Jason Windsor knows how to pitch to win. In fact he just knows how to pitch, period.
Thrice drafted by the Houston Astros, Texas Rangers, and finally, by the Oakland Athletics in their third round in 2004, Windsor honed his craft at Cal State-Fullerton as the right-handed ace of the NCAA championship squad back in '04.
At 6-2, 235, Windsor has the frame of a power pitcher, but not the velocity, so he figured out quickly enough how to get hitters out with grit and guile instead of gaudy gun readings.
Windsor signed with the A's following Fullerton's big win, and began a rapid ascent through Oakland's farm system by jumping up four levels, taking them one at a time before finishing up last year at Double-A Midland.
Still, with a cumulative 6-8, 4.29 mark, it had to come as a pleasant surprise when Windsor amassed a glittering 11-0 mark with Triple-A Sacramento, after beginning the year 4-1 at Midland.
Windsor served notice in both spots that hitters were going to have to beat him, because he wasn't going to beat himself. It turns out that no one did, over a string of twenty-one starts, the first five with Midland.
In sixteen outings with Sacramento, served up just six homers in 91 full innings, and uncorked one lone wild pitch.
That was enough to convince Oakland that Windsor was ready for the big leagues, for at least a little while. Windsor got his first call up in early July and made two starts (going 0-1).
No doubt there is a much longer stay in "the Show" awaiting him. He debuts in the MLN FAB50 Baseball 2006 at No. 18.
- Dan HICKLING
