JUSTIN VACLAVIK

5/27/84; '05 7th; Univ. of Houston
R/R; 6-0, 180

Level

W-L-Sv

BB/9

K/9

WHIP

OAVG

ERA

2005 NCAA

4-2-12

42.0

1.93

10.93

1.14

.245

3.21

2005 A-

0-1-9

24.2

3.65

10.22

1.38

.261

4.38

2006 A

4-2-18

51.1

3.68

10.34

1.27

.229

3.16

2007 AA

2-6-0

34.1

5.51

7.34

2.07

.323

8.39

2008 DNP

Vaclavik was U. Houston's closer in 2005. He throws a 90-94 mph fastball and a good slider. After signing he pitched well as Williamsport's closer until he went out with an injury. He struggled a bit after coming back but still finished with a very good K rate. At Hickory the following year, he struggled early but pitched well most of the year. He started the year sharing closer duties with Matt Swanson, but eventually became the primary closer. In the first two months his ERA was 4.86 and opponents hit over .300 against him. After that, his ERA was 2.34 and opponents had only 22 hits in 34.2 IP. His K rate was very good, but he had trouble with LH batters. They reached him for an OPS of over .770, compared to under .580 for RH hitters. In 2007 he skipped Lynchburg and opened in Altoona, but the move was a disaster. Vaclavik's numbers there speak for themselves. The team eventually started getting him longer outings, both long relief and a few starts. He did better in these games, including a 4.76 ERA as a starter as opposed to 9.10 in relief. Unfortunately, the strategy didn't get an extended chance as Vaclavik went out with a knee sprain in early July and didn't return. He was expected to return to Altoona in 2008, but he opened the season on the disabled list and never appeared anywhere. I don't know whether he's still in the system.

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