The POTD focuses on Kyle Drabek and his Cy Young Award winning father. They were spotlighted on JaysVision in between innings of Thursday's game against Texas.
Drabek was acquired from Philadelphia along with catcher Travis d'Arnaud and outfielder Michael Taylor. Taylor was dealt to Oakland for first baseman Brett Wallace, who was flipped to Houston for outfielder Anthony Gose.
Drabek earned the ranking after winning 12 of 15 decisions between Clearwater and Reading with an earned run average of 3.19 in 2009. He struck out 150 batters in 158 innings, showing no ill-effects of the Tommy John elbow surgery that cut short his 2007 and 2008 campaigns.
Drabek pitched at a Houston-area high school, The Woodlands High, and went 13-0 with a 0.92 ERA in his senior season. According to Baseball America's 2010 Prospect Handbook, the 22 year-old right-hander throws a fastball in the 88-93 mile per hour range with a power curveball that is rated a 70 on the 20-80 scouting scale. His changeup is his third pitch. If you want to look at Drabek's pitches and mechanics, click here.
Kyle's father is Doug Drabek, a 155 game winner in the major leagues who enjoyed a 13 year career with the Yankees, Pirates, Astros, White Sox and Orioles.
Kyle Drabek was named the Eastern League's Pitcher of the Year Award after a 14-9 season and a 2.92 ERA. He struck out 132 batters over 162 innings with the New Hampshire Fisher Cats.
Doug Drabek won the 1990 Cy Young Award after compiling a record of 22-6 with a 2.78 ERA to help lead the Pirates to the first of three consecutive National League East titles.
Kyle Drabek is shown wearing #35 in the picture on the right, which currently belongs to Lyle Overbay. However, he will be wearing #4 when his makes his major league debut against the Orioles. That's the same number he wore during his time in Reading last year. He wore his dad's #15 with New Hampshire this season but that number is taken by Fred Lewis. I'm surprised he didn't choose #32! :D
Hopefully, he'll enjoy more success than the last pitcher to wear a single digit for the Jays - Josh Towers, who wore #7. Best of luck to Kyle Drabek as he takes on Brad Bergesen in a 7:05 start at Camden Yards. You can bet this guy will be watching!! Maybe not, it's on Sportsnet 1!