December 8, 2008

 

Throws: Left
Height/Weight: 6'0''/195
Birthday: 8/27/1984 (Age 24) 
Roster Status: Rule V Eligible after 2010 Season; Minor League Free Agent after 2013

Background: Ryan Falcon came to the Rangers as their 29th round draft pick in 2007 out of UNC Greensboro. Prior to attending UNCG, Falcon was a two-time all-state selection at Northern Durham High School in North Carolina, where he also excelled as a quarterback for the football team. Falcon graduation from Northern Durham in 2002, and headed to UNCG, where he was expected to make an immediate contribution. Falcon's 2003 freshman campaign was indeed quite a success for the college newcomer. In 9 starts and 7 relief appearances, Falcon managed a 3-3 record with a 3.69 ERA in 53.2 innings of work, striking out 52 and walking 19. He also allowed less than a hit an inning with 46 allowed, though he allowed 9 home runs. As part of the 2004 UNCG team, Falcon saw even more success. In 87 innings of work, Falcon had a 3.52 ERA, striking out 86 and walking just 17. He still allowed less than a hit an inning, having allowed 82, and he cut down his home runs allowed to 5. He was the Southern Conference's Pitcher of the Month in April of that year, but he ended his campaign with just a 2-6 record, the result of an anemic offense and some shaky defense. Falcon was expected to become an anchor in the UNCG rotation full-time in 2005 as a junior, but injuries held him back. He made 4 starts that resulted in an 0-1 record with a 5.40 ERA before succumbing to Tommy John surgery, missing the rest of the year. His lack of time on the mound prior to the injury meant he could be granted an extra year of eligibility in college, so the injury wasn't completely for loss. Falcon successfully returned from surgery in 2006, making 14 starts and a relief appearance. He finished with a 3-2 record and 4.34 ERA in 58 innings, striking out 45 and walking 14. He allowed 65 hits, 3 of which left the yard. UNCG was very cautious with Falcon for most of the year, and he was obviously going through a tough transition back to pitching. After being passed up in the 2006 draft by all teams, Falcon returned for his extra year of eligibility in 2007. He posted his best year yet, going 8-7 with a 2.93 ERA in 104.1 innings, striking out 84 and walking 16. He allowed just 94 hits, though 8 were home runs. The Spartans took the kid gloves off, and Falcon really succeeded. The Rangers gladly took Falcon with their 29th round pick (890th overall), and scout Jim Cuthbert signed him quickly.

Pitches: Falcon is what many would consider a junkballer. This means that his stuff isn't really Major League caliber. Unfortunately, I have to agree. Falcon's fastball normally sits in the mid-80s. No, that's not a typo. It's an eight. However, as evidenced by his consistently good walk numbers, his command of that fastball is immaculate. If you were to add maybe 7 miles an hour to his fastball range with that kind of command, you'd have an excellent pitcher. Even as it is, Falcon really pounds the strike zone with his fastball, and he has great success with it. Falcon's second pitch is a slider. There's not much info out there on the slider other than the fact that he throws it. The Blaze radio reporters were impressed with it, but that's to be taken with a grain of salt. It's an average pitch as it sits now, and I'm not sure there's much room for more. Falcon's last pitch is a changeup. It is mainly used to keep right-handed hitters off-balance, and his splits say it's working. Falcon did throw a curve in college, but I don't recall hearing about it in Bakersfield this year, so I assume it's been canned in favor of developing his slider. It's possible it's still in use, and I just missed it, but I doubt he still works with two breaking balls in the bullpen.

Professional Experience: Falcon signed quickly after the 2007 draft and was assigned to Spokane in the Northwest League. To the amazement of many, he went out and dominated the league. In 47 innings spread over 26 relief appearances, Falcon posted a 5-2 record with a 2.68 ERA, striking out 62 and walking just 6. He allowed only 39 hits, 2 of which went for home runs. He was named a Northwest League post-season all-star, an occurrence not expected by anybody 3 months prior. After such an amazing pro debut, 2008 was expected to be a year in which Falcon would either come back to reality or would prove himself a legitimate pro pitcher.

2008 Season: After a 2008 assignment with Bakersfield in the California League, many are still questioning Falcon's results. In 70.2 innings with Bakersfield (33 relief appearances, 1 spot start), Falcon posted a 6-2 record with a 3.69 ERA, striking out 58 and walking 17. He allowed 67 hits, 7 of which went for home runs, all of which added up to a .253 opponents' batting average. Lefties and righties hit nearly the same against Falcon, though lefties hit most of the home runs while with a lower batting average. All told, Falcon's 2008 was another great success, as he once again handled good pro hitting with his underwhelming stuff.

Future Outlook: Ryan Falcon has to be one of the more confusing prospects in the Ranger system, but in a good way. Despite having stuff that would drive most pitchers out of the pros after a single season, Falcon has excelled being all expectations. He continually gets quality young hitters out, and there's no reason to expect that to change. However, within a year, I expect us to know what we really have in Falcon. He's expected to start the season in the bullpen at Frisco, and the jump to AA is seen as the real marker for talent. Will he continue to succeed? My answer to that is yes. Falcon is blessed with exceptional command, probably the best command in the system, and he's not afraid to pound the strike zone against hitters. If he continues to keep righties off-balance at the plate, he's going to continue up the chain. I expect Falcon to be in Oklahoma City's bullpen by the end of the year. His home runs allowed are a little frightening, as is his fly ball tendency, but I don't think it will become debilitating. Expect Falcon to fight for one of the lefty spots in the 'pen in Spring Training 2010, and also expect good things to continue in the meantime. His ceiling is as a middle reliever that's not limited to facing lefties, but not anything greater than that.

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