School: Kent State
Class: RS Junior
Height: 6′4″
Weight: 210 lbs.
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Pos: RHP
Hometown: Bryan, OH
High School: Bryan HS
Previously Drafted: 18th round, 2007 (New York Yankees)/7th round, 2004 (Detroit Tigers)
| Year | Team | IP | K/9 | BB/9 | K/BB | HR/9 | H/9 | RA | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2005 | Kent State | 49.1 | 4.8 | 3.7 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 15.4 | 7.88 | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2007 | Kent State | 42.0 | 6.6 | 6.4 | 1.0 | 0.2 | 6.6 | 4.93 |
Strengths:
Carpenter arguably has the best stuff of any pitcher, college or prep. His heavy fastball sits in the mid 90s and his curve and change show promise. He has also has an ideal pitcher’s body.
Weaknesses:
Carpenter’s injury history is extensive. He underwent Tommy John surgery in May 2005 and needed a second elbow operation in June 2006. Carpenter’s performance has been underwhelming. He walked only one fewer batter than he struck out and strikes out fewer batters than one might expect given his stuff. He’s a year older than other elite college prospects.
The Future:
We ranked Carpenter as a fourth-round prospect last year. If he improves his performance, he could be taken in the top fifteen picks.
