27. Chris Mobley

27. Chris Mobley -RHP - 5'11 - 170lbs
(last year: 45)

After a fantastic 2005 season in Greensboro, the Marlins brass had Chris skip over high-A Jupiter, and put him right into the fire at Double-A Carolina. Mobley had a solid, albeit not stellar 2006 campaign for the Mudcats. The former 22nd round pick out of Middle Tennessee State struggled with his whip all season, finally ending up with a 1.50. He spent the majority of his 2007 season in Carolina, but did see some time in both Jupiter and Carolina. Mobley's second stint in Carolina was definitely a step down from his first season there as his era, hits/9 and whip went up, while his k/9 went down.

One thing he did improve on is that his walks went down, and that is something he had planned on working on in 2007. In 2006, lefties absolutely abused him to a tune of .288/.394/.500 off him in 20 innings of work. In 2007 in Carolina, lefties hit .333/.385/.500. Lefties continued to punish him in 2008 to a tune of .322. Maybe he’s just a ROOGY. Even with his struggles against left-handed hitters, Mobley was dominant all season long in the Southern League. Opposing batters hit just .224 off him and his 1.10whip was a big improvement from his 1.55whip of 2007 in Carolina.

His bread and butter pitch is his slider, but if he has no control of it, opposing hitters will punish is average fastball. most relievers, they need to have two good pitches to get hitters out. At this point, Mobley's slider is considered a plus pitch but his fastball is still quite hittable. It will be his changeup that will be the difference maker if he is to be a quality arm in a major league bullpen. He will now be pitching with an even bigger chip on his shoulder after not being added to the 40 man roster, and then being passed over by every team in the Rule 5 draft. Chris should open the season as New Orleans’ closer.