Durbin Feltman: Mighty Morphin' Power Reliever

TimScribble

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Feltman watch.


Red Sox 3rd-round pick Durbin Feltman — reliever who some think can make the jump all the way to the majors this year — made his professional debut for Lowell today. 1 inning, 2 Ks. 0 runs, 0 hits, pitched around an error. 17 pitches, 12 strikes

Also, Ty Buttrey and Travis Lakins might be bullpen options.
 

Red(s)HawksFan

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Rushing Feltman seems like Craig Hansen redux to me.

I mean, if he can really be a difference-maker this season (and that would be the only reason to rush him), how did he last until the third round? Not saying he can't or won't be a valuable major league asset in the future, but it seems fantastical to think he's going to turn some sort of corner or have a break-though in a matter of weeks in Lowell or Portland.
 

TimScribble

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Solid Alf reference.

Feltman watch.

Red Sox prospect Durbin Feltman threw another scoreless inning for Lowell last night. 1 K.

3 outings, 3 scoreless innings, 5 Ks, 0 BB, 0 hits.
 

oumbi

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So why wasn't this guy drafted before #100?
From Soxprospects:
Scouting Report: Slightly undersized right-hander with a power arsenal. Delivery has significant effort. Fastball sits 95-97 and has reportedly topped out at 99 with life. Primary secondary pitch is a wipeout slider, but will also mix in a changeup on occasion. Fresh, live arm. Pure relief type who could move quickly. Potential late inning bullpen arm with power fastball/slider combo.

My guess, and it is a guess, is that being slotted as a reliever from day one and being "undersized" (5'11") made him less desirable to some clubs.
 

Cesar Crespo

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5'11" is undersized?

Would've loved to have seen that guy's scouting report on Pedro.
That continued into the majors. How do you think he got traded for Delino Deshields?
Yeah, small guys always have their durability questioned. Pedro was supposed to be a bullpen arm. Roy Oswalt was supposed to fall apart after a few years. Of course, they say the same thing about fat pitchers too but Bartolo Colon and CC are still pitching.
 

oumbi

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bosockboy

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Really silly sized sample to work with for Feltman. You can scroll down a bit to find his R/L split.

https://www.baseball-reference.com/register/player.fcgi?id=feltma000dur&type=pgl&year=2018#all_pitching_splits

Basically, 8 Ab with right handers, 2 AB with lefties. Makes no difference, he mows them all down equally. But again, what can we really say with a sample size like that?
Thanks, I meant more from TCU, but just wondering if he’s an option down the stretch.
 

soxeast

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Thanks, I meant more from TCU, but just wondering if he’s an option down the stretch.

I doubt it. He was a 3rd round pick. Many teams would be looking for a solid reliever to help in 2018 and thereafter with closer ability. A 3rd rd pick probably means he has a ways to go. He would have been taken earlier. OFC many teams could make mistakes. But I wouldn't count on him this year.
 

bosockboy

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I doubt it. He was a 3rd round pick. Many teams would be looking for a solid reliever to help in 2018 and thereafter with closer ability. A 3rd rd pick probably means he has a ways to go. He would have been taken earlier. OFC many teams could make mistakes. But I wouldn't count on him this year.
Well it’s been discussed, that’s the reason I was curious on his college splits:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.bostonglobe.com/sports/redsox/2018/06/05/red-sox-open-day-draft-selecting-tcu-hurler-durbin-feltman/NxG5jmAOW5PSknaur53L5K/amp.html
 

burstnbloom

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He was the consensus "best college reliever" and was dominant in college. His stuff grades out as two 70 level pitches and all the publications said he was most likely to make the majors this year in the entire draft class. Sure, everything has to break right for that to happen but bring skeptical about his ability to do it just bc he went in the third round seems silly. Teams probably just didn't want to give him $2 mil slot to sign bc he's a reliever.
 

Byrdbrain

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And yet he is about the only draftee they said during the draft that he could appear this year.

But YOU "doubt it"?
Exactly, it was talked about extensively before he was drafted by multiple scouts and draft experts but that information has to be balanced by the fact that soxeast doubts it.
 

soxeast

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Exactly, it was talked about extensively before he was drafted by multiple scouts and draft experts but that information has to be balanced by the fact that soxeast doubts it.
What? So "multiple scouts" means "all scouts?"

What's with the sarcasm buddy? Not everyone agrees that he'll be ready. You really need to make this type of post at me?
 

Byrdbrain

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What? So "multiple scouts" means "all scouts?"

What's with the sarcasm buddy? Not everyone agrees that he'll be ready. You really need to make this type of post at me?
I have no idea if he will be up this year, I do know that he was the consensus guy in the draft who was most likely to be able to come up this year. I also know that what he has done so far(extremely small sample size alert) has been very impressive.

Your reasons for stating that he won't be up this year were mockable which is why multiple people have mocked you for them.
 

soxeast

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I have no idea if he will be up this year, I do know that he was the consensus guy in the draft who was most likely to be able to come up this year. I also know that what he has done so far(extremely small sample size alert) has been very impressive.

Your reasons for stating that he won't be up this year were mockable which is why multiple people have mocked you for them.
Mutiple people? You and another person is "multipel people." you want to say instead of a couple. That makes "multiple" seem "more" doesn't it? It was 2, wasn't it? Yiou figure you'd use the word "multiple."

Well It's time to put you on ignore. Feel free to do so with me too.

HE was a 3rd round pick for a reason. It's nice that there may be some "unbias" Red Sox fans believing a 3rd round pick is obviously going to do well. I said "I doubt it" yet you feel it's okay to go after me when I say "I doubt it" rtaher than "he will." OFC any tiem we get reviews of a pitcher wiht great stuff that means he will perform well, right? OFC my only reasoning is not that he's young/unproven but ofc you feel a need to go after me becasue he's a 3rd round pick is my sole reason. You mean I need to highlight the number of icthers that jumped from pro MLB ball from college that jumped the same year - which is some ridiculously low number - I need to cite that? Jay Grooem was said to be throwing 95 and throws it effortlessly. What I read last year when he came he was throwing basically 91-93. But yeah thsi guy has a 70 rating so it means he must be stud in his 1st year, right? Enough that you felt a need to mock me.

. Anyways I'll summarize again - I doubt he is going make it here and pitch meaningful games in his 1st year. I'm sure the guy that asked the question was thinking of if he could help. Anyways a 3rd round pick that is so young and unproven - if we could bet Id make a bet that he won't play meaningful games in October. You want to hammer me for maybe he'll pitch in Septmeber when we're up 9-2? Maybe. Mock away. I think some might have their red sox goggles strapped on too tight. I would be happy to be wrong. SO the Red Sox get the meaningful stud that teams liek Houston and many other could have used? And no one else has money? I doubt it.
 
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Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat

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Mutiple people? You and another person is "multipel people."

Well It's time to put you on ignore. Feel free to do so with me too.

HE was a 3rd round pick for a reason. It's nice that there may be some "unbias" Red Sox fans believing a 3rd round pick is obviously going to do well. I said "I doubt it" yet you feel it's okay to go after me when I say "I doubt it" rtaher than "he will." OFC any tiem we get reviews of a pitcher wiht great stuff that means he will perform well, right? OFC my only reasoning is not that he's young/unproven but ofc you feel a need to go after me becasue he's a 3rd round pick is my sole reason. You mean I need to highlight the number of icthers that jumped from pro MLB ball from college that jumped the same year - which is some ridiculously low number - I need to cite that? Jay Grooem was said to be throwing 95 and throws it effortlessly. What I read last year when he came he was throwing basically 91-93. But yeah thsi guy has a 70 rating so it means he must be stud in his 1st year, right? Enough that you felt a need to mock me.

. Anyways I'll summarize again - I doubt he is going make it here and pitch meaningful games in his 1st year. I'm sure the guy that asked the question was thinking of if he could help. Anyways a 3rd round pick that is so young and unproven - if we could bet Id make a bet that he won't play meaningful games in October. You want to hammer me for maybe he'll pitch in Septmeber when we're up 9-2? Maybe. Mock away. I think some might have their red sox goggles strapped on too tight. I would be happy to be wrong. SO the Red Sox get the meaningful stud that teams liek Houston and many other could have used? And no one else has money? I doubt it.
You really need a new spell check machine.

Go Sox!!
 

sean1562

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https://www.mlb.com/news/which-draft-prospect-will-reach-majors-fastest/c-279080498

Jim Callis says Durbin Feltman probably be the fastest to reach majors, if he had to guess. It really isn't that far fetched of an idea.

https://www.mlb.com/news/draft-picks-increasingly-on-fast-track-to-mlb/c-78157250

Several relievers have pitched the same year they were drafted. Drafting isn't an exact science, and maybe the Sox got lucky with a third round pick? Good to have at least one guy down in the minors to keep track of. Right when I was ready to follow every one of Antoni Flores' ABs he got hurt.
 

TimScribble

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Feltman night

RHP Durbin Feltman (‘18 3rd round) w/two strikeouts in a perfect 9th. Average frame, max effort delivery. FB 94-96 with life and power SL 84-86. Stuff overwhelmed hitters. Six swinging strikes, four on SL and two on FB.
 

Plympton91

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Exactly, it was talked about extensively before he was drafted by multiple scouts and draft experts but that information has to be balanced by the fact that soxeast doubts it.
That’s a little unfair isn’t it? He went late in the third round. While the signing bonus argument above may explain the lack of first round interest, there are a lot of smart teams out there that know how poor the hit rate is on second round and earlier third round picks. If he were even close to 50/50 to be an impact reliever, let alone as early as this year, then I’d have to believe he wouldn’t have been on the board that long. A lot of people doubt it. Which is not to take anything away from him as a very legitimate prospect—it’ll be fun to see him develop.
 

Byrdbrain

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That’s a little unfair isn’t it? He went late in the third round. While the signing bonus argument above may explain the lack of first round interest, there are a lot of smart teams out there that know how poor the hit rate is on second round and earlier third round picks. If he were even close to 50/50 to be an impact reliever, let alone as early as this year, then I’d have to believe he wouldn’t have been on the board that long. A lot of people doubt it. Which is not to take anything away from him as a very legitimate prospect—it’ll be fun to see him develop.
My issue with his statement was the certainty with which he made it while having no information other than draft position. It certainly wouldn’t shock me if he never made the majors, let alone this year.
If he made a statement approaching yours it would have gone by without further comment.
 

Cuzittt

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This thread has been split from the bullpen thread.

Now... some quick thoughts.

1) There have been many pundits that have stated that Feltman has a chance to make the majors this year. AFAIK the Red Sox themselves have not stated anything at all regarding how they plan to progress with him this season.
1a) Craig Hansen had two appearances (3 innings) in the GCL before being pushed to Portland. So by that (admittedly goofy) metric, they are not pushing him as quickly.
2) The fact that he was a 3rd round pick means nothing with regards to point 1. It is more likely to mean that Feltman is seen as a high floor, low ceiling pick and teams were looking for higher ceiling picks before Feltman was picked.
3) I am not high on Feltman actually making it to Boston this season only because he is (currently) clearly behind a bunch of relievers in Boston and Pawtucket (many of whom have had auditions) as well as Matt Gorst (1.21 ERA/0.884 WHIP/10 BB/41 K in 25 games for Salem/Portland) and quite possibly Travis Lakins (0.66 ERA/0.805 WHIP/7 BB/15 K in 13 games as a reliever) in Portland.
4) When the Red Sox move him from Lowell, it will be interesting to see where they jump him too. A move to Greenville or even Salem doesn't much move the needle on my view that he is unlikely to see Boston this season. A move to Portland? That would be interesting and show some potential intent. At which point, I think speculation would be more warranted.
5) Regardless, prospects are fun to watch.
 

Cesar Crespo

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Yeah, the Redsox are so deep at MR I can't see them rushing Feltman to the majors. They still haven't even given Ty Buttrey a shot yet who is more than deserving of one. Joe Kelly seems to be in the midst of righting the ship too, which makes Feltman more unlikely.

I guess it's possible he gets a call up in September but that requires getting him on the 40 man.
 

Plympton91

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That’s a really good point about the 40-man being a real impediment. The Sox don’t have to protect him at all this year or next unless they promote him to the majors. That means adding Feldman is equivalent to trading the person they’d have to drop to make room. A good reason not to do it at least until next May unless he’s clearly a meaningful upgrade over other options.
 

Cuzittt

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If they get to the point where they believe he should be in the Majors, I don't believe they will hesitate in bringing him up.

I do believe he has to prove he is better than the numerous options currently in front of him. And I believe that will be an obstacle.
 

mwonow

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Cuz - any thoughts on whether any of the folks you've named above (Gorst, Lakins) would upgrade the back of the ML pen? Seems like "Beeks" is Ferengi for "hard contact..."
 

soxhop411

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This thread has been split from the bullpen thread.

Now... some quick thoughts.

1) There have been many pundits that have stated that Feltman has a chance to make the majors this year. AFAIK the Red Sox themselves have not stated anything at all regarding how they plan to progress with him this season.
1a) Craig Hansen had two appearances (3 innings) in the GCL before being pushed to Portland. So by that (admittedly goofy) metric, they are not pushing him as quickly.
2) The fact that he was a 3rd round pick means nothing with regards to point 1. It is more likely to mean that Feltman is seen as a high floor, low ceiling pick and teams were looking for higher ceiling picks before Feltman was picked.
3) I am not high on Feltman actually making it to Boston this season only because he is (currently) clearly behind a bunch of relievers in Boston and Pawtucket (many of whom have had auditions) as well as Matt Gorst (1.21 ERA/0.884 WHIP/10 BB/41 K in 25 games for Salem/Portland) and quite possibly Travis Lakins (0.66 ERA/0.805 WHIP/7 BB/15 K in 13 games as a reliever) in Portland.
4) When the Red Sox move him from Lowell, it will be interesting to see where they jump him too. A move to Greenville or even Salem doesn't much move the needle on my view that he is unlikely to see Boston this season. A move to Portland? That would be interesting and show some potential intent. At which point, I think speculation would be more warranted.
5) Regardless, prospects are fun to watch.
He was moved to Greenville yesterday apparently
 

Cuzittt

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Cuz - any thoughts on whether any of the folks you've named above (Gorst, Lakins) would upgrade the back of the ML pen? Seems like "Beeks" is Ferengi for "hard contact..."
It's difficult to say. Seriously.

Beeks has been seriously good in Pawtucket. 12k/9, 3.05 ERA, 1.077 WHIP as a starter. Yet, he's been hit hard in Boston. Small sample size, of course, but something isn't sitting well with him in the Majors.

Could Lakins or Gorst have that something? Maybe. That being said, I'm not sure that the Red Sox have as much of a need for a backend of the bullpen guy. And, if they do, it might be Brasier. Or Robby Scott (1.15 ERA, 13.8 K/9 in 30 games in Pawtucket). Or Ty Buttrey (2.01 ERA, 13.6K/9 in 29 games in Pawtucket). The Red Sox have a lot of potential answers in Pawtucket (I have not even mentioned Kyle Martin or Fernando Rodriguez or Justin Haley or William Cuevas or Williams Jerez (who I would put behind Lakins and Gorst.))

He was moved to Greenville yesterday apparently
That's a fairly standard promotion for a player in his draft position and his work in Lowell. It's good to see but lends credence to the idea that the Sox are not pushing him to a pen position this year (unless he continues to excel and not put anyone on base).
 

TimScribble

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Feltman gets his first save for Greenville. 1 inning. 1 hit. 3 strikeouts. 15 pitches. 13 strikes.
 

Plympton91

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Feltman gets his first save for Greenville. 1 inning. 1 hit. 3 strikeouts. 15 pitches. 13 strikes.
I always say this and usually get a lot of pushback on it, but a major college player who was a high draft pick really should dominate low-A. They’re older, and major college baseball with aluminum bats is probably just as much a test as the GCL is with wooden bats. After GCL, a lot of kids go to low-A. So if you dominated major college, you should dominate Greenville.
 

uncannymanny

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There are. Here’s a question in response: why don’t they have 40 rounds in the NFL, NBA, or NHL do you think? Is baseball talent just 5 times stronger?

A late third rounder is not a “top draft pick” in any sport. If you can find any such reference from any sport, I’ll be shocked.

I mean, here’s your own take from this page:

That’s a little unfair isn’t it? He went late in the third round. While the signing bonus argument above may explain the lack of first round interest, there are a lot of smart teams out there that know how poor the hit rate is on second round and earlier third round picks. If he were even close to 50/50 to be an impact reliever, let alone as early as this year, then I’d have to believe he wouldn’t have been on the board that long. A lot of people doubt it. Which is not to take anything away from him as a very legitimate prospect—it’ll be fun to see him develop.
 

sean1562

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man i dont know if there could be anything more interesting than debating "is a third round mlb draft pick a high pick, low pick or something in between?" maybe we should break this out and create a new thread dedicated to that discussion? or just be happy that maybe this kid will defy the odds and become a great Red Sox reliever? All drafts are crap shoots, to a certain extent, maybe we got lucky?
 

SouthernBoSox

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They really should have just promoted him to Portland if the goal is to push his path. He isn't going to be challenged at Greenville.
 

SouthernBoSox

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Perhaps that is not the goal, then
Perhaps that is not the goal, then
Yea, that's really my point. If they truly wanted to see if this guy could contribute this year. He needs to be in Portland right now.

I think it's an enormous long shot. As it should it be. That being said if he can really make and impression in AAA he'll certainly make it easier to see Joe Kelly move on.