Trevor Reckling is a left-handed pitcher

Pitcher

In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...

 in the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are a professional baseball team based in Anaheim, California, United States. The Angels are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The "Angels" name originates from the city in which the team started, Los Angeles...

 organization.

Career

In 2009, Reckling had a successful season in the minor league system. Originally, the organization expected to have him in the Class A California League

California League

The California League is a Class A Advanced minor league baseball league which operates throughout the state of California. Before 2002, it was classified as a "High-A" league, indicating its status as a Class A league with the highest level of competition within that classification, and the fifth...

, but after the death of pitcher Nick Adenhart

Nick Adenhart

Nicholas James Adenhart was an American right-handed baseball starting pitcher who played two seasons in Major League Baseball for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim...

, Reckling was needed at Double-A Arkansas

Arkansas Travelers

The Arkansas Travelers, also known informally as The Travs, are a Minor League Baseball team based in Little Rock, Arkansas. The team, which plays in the Texas League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Major League club....

 when Sean O'Sullivan

Sean O'Sullivan (baseball)

Sean Daniel O'Sullivan is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Kansas City Royals.-Professional career:...

 was promoted to Triple-A Salt Lake

Salt Lake Bees

The Salt Lake Bees are a Pacific Coast League minor league baseball team based in Salt Lake City, Utah. The Bees serve as the Triple-A affiliate of Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. They play their home games at Spring Mobile Ballpark, known to fans as the Apiary, which was...

. Reckling made the All-Star team, the Futures Game, and played for Team USA at the end of the season. MLB.com picked Reckling as the Angels organization's Pitcher of the Year, saying, "What didn't the young lefty do? He turned 20 in May, yet led the organization in ERA

Earned run average

In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...

 (2.68) and was second in strikeout

Strikeout

In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....

s (122). His 2.93 ERA and 106 K's in the Texas League

Texas League

The Texas League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the South Central United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The league was founded in 1888 and ran through 1892...

 were good for fourth and sixth in the Double-A circuit, respectively. Then, for good measure, he went 2–0 with a 0.69 ERA in three starts for Team USA during its IBAF World Cup gold medal run."

Reckling was ranked the fourth best prospect in the Angels' organization after the 2009 season by Baseball Prospectus

Baseball Prospectus

Baseball Prospectus is an organization that publishes a website, BaseballProspectus.com, devoted to the sabermetric analysis of baseball. BP has a staff of regular columnists and provides advanced statistics as well player and team performance projections on the site...

writer Kevin Goldstein as well as by Baseball America

Baseball America

Baseball America is a magazine which covers baseball at every level, with a particular focus on up-and-coming players in high school, college, Japan, and the minor leagues. It is currently published in the form of a bi-weekly newspaper, five annual reference book titles, a weekly podcast, and a...

. Goldstein noted Reckling could force his way into a rotation shot by 2011, as a possible third starter, and could start the 2010 season as high as Triple-A. After former Angels ace John Lackey

John Lackey

John Derran Lackey is an American professional baseball pitcher with the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball. Lackey was drafted by the Anaheim Angels in 1999 and helped the franchise win its first World Series title in 2002, which was his first season in the major leagues...

 signed with the Boston Red Sox

Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...

, the Orange County Register reporter Mark Whicker went so far as to say that Reckling "should get to Anaheim at some point in 2010."

Pitch repertoire

Reckling's fastball has average velocity but has strong sinking action. His changeup is projected to be effective as an 'out' pitch. Because of the strong break on his pitches and a complicated delivery, Reckling often struggles with control.

External links