THOMAS BOLESKA
7/30/86; '07 35th; High Point (NC) Univ.
R/R; 6-0, 190
| Level |
W-L-Sv |
G |
GS |
IP |
H |
HR |
BB |
K |
BB/9 |
K/9 |
WHIP |
OAVG |
ERA |
| 2006 NCAA |
3-7-4 |
20 |
9 |
62.1 |
69 |
4 |
38 |
36 |
5.49 |
5.20 |
1.72 |
|
5.78 |
| 2007
NCAA |
4-1-7 |
27 |
0 |
37.0 |
34 |
2 |
11 |
53 |
2.68 |
12.89 |
1.22 |
.241 |
3.16 |
| 2007 A- |
0-0-1 |
4 |
0 |
6.2 |
8 |
0 |
3 |
9 |
4.05 |
12.16 |
1.65 |
.286 |
1.35 |
| 2007 R
|
0-0-1 |
2 |
0 |
2.0 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0.00 |
13.50 |
1.00 |
.250 |
0.00 |
| 2008 A+ |
1-0-0 |
1 |
0 |
3.0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
1 |
0.00 |
3.00 |
0.00 |
.000 |
0.00 |
| 2008
A |
3-3-5 |
23 |
0 |
42.0 |
28 |
3 |
11 |
45 |
2.36 |
9.64 |
0.93 |
.188 |
2.36 |
Boleska is a draft-eligible sophomore, as he missed 2005
with an arm injury. The Pirates seem to have a growing fascination with
pitchers who have
injury histories. Boleska's prospect status was uncertain due to
the lack of a track record and inconsistent velocity that sometimes was in
the 90s and other times not. He has a
good slider and served as the High Point closer in 2007, so he
probably profiles as a reliever. The K rate makes him an attractive gamble. The Pirates
signed him a week before the deadline. He got in a few outings in
the GCL and the NY-P, and fanned a lot of hitters.
He opened 2008 in extended spring training but joined Hickory later in April. He pitched very well
for the Crawdads, allowing very few baserunners. He also had a ground out/air out ratio
of 1.63, which is a very good thing when combined
with a high K rate. The one time I
saw him he was topping out at about 90-91, but he was apparently struggling with an injury problem, I believe an oblique strain, and didn't pitch again the rest of the year. Earlier in the year his velocity had been better. He had a significant platoon split, as LH batters hit .254 against him and RH a measly .128, no doubt a testament to his slider. Boleska could emerge as a good relief prospect if he can stay healthy. It should help him that the team's new management appears to be making an effort to get more innings from minor league relievers, so he was able to get a decent inning total despite missing half of 2008. Hopefully he'll open 2009 at Lynchburg.
Return to Right-Handed Pitchers