Fastball: 65 Command/Control: 60 Slider: 70 Delivery: 60 Changeup: 60 Parker has ranked No. 1 on this list for three straight years, but he almost didn't become a Diamondback. If the Royals had taken Josh Vitters with the second overall pick in the 2007 draft, the Cubs would have followed by selecting Parker. But Kansas City switched to Mike Moustakas on the day of the draft, Chicago went for Vitters and Arizona landed Parker with the ninth choice. He signed for 2.1M at the Aug. 15 deadline, too late to make his pro debut, and then jumped on the fast track. He began his pro career at low Class A South Bend in 2008 and reached Double-A Mobile by May of the following year. Parker had no trouble handling Double-A hitters as a 20-year old and ranked as the Southern League's top pitching prospect. Elbow tightness forced him to the sidelines in late July, however. After Skipping planned stints with Team USA and in Arizona Fall League in an attempt to recover with rest, he had Tommy John surgery in October 2009 and sat out the Entire 2010 season. After rehabbing at the Diamondbacks' Tucson complex early in the year, Parker spent the second half with Mobile, throwing side sessions and simulated games. He didn't pitch in a real game until instructional league. Parker appears to be back to full strength during instructional league, with more confidence and better mechanics than he had before he blew out his elbow. His delivery was smooth before he got hurt, however, and wasn't blamed for his injury. Parker has a quick arm that easily generates above-average velocity. During instructional league, his fastball sat at 94-95 mph and touched 97. His streamlined mechanics give him good fastball command as well. Despite the quality of his fastball, his slider is his best pitch. He throws it in the low 80s with nice tilt and two-plane depth, making it a true swing-and-miss pitch. Parker also throws an 80-83 mph changeup that was on its way to becoming a plus pitch before he got hurt. He also has an effective mid-70s curveball he uses mostly as a show-me pitch. Parker has the stuff to become an ace. The track record for pitchers coming back from Tommy John in encouraging, and from all indications, he'll return as strong as before. Arizona hasn't ruled out the possibility that he could break camp in the big league rotation with an impressive spring training, and scouts who saw him in instructional league say he's ready to pitch in the majors. It's more likely that the Diamondbacks will be more cautious, having him start 2011 in Double-A and limiting him to 130-140 innings in his first year back. Regardless, Parker soon will be a key cog at the front of their rotation. --

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