Mound Talk

BACKGROUND AND STATS

Cole Rohrbough was a draft-and-follow taken in the 22nd round of the 2006 draft by the Atlanta Braves. The Western Nevada Community College alum certainly made a splash in his first season of professional baseball.

Rohrbough stands at 6-foot-3 and weighs 205 pounds. He’s a left-handed pitcher with good stuff and has shown good results in limited professional innings.

Rorhbough spent time with Atlanta’s Rookie League affiliate, Danville and Low-A, Rome this season. At Danville, he threw 33.1 innings striking out 58 and walking just eight. He allowed 20 hits, only four of which were for extra bases. 83% of his batters faced ended via a strikeout or groundball.

After his promotion to Rome, Rorhbough slowed down a bit. In 28 innings, Rohrbough struck out 38 and walked 12. He allowed just 13 hits but eight of those were for extra bases.

PITCHES

Rohrbough throws three pitches all of which have at least plus-potential. He has the ability to throw all of his pitches for strikes, making them even more effective. He has good command. He throws all his pitches from the same arm slot and is deceptive in his delivery.

His fastball sits in the low 90s with plus movement. From a lefty, this can be a very devastating pitch. His fastball could be a plus pitch for him if he can continue to work on his control.

His change up is slightly above average. It lacks a real sharpness to it. It comes at hitters looking like a fastball with the same arm speed as his fastball.

Rohrbough’s best pitch is a knuckle curve. Most of his success is derived from this pitch. It’s his most consistent pitch and he controls it better than his other pitches.

INTANGIBLES

Rohrbough has a good pitching knowledge. Though he’s been on a strict pitch count this season, Rohrbough has taken a great attitude toward pitching. He has a great baseball mind.

FUTURE

Rohrbough needs time to improve his control and keep working against better hitters. Though everything is a small sample size, his XBH% in Low-A is concerning. Atlanta should give him the opportunity to start in High-A next season and give him the opportunity to move up if he succeeds.

Rohrbough has the stuff to become a #2 pitcher if he can put everything together and continue to improve.