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Prospect Price Solid In His 1st Pro Start

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By BILL WHITEHEAD

Tribune correspondent

Published: May 23, 2008

VERO BEACH - Tampa Bay Rays minor-league pitcher David Price had to wait longer than expected to make his professional debut Thursday night, but he turned in a gem.

The organization's top pitching prospect had to weather a 95-minute rain delay before twirling five shutout innings and earning the win in the Vero Beach Devil Rays' 2-0 victory over the Clearwater Threshers at Holman Stadium.

The 6-foot-6, 225-pound Price threw 73 pitches, 49 for strikes. He gave up three hits, struck out four and walked one. He faced only 17 batters, two over the minimum.

"I didn't feel as good today as I did Saturday in an extended spring training game," said Price, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2007 First-Year Player Draft who was Baseball America's College Player of the year last season at Vanderbilt. "There was probably a little too much emotion out there tonight.

"It was my debut, and I knew this one counted."

Price, who pitched in two major-league games during spring training before being sidelined with a strained elbow, struck out the first batter he faced Thursday, getting Clearwater's Quintin Berry looking on an 85-mph off-speed pitch.

The southpaw used a fastball in the mid-90s - he hit 98-mph once, inducing a double play to end the first - but was very effective with his slider.

"I don't mind throwing my slider, even if I'm behind in the count," Price said.

"A lot of hitters just sit on fastballs when you're behind in the count, so you have to have a pitch to flip in there sometimes."

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