Rick Porcello Already Turning Heads

Well, that didn't take long. The Detroit Tigers have only had pitchers in Spring Training for a week and a half, but 20-year-old uber-prospect Rick Porcello is already wowing management and teammates. We already knew Porcello had a chance to reach the big club this season, and he's now off to a stellar start.

The Tigers' rotation figures to have Porcello competing with Dontrelle Willis, Zach Miner, and Nate Robertson for the fifth and final spot. If the early returns are any indication, there's no doubt which man has the highest upside for this year and beyond.

(When Porcello was pitching, Monday), Coaches caught each other's eyes. Hitters whispered, "Damn, that's filthy." And the only sound was the hiss of the baseball until it found leather.

You hate to rush a 20-year-old, but would it really be a crime to use him in the rotation instead of Willis, Miner, or Robertson at this point? Porcello brings mid-90s heat with good control and successfully mixes four pitches.

Last year, as a 19-year-old in his first year of pro baseball, Porcello put together a 2.66 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in high-A ball. That's a huge step for someone who came directly out of high school to make successfully. Even though the leap from the lower-level minors to the majors in one season would be astronomical, he's already shown his ability to leap steps -- having skipped college, rookie ball, and Low-A ball.

It's early, as Rick Knapp, Tigers' pitching coach, points out.