COREY THURMAN

 


Reliever/Starting Pitcher
Toronto Blue Jays

 

Bats: Right Throws: Right
Height: 6’1”
Weight: 215 lbs. 
Born: November 5, 1978, in Augusta, Georgia, U.S.A.

 
MAJOR LEAGUE SEASON PITCHING STATISTICS:

 YEAR

 ERA W L G IP H R ER BB K HR BAA
2002 4.37 2 3 43 68 65 34 33 45 56 11 .248


PROFILE:
Corey Lamar Thurman graduated from Texas High School in Texarkana, Texas in 1996. At the time, he was rated the 78th best prospect in the nation by Baseball America. He began the 2001 season with Wichita of the Class-AA Texas League, where he ended up going 13-5 with a 3.37 ERA in 25 starts. He finished tied for third in the Texas League in wins that season. In addition, he was one of the toughest pitchers to hit in the league, as evidenced by his .207 batting average against mark. In 2002, Thurman was acquired by the Blue Jays from the Kansas City Royals in the Rule 5 draft, where he quickly made the leap from Double-A starter to big league reliever (a move that we are sure the Royals regret). His 43 appearances last season for the Blue Jays surpassed Jim Acker’s 38 in 1983, which established a new Blue Jay team record for a Rule 5 draftee. He also made one start against the White Sox last season. Corey throws three pitches: a four-seam fastball, changeup, and curveball. He possesses excellent command of this fastball and changeup, but has trouble often finding the plate with his curve. At this point in time, the changeup is his best pitch. In addition, he is in the process of developing a slider. He also needs to cut down on the number of gopher balls he surrenders. Thurman pitches with an exaggerated leg kick and three-quarter throwing motion. He fields his position okay; however, runners often take advantage of his slow delivery to the plate.

FINAL ASSESSMENT:
Corey Thurman was very solid in middle relief last season for the Blue Jays. However, the Blue Jays envision his future as a starter, where he could someday be a number two-type starter. With this being said, because he still needs to refine his curve and slider, he could return to Triple-A Syracuse next season, now that the Blue Jays don’t have to worry about Kansas City reclaiming him. With some refinements though, Corey could be a very nice pickup for any NABL club that needs middle relief help now and possibly a good, young starter down the road. We see him going in the very early middle rounds of the upcoming NABL draft. We feel that Corey could be one of the sleeper picks of the draft and a real diamond in the rough; he simply needs to develop his curve and slider more, and learn to harness his control of these two pitches.