Don Czyz - Florida pitching prospect

I am a blogger covering the University of Kansas baseball team at the SB site Rock Chalk Talk.  I posted a story today about Florida minor league pitcher Don Czyz which might be of interest to those of you who follow the future Fish.

Here is a link to the full story.  My chart did not transfer over to this site but can be seen at the linked story.  Below is written part of my take on Czyz in 2007:

Don Czyz

For background on Don Czyz' accomplishments as a Jayhawk, take a look at his interview with Rock Chalk Talk from last year.  Don is a lock for the KU Baseball Hall of Fame when he reaches eligibility.

After some pre-draft conversations with the Cardinals Don was surprised to be selected by the Marlins first.  Following his phenomenal senior year at KU Czyz' first season and a half in professional ball has been a story of moderate success.  He got of to a slow start at Jamestown but did well enough to earn a promotion to Greensboro in 2007.  While his ERA at Greensboro was basically the same as it had been in Jamestown (4.61 vs. 4.91) his peripheral numbers were much more encouraging.  His K/BB ratio improved dramatically from 1.82 to 4.80.  Anything over 2.00 is considered very good.  Czyz ground ball ratio (1.60) is also a positive peripheral static, indicating that he is keeping his slider low.  While Czyz did not dominate in 2007 he clearly had a good year and should break be in A+ Jupiter next year, if not all the way up to AA Carolina.  Czyz made steady progress in 2007 and, with the Marlins well into another extreme youth movement, might see more opportunity in 2008.