2011 Stats (AA Akron): 9-12, 4.31, 1.23 WHIP, .269 OBA, 1.8 BB/9, 6.9 K/9
The first left-handed pitcher on our countdown is a starter. So, how is he this far down the list? Well, that's mostly because I have already described his two best attributes. Packer, while athletic, is in no way overpowering. His fastball runs in the 90-92 range, complimented by a middle of the road slider and a curveball that has not developed quickly enough to enable notable success. Matt's best metric is his control. In eating 169.1 innings in 2011, he walked just 33, while fanning 129. The salient truth is that a lot of balls get put in play against Packer. He allowed 16 home runs, which is not too bad and the 1.23 is not an issue. The problem is that Matt is inconsistent. He had an awful June (0-3, 10.17), but finished strong (6-3, 2.78, .236 OBA after the All-Star Break). This is likely due to the inability to repeat his delivery that led to a sub-par senior season at UVA. Packer then dropped to the 32nd round and has bounced between the bullpen and the rotation ever since. He was projected to earn a promotion to AAA in 2011, but that didn't happen until the post-season and he never made it to the hill. Given the depth of starting pitching in the organization, Matt will have to earn that call-up, rather than simply being next in line. He throws the ground balls (1.71 GO/AO) that the Tribe brass likes, drawing comparison to former rotation members Jeremy Sowers and Scott Lewis. Packer now has to produce. He needs to show a mastery of AA and move to Columbus quickly or risk getting lost as the next wave of young starters advance toward Major League readiness.
Up Next: C Alex Lavisky
