Overholt is underrated

You will not find the name of Phillies right-hander Patrick Overholt among the Philadelphia organization’s Top 30 prospects, as rated by Baseball America magazine.

In fact, at least 15 pitchers in the organization are rated higher than the R-Phils closer.

Yet, an argument could be made that the hard-throwing Overholt up to this point may be the most improved pitcher in the system, if not one of the most effective.

Go ahead, name a pitcher in the organization’s high minors who has been more impressive, more dominant, more consistent.

He has been touched for a run in just one of his first 10 outings. He owns a 1.54 ERA and a ridiculous .125 average against. He has struck out 14 batters in 11.2 innings. He has won his only decision and leads the team with five saves. Only his seven walks allowed is less than stellar.

For the Phillies organization, it is kind of like finding sunken treasure now that Overholt seems to be emerging.

Taken on the 22nd round in the June 2005 draft, Overholt was more a project than a prospect. A closer at Santa Clara University, the 24-year-old pitched out of the pen his first two years in the organization. His strikeout totals were impressive – 144 in 106 innings, and he allowed just 85 hits.

Which prompted the organization to make him a starter last season at Clearwater and Reading, where he struggled with consistency. He finished with a 10-15 record and a 4.90 ERA. He gave up far too many home runs (20) and his strikeout-walk ratio (110-73) suffered.

A failed experiment? A setback for Overholt? A miscalculation by the organization?

Actually, it was none of the above. The plan was to extend Overholt, give him more innings, which would help build arm strength – he had Tommy John surgery as a collegian in 2004 – and produce more repetitions, allowing him to upgrade his three pitches.

The plan seems to have worked.

“I had never started before,” Overholt said. “I was kind of excited about it. Being a starter was all new to me. (But) I definitely think it benefited me. I think I’m a little more consistent, and I learned so much about how to pitch.”

At times last year the Utah native seemed to be skiing uphill; this year the ride down has been almost dizzying.

“I love being out there in the eighth, ninth inning, in a close game, runners on base, and it’s just you and the hitter,” said Overholt, assuming the attitude of a runway model. “I feel like it’s a good spot for me to be in. Whether you had a good day or a bad day, the next day you’re quick to forget. I love having a chance to pitch so many more games in a series rather than in a five-day rotation.”

So far he has been pitching as though he has a pocketful of Kryptonite in his pocket. When he unloads his 93-94 mph crackling fastball, smoke detectors could go off all around the ballpark. Add a sharp-breaking hard slider and an increasingly reliable changeup, and you have to wonder why this kid isn’t rated higher in the system.

“I don’t think of that stuff at all,” Overholt said about his ranking in the organization. “If I would have to say, I would say it (the ratings) has motivated me. Obviously the Phillies have a lot of depth and a lot of good pitchers in the organization. I don’t think about it; I don’t worry about it. That is the last thing on my mind. I’m more of a prove-myself-out-on-the-mound type of person.”

Pitching coach Tom Filer had never seen Overholt in the role he has embraced today. He is impressed.

“I’ve noticed he’s got a ferocious type look to him when he’s pitching late in the game,” Filer said. “Last year he learned a lot about himself and what he can do. He’s kinda putting it to use right now. I see a lot of things we worked on last year coming out right now.”

Filer says Overholt reminds him of Ricky Bottalico, the former all-star closer in Philadelphia. A former big-leaguer himself, Filer has no doubt Overholt will soon be pitching to big-league hitters.

“He just has to continue doing what he’s doing right now,” Filer said, “because I like what I see. The ball is coming out of his hand so well. His fastball is a plus pitch, so he’s in a plus-plus situation with his slider backing it up. That makes him tough to hit.”

Filer sees Overholt in the role of an eighth-inning setup man in the big leagues. Which is OK with the pitcher.

“I’m the type of guy, whenever I get the ball, whatever inning it is, I’m going to pitch the same way,” Overholt said.

Which, right now, is first-rate.

This story was posted on April 30, 2008