Rocky Cherry
B/T: R/R
Ht: 6'5
Wt: 225 lbs
Birthdate: 8/19/1979
Hometown: Dallas, TX

In this installment of Cubshub's Scouting Report, we'll look at the spring suprise in power righty Rocky Cherry. I wasn't planning on Cherry's promotion to beat his scouting report but with the way our pitching has been, the extra arm was needed. Entering the 2006 season, 39 of 48 Cherry's career appearances were as a starting pitcher. But following Tommy John surgery after just three starts in 2005, Cherry was put in the AA bullpen to regain his arm strength. Not only did Rocky's velocity comeback but in short bursts, he was able to throw harder and his slider became even more devasting. Cherry has some thoughts of possibly becoming a starter again but honestly his best chance to break and stay in the MLB's is as a reliever.

In 2002, the Cubs drafted Cherry in the 14th Rd, despite the fact that he missed the majority of the season due to partially torn rotator cuff. Much of the Cubs interest was based off his 2001 numbers for Oklahoma where he was considered a smart pitcher with a high octane fastball and developed slider. After signing in January 2003 following health questions, the Cubs took it easy on Rocky and first threw him competitively in short season Boise in 2003, where he preformed better than expected. In fact he did so well, he earned a promotion as a split starter/longman for Low A.

Some say he was promoted prematurely as a starting pitcher in 2003. In 2004, Cherry struggled mightily, his fastball wasn't being spotted well, he couldn't throw his slider for a strike, his third pitch, the changeup, was coming nowhere close to the plate, and the longer he went he more he lost control of his pitches. His fatigue is one of the biggest reasons why he was later demoted to the bullpen that year.

Despite his poor run as a starter in 2004, Rocky started the 2005 season in the AA rotation. In three starts before he suffered an elbow injury that led to his Tommy John surgery, his peripherals weren't bad, he just wasn't going deep into the game. Like nearly all Cub pitching prospects that undergo major surgery, Rocky was required to stay in Arizona until he could prove to instructors that he had regained arm strength. During his stay in Mesa, Arizona, Rocky could be seen holding down a part time job in the paint department at local Home Depot. By the time the 2006 season was ready to go, Cherry was ready and willing to go for West Tenn (AA). His fastball/slider combo wrecked havoc in the Southern League and by mid-July he was promoted to Iowa's pen. Where he was solid until suffering a bonespur on his middle finger due to his grip.

Even with his injury shorten 2006 season, Hendry and the Cubs decided to protect Rocky in the Rule V draft, where he would have certainly been taken. Cherry was invited to spring training, and he burst onto the scene with his big spring numbers. Yet roster space was an issue for the club and the had worries of his controls, so he was sent down to start the 2007 season in Iowa. Quickly, he became the closer and the command of his pitches were impecible.

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