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Sports

Is There Another Ace on the Horizon?

A big right-hander is impressing early this season in Clearwater.

Editor's Note: For a related story on Jon Pettibone, for a May 26 article from the Clearwater Patch.

The rich are about to get richer.  There is a young man currently toiling for the High A Clearwater Threshers who is not that far removed from joining the Philadelphia Phillies' elite staff.  His ETA is approximately 2013 and he will be bringing an impressive resume and a full arsenal to Citizens Bank Park. 

His name is Jon Pettibone and he is a slender looking, but solid 6’5 200 lb right-hander.  Pettibone was born in Placentia, California on July 19, 1990, which makes him all of 20years old. Jon was drafted by the Phillies in the third round of the 2008 amateur draft, and was the 110th overall pick.

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As impressive as that appears, Pettibone would have gone a lot higher in the draft if it wasn't widely assumed that he would accept a scholarship to attend the University of Southern California. However, the Phillies, with an assist from San Diego native Cole Hamels, stepped in and coaxed the youngster to sign with them for a $500,000 bonus. Hamels called the young hurler at home and discussed among other topics, the business of baseball. 

Upon inking his deal, young Pettibone was sent to the Phillies Gulf Rookie League team, where he appeared in only one game, pitching one inning. In 2009, Jonathan was placed with the New York-Pennsylvania league’s short-season Williamsport Crosscutters, and at the tender age of 18, went 2-4, with a 5.35 ERA, walking 16 and striking out 36 in 35.1 innings.

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There was improvement in 2010, with the Lakewood BlueClaws of the Class-A South Atlantic League, as Pettibone registered an 8-6 record and a 3.49 ERA, allowing 114 hits in 131.1 innings, walking 41 and striking out 84.

It was this season, 2011, that Pettibone really began to show his full potential, however.  Currently with the High A Clearwater Threshers, Pettibone has developed into the best right-handed pitcher in the league. Jonathan, through games of May 28, has a league leading 1.75 ERA, while compiling a 5-3 record, allowing 49 hits in 61.2 innings, walking 12 batters, one intentionally, and striking out 47. His WHIP is a miniscule 0.99.

Pettibone has displayed maturity that belies his youth, as he attacks the strike zone consistently while trusting his defense!  This is a rare trait in such a young pitcher, since youngsters at that level are often shy about “pitching to contact.” 

Last season at Lakewood, Jonathan’s pitching coach, Steve Schrenk, worked with him to improve his velocity and arm extension. Pettibone was obviously a great student, as his fastball topped out at 94mph during the playoffs in September. In fact, Jonathan showed enormous improvement as the 2010 season progressed. 

In his initial 12 starts, Pettibone had a high ERA of 5.04 through the end of June. But his ERA in his last 12 starts was 2.37.  In the post-season of 2010, Jonathan continued to excel, as he defeated the Texas Rangers affiliate, the Hickory Crawdads, allowing only one hit in seven innings while striking out seven. He followed that playoff win with another over the Greenville Drive (Red Sox) with a strong five inning performance.  Mark Parent, a former major league catcher and manager of Lakewood in 2010 (currently the manager at Class AA, Reading), reported that Pettibone seems to get stronger as the game progresses, often throwing harder in the late innings.

Brian Mullen, a long time journalist who covers the Gulf Coast League assisted me with this article. Mullen, who knows the nuances and intricacies of minor league baseball, reported that Pettibone is all business on the mound. 

“Jonathan shows very little emotion on the mound and after blowing away the side, which he does frequently, just strides off the mound with his head down,” Mullen said. “Pettibone is a true professional.”

Pettibone arrived in the Phillies organization possessing a live four-seam fastball, a changeup with which he displays good arm speed, and a curve. The Phillies have added a slider and a two-seam fastball to his arsenal. 

The unusual aspect of adding a greater assortment of offerings is that the Phillies organization usually instructs their younger hurlers to add pitches much later in the process. However, since Pettibone has a smooth delivery which repeats itself consistently, the powers that be determined to hasten Jonathan’s progress. Entering last season, Baseball America did not list Pettibone as one of the top organizational prospects.  At the beginning of this season, Pettibone was ranked 18th.  He is ranked even higher in most scouts’ opinions, now. 

Jonathan also has major league bloodlines, as his father pitched briefly for the Minnesota Twins in 1983.  His dad, Jay (Harry Jonathan) actually played for Charlie Manuel in the minor leagues, almost thirty years ago.

Pettibone is on a fast track to the major leagues, which may very well put him in Reading and/or Lehigh Valley by the end of this season.

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