They sat perched behind home plate–Section 22, Rows 5-10–armed with notepads, stopwatches and a collective look of astonishment.
Scouts from 10 major-league teams witnessed Mark Prior’s big-league debut Wednesday night at Wrigley Field along with 40,138 fans.
The rookie didn’t disappoint, striking out 10 Pittsburgh Pirates over six innings while allowing two runs on four hits and two walks. He earned his first victory in the Cubs’ 7-4 triumph. Antonio Alfonseca was credited with his seventh save.
Prior’s 10 strikeouts were the most by a Cubs rookie in his debut since the start of divisional play in 1969.
“I think he’s a real good young pitcher and I hope they send him [to the minors] before they play us,” White Sox Vice President Larry Monroe said, only half jokingly.
The Cubs and Sox face each other June 14-16 at Wrigley Field and again June 28-30 at Comiskey Park.
Monroe, a former pitcher who was the Sox’s No. 1 pick in 1974, was seated behind home plate with White Sox executive Roland Hemond, who judiciously declined to comment on the Cubs’ top draft pick last June.
“The kid has an outstanding arm and his command is good for a young pitcher,” said former big-league manager Jim Fregosi, scouting for the Atlanta Braves. “He looks like he is going to win a lot of games.”
The 6-foot-5-inch, 225-pound Prior draws comparisons from some observers to Hall of Fame pitcher Tom Seaver because of his strong legs and powerful upper thighs, from which he draws the strength to throw 90 m.p.h.-plus fastballs.
“I hate to put comparisons on young players, but Prior has very sound mechanics,” Fregosi said when asked if Prior reminded him of any veteran pitcher. “He will have an identity of his own. You won’t have to compare him with anybody else.”
Fred Nelson of Houston, Gary Tuck of Cleveland, Al Hargesheimer of Detroit and Ken Califano of Milwaukee were among other big-league scouts in attendance. Many of them had caught glimpses of Prior before Wednesday night.
Prior went 5-2 with a 2.29 ERA in nine games at Double-A West Tenn and Triple-A Iowa, striking out 79 while walking only 18.
“I saw him in spring training and he was a good-looking pitcher [then],” said Braves scout Scott Nethery. “But he seems like to me he has shown a little more improvement with his breaking ball. Spring training is spring training and this is the real deal.”
Prior threw 103 pitches Wednesday, 65 for strikes, before Cubs manager Don Baylor lifted him for a pinch-hitter in the bottom of the sixth.
“Prior has really sound mechanics and he can locate his fastball and he will continue to get better and better, I imagine,” Nethery said. “He looks like a workhorse. He is going to go 200-plus innings probably a year. He is going to be a fine pitcher . . . should be. If he stays healthy he should be real good when it’s all said and done.”
Several Cubs rookie pitchers have had impressive big-league debuts and not-so-impressive careers, including Jim Bullinger (complete-game one-hitter in 1992), Amaury Telemaco (seven innings of one-hit ball in 1996) and Jeff Pico (four-hit shutout victory in 1988).
“It’s the first of a long career for [Prior] and he seems to have handled himself fine in the environment,” Nethery said.
Wednesday’s victory was only the Cubs’ third in their last 11 games.
“It’s unfair to expect [Prior] will dominate in the major leagues the way he has in the minors,” Cubs president and general manager Andy MacPhail said Saturday after announcing Prior’s promotion. “But it’s pretty evident that he’s ready, and it’s pretty evident that we can use him here.”
Inside the numbers (through Wednesday)
HITTING
Chris Stynes’ batting average .191
It has taken a mighty tumble since April 21 when he was batting .300. Stynes is 1-for-28 since then, dragging his average below the Mendoza line. He’s hitting .083 (3-for-33) at home.
Fred McGriff’s RBIs 27
McGriff finally is showing signs of life from his bat. He has driven in five runs in his last four games, putting him within one RBI of Sammy Sosa for the team lead.
PITCHING
Jon Lieber’s runs allowed 22
Lieber has limited the opposition by shutting down the running game. Of the 43 baserunners he has allowed, not one has attempted to steal a base. Only San Francisco’s Kirk Rueter has done a better job (0-for-54) with the running game.
Ron Mahay’s hits allowed 10
You wouldn’t know it from his earned-run average, but Mahay has been tough on opposing hitters. Lefties are just 4-for-24 (.167) against him and right-handed hitters are 6-for-29 (.207). But Mahay has been hurt by walks and four home runs allowed.
Pitch by pitch
Here’s a look at Mark Prior’s first start in the major leagues.
By Johnny Rosenstein, Tribune staff reporter.
Chicago Tribune.
See microfilm for complete graphic.
