2016 Fantasy Baseball Player Profile: Tyler Skaggs

Tyler Skaggs is 6’4”, 215 lbs of left-handed goodness. The 25 year old was a one-time elite level prospect¸ but that was seemingly a long time ago. Here we go.

Drafted in 2009 in the 1^st round in 2009.

He was traded 13 months later to the Diamondbacks.

He made his big league debut at 21 years of age.

He was then dealt to the Angels.

He opened 2014 in the Angels rotation.

On July 31^st, 2014, almost exactly two full years ago, he tore his UCL during a no-hit attempt which led to Tommy John surgery in August.

Folks, Skaggs will go more than two full years between major league starts (his start Tuesday was five days short of two years). Recovery from Tommy John surgery simply isn’t that easy, despite what many will have you believe, and that’s been the case with Skaggs who has had multiple setbacks during the process. "I think we're all very excited to see him be ready to take the ball,” Manager Mike Scioscia said. “He got the work in he needed. He's ready to go after that challenge of pitching in the big leagues.”

Who is Tyler and should you care?

THE NUMBERS

Here are his prospect rankings… though they are from yearrrrssss ago.

Here are his big league numbers.

THE SKILLS
 

In 181 big league innings from 2012-14 Skaggs had a 4.72 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and a 7.1 K/9 mark.

An average big leaguer in 2012-14 produced a 3.87 ERA, 1.29 WHIP and a 7.6 K/9 mark.

Yes, as a big league pitcher, Skaggs has been worse than your league average pitcher.

Why the excitement?

Check out Skaggs timeline this season.

On February 20^th, news came out that Skaggs would be on a 165-175 innings pitched limit this season.

Less than a week later he had to take a short rest as his arm “didn’t feel quite right.”

Skaggs threw two innings on March 24^th against the White Sox, his first game action of the season.

March 29^thhe was scratched with an illness.

On April 25^thhe was scratched as he was fatigued.

On May 2^ndhe was shut down with biceps tendinitis.

On May 10^thhe was shut down again with neck tightness as he attempted to make his way back from the biceps tendinitis. He was out a week.

June 14^thhe was shut down a third time, this time do to shoulder soreness.

Skaggs has had at least six separate occasions this season in which he had to stop his return to action.

Why the excitement?

Skaggs threw 39.1 innings in the minors this season, the only innings he’s thrown since the start of the 2015, until he appeared in game action Tuesday.

Why the excitement?

Here’s a list of pitchers that have had Tommy John surgery since August 1st, 2014 through August 1^st, 2015. How are they fairing?

Yu Darvish returned from Tommy John surgery to make three starts covering 15.2 innings. He then missed five weeks of games with a shoulder issue. He’s made one start since returning.

Zack Wheeler has had multiple setbacks and the hope is that he will be able to return to the Mets in late August. He was supposed to be ready by July 1^st.

Brandon McCarthy has had a remarkable return with four excellent outings (2-0, 1.61 ERA, .072 WHIP).

Homer Bailey was expected back in mid-May. His next start could finally come in the big leagues after the setback train hit him hard (against the Padres Sunday).

Alex Cobb was hoping to return to action in early July. He wasn’t able to make it through two outings in the minors before being shut down. It’s unclear when/if he will be able to return, maybe Friday this week with the Stone Crabs, but a best case scenario would seem to be late August.

Why the excitement?

Sure he’s posted a 1.67 ERA and 45 strikeouts over 32.1 innings at Triple-A this season. Over his last three starts with the Angels after his strong outing Tuesday he’s thrown 19.2 scoreless innings with 31 strikeouts. Of course, those starts have come two years apart.

Honestly, do I really need to say more when it comes to Skaggs? Why? Talented? Sure, but look at his record this season. How can you possible trust that?

PLAYING TIME

C.J. Wilson is done for the year with shoulder surgery.

Andrew Heaney is done for the year with Tommy John surgery.

Garrett Richards is done for the year, almost certainly, though he’s still holding out hope of avoiding Tommy John surgery.

Obviously the Angels have a desperate need for a hurler to take the ball every five games. If Skaggs is healthy, the Angels will allow him to take the bump as often as his body is capable.

CONCLUSION

Skaggs has had six different times this season in which his return to the big league field had to be slowed. The recent history of hurlers coming back from Tommy John surgery is full of setbacks. That needs to be accepted here. Certainly sounds like many aren’t will to admit that either of those issues exist. It should also be accepted, and it’s not, that Skaggs has thrown a total of 46.1 innings this season after throwing none last year. There are easily a handful of way to think that this blows up in Skaggs face, not the least of which being his league average work as a big leaguer to date. Again, that needs to be accepted here.

Skaggs is a nice talent who is on a roll. Add him in all formats if you want. Realize though that pretty much everything we’ve seen from Skaggs this season suggests that anything we get from this point forward is a bonus. Don’t drop an established arm to take a chance on Skaggs. If you want to drop a middle reliever – OK. If you want to drop a Chase Anderson type – OK. If you’re in a keeper league and want to add Skaggs – OK. Just understand that that odds of Skaggs staying healthy appear to be low, just as the odds of him dominating big league hitters are low. His own personal history shows us that.

Ray Flowers can be heard Monday through Friday, 7 PM EDT and Friday on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio (Sirius 210, XM 87). You can also hear Ray Sunday nights at 6 PM on the channel talking fantasy sports. Follow Ray’s work at Fantasy Alarm and on Twitter (@baseballguys).