressive pitcher with a plan on the mound and the ability to throw strikes with all his pitches. As a high school junior, he went 5-4, 2.21 with 83 strikeouts in 59 innings. More innings and more strength could make him something special in the future.—DAVID RAWNSLEY UPDATE (5/15): Upchurch went 13-0 as a high school senior and pitched Faith Academy to the Alabama Independent Schools Association state title. He was selected MVP of the final series, but more his bat as he went 7-for-8 with six RBIs and launched a 400-foot home run. He was touched up for 13 hits in a series-opening 7-6 win. That outing was somewhat indicative of the way he pitched this spring as he didn’t dominate better competition, even with a lively fastball that was clocked at 90-91 mph and topped at 93. He secondary stuff was adequate, but overall he did not show scouts the dominating stuff and command they expected to see after ranking behind only Destin Hood among Alabama high school prospects entering 2008. His loss in stature may pave the way for him to move on to Auburn.—ALLAN SIMPSON Perfect Game Scouting Report from the 2008 National Pre Draft Showcase: Steven Upchurch is a 2008 RHP with a 6'5'', 190 lb. frame from Mobile, AL who attends Faith Academy. Upchurch is a tall projectable RHP who reaches the low 90's and showed the same at the Pre-Draft. He showed good arm speed on a running fastball that sat 88-91. His change was excellent with plus sink and bore. We have seen his breaking stuff better, but this is very understandable since he was pitching with a broken bone in his pitching hand. He showed his toughness and competiveness battling through having a broken hand and has a bright future. He has signed with Auburn. Small report from Baseball America: Upchurch (Faith Academy, Mobile, Ala.) has three potential plus offerings in his 75-77 mph changeup, 74 mph curve and 89-91 mph fastball that showed plus sink at times. High School: Upchurch is a 6-4, 180 lbs. RHP from Faith Academy. Baseball America's top high school prospect for the state of Alabama and 34th overall, he has been an AISA All-Star and an Alabama Baseball Coaches Association All-Star. Having helped his team to a AISA Region 1 Championship and a second-place finish in AISA Class AAA in both 2005 and 2007, he is the number one rated pitcher in Alabama by Perfect Game and was ranked 38th at the MLB East Coast Showcase. A member of the 2006 USA Junior Olympic Baseball Championship, he is a member of the Junior National Honor Society. He is the son of Alan and Brenda Upchurch. MiLB.com Page Edited July 4, 2008 by Ozzie Ball Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzie Ball Posted July 1, 2008 Author Share Posted July 1, 2008 Steven has been assigned to the Bristol Sox of the Appalachian League. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BearSox Posted July 1, 2008 Share Posted July 1, 2008 Man, do I love that we signed this guy. I think he is my favorite pick from the previous 2 drafts all together. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joejoedairy Posted July 24, 2008 Share Posted July 24, 2008 Mediocre at best through 2 outings but I am very excited about this guy. Also he's from the town i was born in (Mobile) so it gives me extra incentive to pull for him Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzie Ball Posted August 8, 2008 Author Share Posted August 8, 2008 Steven made his first pro start today (08/07/08) throwing five shutout innings, allowing just the one hit, issuing three walks and striking out five. Some select statistics through his first four career outings: 2.08 ERA, 1.08 WHIP, 11.08 K/9, 2.67 K/BB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzie Ball Posted May 24, 2009 Author Share Posted May 24, 2009 According to assistant GM Rick Hahn Upchurch has been pitching in extended spring training and will be assigned to the Great Falls Voyagers when their season starts in around a months time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzie Ball Posted September 14, 2009 Author Share Posted September 14, 2009 (edited) Regular season over and it was a disappointing one for Upchurch: Team League W L ERA G GS CG SHO SV IP H R ER HR BB SO GO/AO AVG BRI APP 3 10 6.95 13 13 1 0 0 66 94 53 51 8 17 42 2.20 .338 Things to remain positive about: • Youth • Ground ball rate • Strikeout to walk ratio 2.47/1 • 4.48 FIP (not great but much better than his 6.95 ERA) Edited September 15, 2009 by Ozzie Ball Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthSideSox72 Posted May 10, 2012 Share Posted May 10, 2012 Since OB has disappeared... Upchurch is repeating Kanny in 2012, his 5th year in the system. Results are less than stellar this year: 16 H and 8 BB in 14 IP, only 10 K, 4.50 ERA, .291 AvgA. He's likely organizational filler at this point. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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