36
 |
Votes |
Drafted: '04, 1st round (17 overall)
|
|---|---|---|
| 66 | ||
| Previous Rank | ||
| NA | ||
| ETA in Majors | ||
| 2009 |
You can forgive the Dodgers if they were holding their breath when Elbert came back from shoulder surgery that ended his 2007 season after just three starts. They've gone down this road before with Greg Miller and were sure to feel better when Elbert was able to start tossing in instructs without setbacks.
When he's healthy, Elbert is one of the top left-handed pitching prospects in the game. He's got a fastball in the mid-90s with a lot of movement, along with a hard, nasty curve. He's still working on his changeup. Command has been an issue in the past, but he's been so overpowering it hasn't hurt him much yet. He'll still be just 22 if he can come back healthy to Double-A Jacksonville to start 2008. It's understandable for the Dodgers to tread cautiously with him, but if the shoulder holds up, his performance should push the issue.