Fast-tracking Odorizzi?

[wibadgers23]

Anybody think the Brewers will fast-track Odorizzi like they did Gallardo? Looking at Gallardo's minor league history, I see that he pitched in low-A West Virginia for all of 2005 (his first full season). Then in 2006, he split time between BC and Huntsville. In 2007, he made it to Milwaukee after pitching 13 games in Nashville. Will Odorizzi follow a similar path or is too early to tell?

[dadofandrew]

His numbers are good enough to be aggressive with him. They'll watch his innings, but if he dominates, they'll challenge him.

[TheCrew07]

Odorizzi will stay in WI this year I would think, they'll bump up his IP over 100. Next year I see him getting the bump halfway through the season if he performs to AA, starting the following year in AA with a bump to AAA to finish the season. Once he hits AA if he's called up as an injury replacement he could conceivably perform well enough that he wouldn't come back down.

 

The guy that already has enough IP and is performing well is Heckathorn, he could see a bump up to A+ before the season is out. A 30 inning bump in his IP would put him right where Rivas finished last season. I wouldn't have guessed I'd be willing to move him faster than Arnett given their scouting reports, but he's pitched pretty well, though I'm surprised he's not striking more batters out.

[HiAndTight]

I was actually thinking the same thing about him. He is about as close to a Gallardo like pitcher as you can get. Similar velocity, both came up with 4 good pitchers they can throw for strikes, both are very good athletes. Odorizzi could end up with more velocity as he fills out a bit.

This doesn't mean he'll be anything like Gallardo mind you, just that his repertoire is similar. We have to see how he responds to adversity and get more info before we compare he and Gallardo's maturity and temperament which is what set Yo apart.

 

He doesn't seem like he's truly being challenged in Low A right now. I'd like to see him moved up around the ASB and think there's a good chance he will if he continues to pitch as he has. If that happens, I could see an assignment to AA to start the year next year, probably spending a full year in AA, and then AAA until he's needed...as long as that's not before the end of may.....for obvious reasons.

[paul253]

I'd like to see him moved up at the break. He is already in his third season with the club isn't he? At this point, what harm would it do? It would open up a spot so some other of these Wisconsin pitchers can get more starts.