Scouting Prospect #49: Gene Yost

Gene Yost was selected in the 20th round of the 2004 draft by the Nationals and made his debut with Vermont in 2005. Despite having less than dominating stuff, the crafty lefty has known nothing but success since turning pro. For this reason, he's our Nationals prospect #49. (Free Preview!)

Vital Statistics
Name: Gene Yost
Position: Pitcher
DOB: June 23, 1981
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 185
Bats: Right
Throws: Left

Despite being picked in the 20th round of the 2004 draft, Yost didn't make his professional debut until June of 2005, when he immediately became the most consistent pitcher on the Vermont staff. For them, he went 6-5 with a solid 3.25 ERA in 83 innings of work. He also spent the latter part of the season with the Savannah Sand Gnats, where he also excelled; Gene compiled a 2.63 ERA in 8 relief appearances.

It certainly seemed odd when a then 24-year-old Yost opened the season in Low-A Savannah in April of 2006 after such a strong debut in 2005, but it seemed to have little affect on his performance. He divided his time between starting and relieving for the Sand Gnats in 2006, finishing the season 7-5 with a 3.83 ERA over 89 1/3 inning split between 10 starts and 23 relief appearances. The southpaw built upon a strong 2005 performance split between Vermont and Savannah, earning a selection to the 2006 South Atlantic League All-Star team.

"The season was kind of a cluster," Yost told CapitolDugout.com. "I was pitching in the bullpen, then starting, then back in the bullpen, then starting again. So, it was good to pitch in both situations. It was good because this was really the first full season that I have been in so it was good to learn how to get guys out in August because you have been there for there months already."

The one thing Yost would like to have heading into 2007 is a solid idea of what his role will be. While he excelled in his swingman role in 2006, the left-hander would like to come out of spring training knowing exactly what his role will be.

"Hopefully, I'll come into spring training and I'll know what they expect out of me," he explained in a recent interview. "Knowing what they want is a whole lot easier than not knowing at all."

"If I had a choice, it would be starting, but I think they like me more as a reliever," the Virginia native continued. "It doesn't matter to me anymore. I'm just trying to find the quickest way up. I'm getting old so that is starting to hurt me. But, relieving I hope, will bring me up through the system faster."

Year	Team	W-L	SV	IP	H	BB	SO	ERA
2006	Savannah	7-5	1	89.1	81	35	73	3.83

Repertoire. Fastball, Slider, Splitter

Fastball. Gene Yost would be the first to tell you that he is not the type of pitcher who is going to overpower anyone. His fastball ranges anywhere between 86-89 MPH, touching 90 MPH on rare occasions. It is his outstanding command and natural movement on his heater that allows him to be as successful as he has been. As he moves up to the higher levels, it will still be difficult for Yost to get by with his fastball so he will need to be nearly perfect and change speeds even more.

Other Pitches. He likes to be aggressive with his fastball, but the off-speed stuff is where Yost makes his living. The former Averett University standout has a slider that could project to be big league average because of how well he has learned to locate it, but it does not appear to be a big time weapon against lefty hitters. Yost also uses an excellent splitter as his out pitch against righty batters, not so much as a strikeout pitch but a pitch to get groundballs with. His repertoire is deep enough to allow him to be a start, but he fits well as a reliever so lineups don't get as many looks at him.

Pitching. For Gene Yost, it is all about command and knowing when to take a little off and put a little on. With a good mix of his three pitches, he continues to find ways to get outs when he needs them. He pitches to a lot of contact and will never be much of a strikeout pitcher. Working with runners on base, he depends on the double play ball and the defense behind him.

Projection. At this point, Gene Yost's best chance at a big league career would be in a relief role. He doesn't not have that big out pitch to retire lefties but his command of his fastball and solid secondary pitches could make him a consistent middle relief option. He was a swingman in 2006, but we are likely to see him working out of the bullpen full-time in 2007.

ETA. 2008. At 25-years-old, age is no longer on the side of Gene Yost. He's had nothing but success, but the fact is that he began his professional career at 24 so he'll have to continued to advance quickly. If he settles into a situational relief role, that may be his best chance to be fast tracked by the organization. Look for him to begin the 2007 season with Potomac and get a quick call to Double-A Harrisburg if he pitches well.