Amir Garrett’s First Career Start Reminded me of Something

Not going to let this one go without at least mentioning: Amir Garrett was very, very good in his big league debut on Friday night in St. Louis. Before we look more into the start, here’s what Baseball Prospectus had to say about the kid as far as a scouting report. We only do this for the big time guys joining the MLB fraternity.

Scouting Report:  Amir Garrett clocked in at no. 31 on our 2017 Top 101, which places him at the top of the very long “potential-future-mid-rotation-starter” tier that gives me fits when I am trying to write the blurbs for the Annual. Garrett’s stuff is exactly what you would effect from that profile. He has a plus fastball that touches the mid-90s and features late arm-side run. There’s a low-80s slider that flashes plus due to its late tilt. There’s also the usual question marks. His changeup is below average and there are command issues due to some crossfire in his mechanics and a slingy arm action. He’s a premium athlete, and one with less mound experience than your usual 24-year-old major-league debutante. So we are banking on there being more in the tank here, which is why he ended up at the top of those maybe-future-third-starters.

The Reds shut the Cardinals out on Friday night. When I saw Garrett working early on, I knew the Reds were going to win the game and no matter how good Mike Leake was; he wasn’t going to be able to match the talented youngster.

Garrett went six shutout innings, walking two and striking out four. He allowed just two hits and showed astonishing command and polish for a big league debut.

It reminded me of; but was not exactly like, Johnny Cueto’s big league debut all the way back on April 3rd of 2008 against the Arizona DiamondBacks.

Cueto showed the world what was to come that day, striking out ten hitters and allowing just one hit which was a Justin Upton home run over seven innings in a 3-2 Reds win. I knew then, like I know now; that Cueto was special as Amir Garrett should be if he’s blessed with the same health.

Also in this game Michael Lorenzen worked a scoreless inning for the hold and Raisel Iglesias gave the Reds a 32-pitch effort and two-inning save; looking dominant with a high-90’s sinker.

For all there is to be negative about the Cincinnati Reds right now, Garrett is one of those reasons to keep them on your television if he’s on the bump.

The Reds got their runs on a Joey Votto double – career base hit number 1410 – and a Scott Schebler solo shot.