The only uncertainty surrounding Robert Tyler’s future in baseball has long been which pro team would pick him.
After being selected 38th overall Thursday night in the MLB Draft by the Colorado Rockies, Tyler now has a much clearer direction. He has until July 15 to sign with the organization. Considering Georgia’s rocky state and the amount of talent expected to leave the program this off season, Tyler is more than likely out the door.
What is unsure now, though, is whether Tyler’s presumed final season at Georgia hurt his standing as a starting pitcher.
Tyler was exceptional as a freshman, as he tossed 80 2/3 innings, held opponents to a .199 batting average and finished with a 2.68 earned run average. The next season wasn’t so kind to him.
In Georgia’s eighth game of 2015, Tyler strained his pitching arm and missed 39 contests. He impressed once he returned from the injury and was poised to have a strong 2016 season. And though he looked good a few times throughout the year, including his near no-hitter on April 1, Tyler battled command issues with his fastball for most of the season.
He was roughed up to the tune of 38 earned runs allowed, which matched his total from his freshman and sophomore seasons combined. Tyler’s changeup was lethal, helping him strike out 89 hitters. That mark was 14th-best among Southeastern Conference pitchers.
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Even in his roughest outings, Tyler still had an inning or two where he looked dominant. His fastball can reach near triple digits, after all, so not every batter can hit it even when Tyler can’t place it exactly where he wants.
Which is why he may be best suited as a relief pitcher.
Tyler’s fastball and changeup combination is an asset any team could use in the middle innings of tight contests. Any of the Rockies’ minor league managers could use Tyler out of the bullpen to keep games close.
Taking that approach would keep Tyler healthy and play to his strengths. He could come in slinging his fastball around the plate (hopefully for him after his starting pitcher had already gotten the opposition discouraged) and keep things rolling smoothly. If he faces a team that hits the fastball particularly well – or, one day down the road, plays in hitter-friendly Coors Field – then Tyler can lean on his changeup to keep him out of trouble.
As a reliever, he can do all that knowing he’s not expected to pitch seven-plus innings. He was more effective in short bursts anyway last season.
One must also consider the Rockies’ exceptional crop of pitchers. Starting pitcher Jon Gray was ranked in the top 40 of BaseballProspectus.com, MLB.com and Baseball America’s top prospects lists prior to the 2016 season. He’s already with the Major League club.
The talented Jeff Hoffman, Tyler Anderson and Ryan Carpenter are all young, too, and will compete for starting spots, so the Rockies aren’t exactly hurting in the pitching department.
Colorado’s collection of starting pitching talent alone means Tyler will need to make big strides in his development once he gets to the Minor Leagues if he wants any chance of getting a starting nod. And he may very well make those strides.
Of course, this is all assuming he remains with the Rockies organization throughout his entire career. Tyler may end up being traded to a team more in need of his services, which in turn could shake up his potential role.
Tyler’s velocity never waned and his other pitches, including the curveball, are all reliable. Professional-grade coaching could potentially get Tyler’s control problems in check and bring out the best of him.
But until that happens, it appears his easiest path to reach the MLB runs through the bullpen.