Future Redbirds

Firstinning.com has relaunched it’s new and improved website. Browsing around I found out some interesting facts about some of the Cardinal farmhands, and when I came across Palm Beach’s bullpen ace Luke Gregerson’s numbers I was pretty surprised to see how stout some of his peripherals are.

Check it out:

• He has struck out 32.5% of the batters he’s faced, good for 2nd in the league.
• He has held opponents to a .200 BABIP.
• His ground ball rate is 68%, good for 1st in the FSL.
• He has yet to allow a HR.
• His FIP (fielding independent pitching) is 1.97, good for 2nd in the league.
• The only negative I see is he’s walked 10% of the batters he’s faced, but that’s not a completely awful.

Last season between Johnson City and State College he put up similar numbers. Pretty impressive for a 28th rounder from a small school (St. Xavier). Gregerson didn’t even pitch full time last season as a collegiate. With Jason Motte’s promotion to Springfield, Gregerson has moved into the closer’s role. I have no idea what his repertoire is, if any one’s seen him pitch please fill me on what’s making him so successful.