The MCB Top 30: #29 Noah Krol

Proper Name: Noah B. Krol
Born: June 6, 1984 in Nickerson, Kan.

High School:

College: Wichita State
Ht.: 6-2 Wt.: 185
Bats: B Throws: R

It’s players like Noah Krol that will help rebuild a weak and depleted system. Taken in the 17th round of the 2007 draft, Krol was considered one of the top closers in the NCAA for the Wichita State Shockers. Before making the complete commitment to pitching, Krol was a starting shortstop for the Shockers, who hit .276 with 41 hits and 20 RBIs as a junior. That same year, he pitched 21 innings, striking out 20 in fiveteen relief appearances. Now that he has made the complete switch to the bullpen, it has paid off.

Though Krol was drafted in the 17th round, he has a golden arm.  In his last colliegate year, he closed out 12 games, in tip top fashion. In 34 innings pitched, Kroll tallied 49 strikeouts while putting together a .87 WHIP. The Tigers were impressed enough to give him the starters slot to open up his career with the rookie A Oneonta Tigers straight out of college. Krol didnt dissapoint, putting up a team leading 17 saves. Remarkably, Krol struck out 39 hitters in 28 innings. The Tigers like what they saw, and in 2008, the righty started the season as the closer for the West Michigan Whitecaps.

Though his numbers automatically make you believe he is a flamethrower, Noah Krol’s fastball sits in the high 80’s to low 90’s but has tremendous drop and movement. Though his fastball isn’t his bread and butter, he locates it well to set up his slider. One that many consider the best in the organization.

It took Krol a few weeks to adjust to the competition of A ball, but once he found a groove, he never looked back. At one point during the season, he put up 11 straight scoreless innings. He would record 15 saves last season in 47 appearances. He still struck out an pretty good 8.8 hitters per nine innings.

Analysis–

For Krol, like any reliever in the system, the sky is the limit. If he develops well at AA Erie, a quick promotion to Toledo and a mid/late season callup to the majors isnt out of question. It will be interesting to see what the organization thinks of Kroll with a slew of top relievers developing at or about the same level. Next season Double A Erie could host Ryan Perry, Cody Sabberwaite, Brett Jenson, and Noah Krol in the bullpen in 2009.

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