It's been four years since Mark Prior threw a pitch in the major leagues, but he hopes to play at the highest level once again, according to Tracy Ringolsby of FOX Sports. Prior will work out at USC on Wednesday, when "most major league teams are expected to have a scout in attendance." Prior, still just 29, signed with the Padres last year, but didn't appear in a game and was handed his release a few months later.
Prior put together a college pitching career that few pitchers before (Ben McDonald) or since (Stephen Strasburg) have matched. Drafted second overall behind Joe Mauer in the 2001 draft, he soon became a key member of the Cubs' rotation. Prior pitched to a 2.43 ERA in 211.1 innings as a 22-year-old in 2003 before shoulder problems derailed his career.
Gotta hope he can Catch on, but there is ZERO Chance he stays Healthy.
Thanks for the insight. Here I thought he’s come in and crank out eight 225+ inning seasons and eventually be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Jeez, i knew Dusty Baker is notorious as an over-worker of his pitchers, but he really made Prior throw 211 innings when his previous high was about half of that?
? ur right he should have had one of his starting pitchers throw 4 innings or so a game that would work out well just look at how well Joba turned out
Really. Joba’s hitting the high 90s again. Are you really expecting him to pitch to a 0.38 every year?
I could care less how hard Joba is throwing was he a successful starter? No. Is he successful as of late out of the pen? No.
I could care less how hard Joba is throwing was he a successful starter? No. Is he successful as of late out of the pen? No.
No ur right it’s impossible to put an innings limit on any starter, especially a young starter. Unheard of!
just kidding
Just imagine what could have been with a combo of prior-wood. Maybe then the cubs may have a ring since the Paleolithic era.
I wish him the best, for every Mark Mulder that fails a Mark Prior gets a chance.
if he can show that he has like 70% of the stuff he had when he came into the bigs, he will easily get a contract from a team looking for pitching depth…ie the phillies…as a sox fan i wish him all the luck..and would not mind seeing him on the roster of the whitesox and get rid of randy williams….don cooper is on par with the guy in the STL with fixing pitchers and ozzie never over works his pitchers so maybe hopefully there is a whitesox scout there
Don Cooper is a douche and not on par with Dave Duncan. I really hope the White Sox wouldn’t try to add Prior as a bullpen arm.
Don Cooper is a douche and not on par with Dave Duncan. I really hope the White Sox wouldn’t try to add Prior as a bullpen arm.
It would be an awesome story if he can make it back. Whatever happens, I admire his efforts to continue working to get back on the mound. It’s been a long time since he’s been able to pitch anywhere. If he shows he can pitch at his tryout, someone will sign him.
I wish him well.
he could always try to make the move to closer…his stuff was nasty when he was healthy and that might make his value go up faster and keep him healthier longer
THIS GUY SEEMS LEGIT
Dear Andy MacPhail,
You drafted Mark Prior once (if I’m not mistaken) why not take a chance on him again. This time sans Dusty Baker for the love of God.
Love,
Jeff
I would not mind this former cub, all the O’s have left to lose is the first overall pick. The worse this could really do is secure that pick this year and next.
I hope the White Sox give him a try, with Don Cooper and Herm it might be worth a look.
Dumb.
Dumb.
The Reds could use some bullpen help, think Prior would be up for reuniting with his best friend Dusty Baker? haha!
The innings limit debate is one thing, but the pitch counts were ridiculous, and Dusty Baker, Larry Rothschild, and the rest of the Cubs organization that let that happen should be ashamed of themselves. Fortunately most are gone, but one last specter remains on the bench in Rothschild, who has presided over the collapse of what should have been the most promising young rotation in baseball yet still has a job. God knows who he has incriminating pictures of to survive ownership, GM, and managerial changes while the staff underachieves and racks up injuries and the team fails to develop any young pitching. (The latest quality young prospect, Randy Wells, has regressed with a year of Larry under his belt.) He did fix Carlos Silva, which I tend to view as an indictment on the staff of the Mariners more than anything else. But hey, I’m sure Larry will be around next year, even though the smartest thing the Cubs could do would be to convince Greg Maddux to take over.
Dusty may be gone – but the Cubs still push their starters more than most. Dempster already has 5 games of 120+ pitches this season (no one in MLB has more) and the Cubs have 8 as a team. Is it Rothschild? Or is it Tommy Boy Hendry never giving his manager a bullpen they can trust?
Both.
I’ll wager Prior hurts himself during the audition.
The Cardinals need some pitching depth….and if Dave Duncan can turn Peinero around think what he could do with some actual natural talent like Prior…Hopefully he latches on somewhere and pitches well, I just hope he has lost the Prick nature that he had at the end of his Chi-town tenure
I would love to see Prior comeback! I admire him for trying to keep coming back despite the recuring setbacks. I wish Mark all the luck!
Is Prior throwing towels during this audition? He was always great at that.
Don Cooper is a douche and not on par with Dave Duncan. I really hope the White Sox wouldn’t try to add Prior as a bullpen arm.
Don Cooper is a douche and not on par with Dave Duncan. I really hope the White Sox wouldn’t try to add Prior as a bullpen arm.