Skip to main content

ProspectNation 2011: #9 Jesse Biddle- LHP

Last year's first round draft pick, Jesse Biddle, moved up the Phillies' prospect rankings in a hurry once he debuted in the pros. The highly regarded left-handed hurler was the Phils' target from the jump in last season's amateur draft.

Biddle, a Philadelphia native and life-long Phillies fan, has had the goal of pitching for the Phillies since he was 12 years old. And it is an ambition that Biddle's always taken seriously, as he wants baseball to be his life.

After he began getting attention in high school and received visits from scouts that represented other professional organizations, Biddle remained a Phillies fan, attending World Series games in both 2008 and 2009. Biddle cites another Phillies number 1 draft choice, current starting lefty pitcher Cole Hamels, as someone he looked up to prior to signing his first pro contract.

"I went to game 5 of the 2008 World Series, where Cole Hamels pitched in the rain. It was the game that got delayed, the two-parter. I went to both parts. I have to say, it was one of the most incredible moments of my life. I saw him, and I saw the way he handled it and the way he won MVP and I just thought, 'That's what I want to do.' It was incredible," Biddle said in an interview last week.

As a senior in high school, at Philadelphia's Germantown Friends School, Biddle went 9-2 with a save and a 1.06 ERA. Even more impressive, Biddle struck out an astounding 140 batters in 59 1/3 innings.

Prior to the draft, Biddle committed to play for the University of Oregon. However, faced with the opportunity to fulfill a dream that he'd had since little league, Biddle decided to sign with the Phillies rather than attend college. He weighed his options and was confident that he could handle professional baseball, so the decision was easy.

Now 19 years old, Biddle's best pitch is his fastball which has some solid movement and reaches the mid-90's. Biddle also throws a curveball that will improve as he throws it more in the minor leagues. He had gotten away from using the curve, despite his high comfort level with it, after some scouts had told him it might hurt his draft position. He began using a slider as his breaking pitch. The Phillies, however, like Biddle's curve and he has brought it back to his pitch repertoire in place of the slider. Also in the mix is a change up that Biddle says he will work hard to improve, as he didn't use it much in high school, where a slower pitch would only have helped opposing batters' timing.

The 6'4", 245 pounder, Biddle, began his career with the Gulf Coast League Phillies, where he posted a 3-1 record and a 4.32 ERA with a complete game shutout and 41 strike outs in 33 1/3 innings (9 starts). Prior to the GCL playoffs, Biddle was promoted and he wrapped up his first pro season with 3 starts as a member of the low Class A Williamsport Crosscutters. In those games, Biddle went 1-0 and held opponents to a .152 batting average. One statistic of concern with the Cutters, though, was his strike out to walk ratio...9 K's, 11 walks in 10 1/3 innings.

The transition, from high school competition to rookie league match ups, wasn't as difficult as Biddle expected. Although, he feels the umpires and their smaller strike zones were the biggest thing he needed to adjust to. As Biddle gains more experience, high walk totals should be a thing of the past.

Expect Biddle to see action as a member of the Class A Lakewood BlueClaws in the South Atlantic League this coming season. It's not a lock that Biddle will begin the season on the defending league champs' opening day roster. The Phillies' method of holding back younger talent at extended spring training, during April, proved extremely successful for the likes of Julio Rodriguez and Jonathan Singleton in 2010. Jesse Biddle may follow suit this year as a player who waits until May to make his debut with Lakewood.

______________________________________________________________________

You can follow PhoulBallz.com on Twitter by clicking HERE.

Connect with PhoulBallz.com on Facebook by clicking HERE.

Comments

I love his quotes about watching the Championship game(s). Great post, thanks!
Jay Floyd said…
Yeah, he's definitely going to be a guy that Phillies phans love.

Just knowing that he used to watch games among the masses and actually be in the CBP crowd cheering the same way everyone else does with win him a TON of extra adoration from the people.

Popular posts from this blog

PhoulBallz Interview: BlueClaws OF Justin Crawford

Justin Crawford w/ junior reporter Evan At the age of 19, outfielder Justin Crawford has played his way into the conversation of being considered as one of baseball's top prospects. The son of four-time MLB All-Star Carl Crawford, Justin has looked every bit as impressive as his position as the 17th overall draft selection last year would have most fans thinking he should be.  He opened the season with Class A Clearwater where, in 69 games, he notched a .344/.399/.478 slash line.  And since mid-August when he was promoted to Class A Advanced Jersey Shore, the younger Crawford has posted a .300/.364/.440 line.  He's also stolen 44 bases in 52 attempts overall. And while the BlueClaws enter the final week of the regular season 1/2 game out of first place in their division, I spoke with Justin Crawford about the team's hopes of making the postseason for the first time since 2018. I also asked Justin about the similarities and differences between his skillset and his father'

Jersey Shore clinches playoff berth on final day of regular season

Ottto Kemp, image- Jay Floyd With an extra-inning victory over first-half division champions Hudson Valley on Sunday, the Class A Advanced Jersey Shore BlueClaws clinched the team's first playoff appearance since 2018, winning the second-half division title. Key performers in the BlueClaws' clincher were righty hurler Jason Ruffcorn, who threw three innings of relief to earn the victory and third baseman Otto Kemp, notched three hits, a walk, two stolen bases and plated the game winning run in the 11th inning on a sacrifice fly.  On top of that, Kemp, who turned 24-years-old on Saturday, made an absolute game-saving defensive play to help the club hold their lead in the bottom of the 11th frame. One of Jersey Shore's most consistent performers all season long has been right-handed reliever Cam Wynne.  The Phillies' 20th round draft pick in 2021 out of Nebraska.  In 34 appearances, one start, the 24-year-old tallied a 1-1 record with one save, a 2.44 ERA and a .190 batti

RHP Pipkin headed to AFL after hot August

After completing what was easily the best month of his career, righty hurler Dominic Pipkin is ready to face the tough competition of the prominent Arizona Fall Leage.   Pipkin, who was the Phillies' 9th round draft selection in 2018, has had moderate success in his five years as a pro, posting a 4.93 ERA, a 7.6 K/9 mark and a .260 batting average against mostly at the lower levels on the minors. After missing time this year with an unspecified ailment, the six-foot-four 170-pounder proved to be healthy as he dominated AA competition in nine appearances with the Reading Fightin Phils during August.  Pipkin's impressive production resulted in a 1-0 record with a save and a 0.96 ERA while striking out eight and walking three in 9 1/3 innings. The California native says his efforts to improve have helped him touch 100 MPH on the radar gun, while his fastball velocity is mostly around 96 MPH.   Pipkin's arsenal includes that improved fastball as well as a slider while his curve