Terry Doyle is dominating the Arizona Fall League, where in 19.2 innings, Doyle is 4-0 with a 0.92 ERA and a 0.46 WHIP, allowing only 9 baserunners out of 67 total (0.134 OBA) . But, who is Terry Doyle?
Doyle, 26, was drafted in the 37th round of the 2008 MLB draft by the Chicago White Sox. Despite being a 4-year starter at Boston College, Doyle’s performance was atrocious in his junior (5.87 ERA, 1.65 WHIP) and senior year (6.96 ERA, 1.8 WHIP), thereby leading to his low draft-round selection. However, once in the minor leagues, Doyle quickly turned it around, and has enjoyed above-average success at every minor league level.
In 2008 Rookie ball, Doyle had a 1.88 ERA in 24 IP with a 1.25 WHIP, which is a nice turnaround from his last 2 years in college.
Doyle built on this small success in Rookie Ball again in 2009, where he totaled a 5-1 record, a 2.98 ERA, a 1.15 WHIP, and, 75 strikeouts in 57.1 IP.
However, Doyle’s biggest improvement came in 2010. Between A and A+ (high A), Doyle was a combined 12-10 with a 2.94 ERA and a 1.14 WHIP, in 168 innings.
Did Doyle continue to improve in 2011? And, considering that he pitched in 168 innings in 2010, how did he respond? Doyle’s combined stats between A+ and AA, include a 3.07 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP, in 173 innings.
Which brings us to Doyle’s impressive AFL performance, which also increases his 2011 innings pitched total to 192.2. Seeing a pitcher throw 170+ innings in the minor leagues is a rare feat, and, improves the likelihood that he can throw 200+ innings in his first year in the majors. Considering that Mark Buehrle was the only White Sox pitcher to throw 200 innings last year, if Doyle were to pitch 200 innings, that would rank him as the #1 or #2 starter for the Sox.
The White Sox starting rotation for 2012 at the moment includes Jake Peavy, John Danks, Gavin Floyd and Philip Humber. Peavy, Danks and Floyd are under contract for 2012, and it seems highly likely that the Sox will re-sign Humber, who, with a 9-9 record, 163 IP and a 1.18 WHIP was a bargain at $500,000 last year. However, the contract status of free agent-to be Mark Buehrle is less certain. If Buehrle leaves, the Sox have an open spot; if not, when considering the oft-injured status of Peavy, there is room at least for an additional starter to get ~100 innings. This makes it likely in a worst case scenario (that Buehrle returns and there is no room in the rotation for Doyle) that Doyle will split time between AAA and the majors next year. However, if Buehrle leaves the Sox, mark it down, Terry Doyle will fill that role!
Stats obtained via: www.baseballreference.com, www.thebaseballcube.com