JASON QUARLES

4/20/83; '04 7th; Southern Univ.
R/R; 6-1, 190

Level	W-L-Sv	G	GS	IP	H	BB	K	ERA
2004 NCAA	1-1-2	22	0	21.0	21	14	34	3.86
2004 A-	0-4-0	23	0	23.2	34	19	31	4.56

Level	W-L-Sv	G	GS	IP	H	BB	K	ERA	OAVG	OOBP	OSLG
2005 A	0-3-0	19	1	38.0	31	26	45	2.61	.226	.359	.299

Although Quarles was a high-risk player, the Pirates were surprised he fell to them in the 7th round of the 2004 draft. He was one of the more interesting stories in that draft, because he went to Southern as an OF and moved to the mound only after he was unable to break into their starting lineup. He has electric stuff, with a mid-90s fastball, reaching 98, and a sharp-breaking curve, causing comparisons to Tom Gordon. His inexperience showed at Williamsport, as he had trouble locating his pitches, fell behind most hitters, and got hit hard. His K rate, however, showed that the ability was there. He went to Hickory in 2005, although he didn't join the team until mid-season; I don't know whether that was due to health problems or not. Although his walk total remained far too high, he made significant progress, holding hitters to a 226/359/299 line and fanning well over one per IP. Unfortunately, he'll miss 2006 due to labrum surgery.  Some Pirate minor league pitchers who've had labrum surgery, like Sergio Silva and Alex Hart, have seemingly disappeared, so there's no telling whether Quarles will recover.

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