TIM LINCECUM

'Timothy LeRoy Lincecum' (born 1984-06-15 in Bellevue, Washington) is a starting pitcher for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball. His first Major League start took place on a nationwide ESPN broadcast on the evening of May 6, 2007. Philadelphia 8, San Francisco 5 (5/6/07 Recap) At 5 ft, 11 in tall and weighing 170 lb, Lincecum is one of the smallest pitchers in the majors. He throws right-handed and bats left-handed. Tim Lincecum Player File
He has frequently been named as the top pitching prospect in the Giants organization, with a strong repertoire of pitches. Lincecum's two-seam fastball can be thrown at nearly 100 mph, and he maintains a game velocity in the 96-99 mph range. He also has a curveball that is thrown in the 80-90 mph range, with a short quick break that permits him to be a high strikeout pitcher without an excessive pitch count. Lincecum uses a changeup to offset his top two pitches and keep batters off-balance. Top 10 Prospects: San Francisco Giants Future Shock: San Francisco Giants Top Ten Prospects

Contents

High school and college

Professional career

Major League Baseball Draft

Minor leagues

Major Leagues

Statistics

Awards and accomplishments

References

External links

High school and college

Lincecum attended Liberty Senior High School in Renton, Washington, where he played two seasons of varsity baseball. During his senior year, he won state player of the year and led his school to the 2003 3A state championship.
Lincecum then went on to pitch for the University of Washington. In 2004, he became the first player ever to be named both the Pac-10 Freshman of the Year and the Pac-10 Pitcher of the Year. In 2006, he emerged as the top player in the nation, going 12-4 with a 1.94 ERA, 199 strikeouts, and three saves in 125⅓ innings. He won the 2006 Golden Spikes Award, which is awarded annually to the best amateur baseball player. USA Baseball Golden Spikes Award

Professional career

Major League Baseball Draft

Lincecum was selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 48th round (1,408th overall) of the 2003 MLB Draft, but did not sign. He decided to attend college, and was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 42nd round (1,261st overall) of the 2005 draft, but again did not sign. Tim Lincecum Baseball Statistics The next year, he was drafted 10th overall by the San Francisco Giants, becoming the first player from the University of Washington to be taken in the first round. Player Bio: Tim Lincecum He signed for a $2.025 million signing bonus on June 30, which was, at the time, the highest amount the organization had ever paid to any amateur player until they gave $2.1 million to Angel Villalona little over a month later. Notes: Broken jaw sidelines Frandsen

Minor leagues

Lincecum made his professional debut on July 26, 2006 with the Salem-Keizer Volcanoes (the Giants' Class A- Short Season affiliate) against the Vancouver Canadians, pitching one inning and striking out all three batters he faced. After his second outing on July 31 against the Boise Hawks, in which he pitched three innings, striking out seven and allowing just one baserunner, he was promoted to the Class A-Advanced San Jose Giants.
On August 5, in his first start in San Jose against the Bakersfield Blaze, he pitched 2⅔ innings, allowing three runs (two earned), and striking out five. Lincecum finished the year 2-0 with a 1.95 ERA, 48 strikeouts, and 12 walks in 27⅔ innings pitched. He also got the victory in the opening game of the California League playoffs, giving up one run on five hits in seven innings, striking out ten and walking one against the Visalia Oaks. However, Visalia would wind up winning the series 3-2.
Lincecum spent the first month of the 2007 season pitching for the Fresno Grizzlies, the Giants' AAA affiliate. In five starts (31 innings), he allowed just 1 run, 12 hits, 11 walks, while striking out 46 and going 4-0.
Colorado Rockies prospect Ian Stewart called Lincecum "the toughest pitcher [he] ever faced," adding "Guys on our club who have been in the big leagues said he’s the toughest guy they ever faced too … I’m not really sure why he’s down here, but for a guy who was drafted last year … that guy is filthy." Ian Stewart on Tim Lincecum

Major Leagues

With an injury to the Giants' fifth starter, Russ Ortiz, Lincecum was called up to make his first Major League start on May 6, 2007 against the Philadelphia Phillies. The start was uneven, and ultimately he earned a no-decision; the Giants lost the game eventually, 8-5. The first batter faced, Jimmy Rollins, singled, and the second, Shane Victorino, hit a home run. He then proceeded to strike out the side in the top of the first. His fastball topped out at 100 mph on the radar gun in the early innings, and later averaged in the low 90s. He gave up a second home run to reigning NL MVP Ryan Howard, and left the game after throwing exactly 100 pitches in 4⅓ innings, giving up five runs (four earned).
Lincecum earned him his first Major League win in his next start, on the road against the Rockies.
Lincecum, who is often compared to Houston Astros ace Roy Oswalt, faced him in each of his next two starts. After the first matchup, Astros third baseman Mike Lamb said, "The stuff he was throwing out there tonight was everything he's hyped up to be. He was 97 mph with movement. You just don't see that every day. He pitched very much like the pitcher he is compared to and outdueled him throughout the night." Giants: Strong pitching by Lincecum, relievers helps beat Astros in 12 innings The pair dueled to a no-decision the first time, and Lincecum pitched eight innings and got the win the second time.
He started off June extremely poorly, however. In his first four starts of the month, he allowed 22 earned runs in 18⅔ innings, for a 10.61 ERA. He failed to make it to the fifth inning in any of the last three starts, against Oakland, Toronto, and Milwaukee. Tim Lincecum 2007 Pitching Gamelogs
Lincecum rebounded resoundingly in his fifth June start, and then launched into a stellar July, going 4-0 with a 1.62 ERA. Tim Lincecum 2007 Pitching Splits This was highlighted by a seven inning performance against the Arizona Diamondbacks, in which he struck out 12, the fourth highest ever by a Giants rookie. San Francisco 13, Arizona 0 (7/1/07 Recap)
Lincecum pitched into the ninth inning for the first time on August 21 against the Chicago Cubs. He had allowed just two hits and one walk throught the first eight, while throwing only 88 pitches. He took a 1-0 lead into the ninth, but allowed three consecutive hits before being pulled. The Cubs blew it open against the bullpen, giving Lincecum the loss. Cubs shortstop Ryan Theriot was impressed nonetheless, saying, "He's got electric stuff. The best stuff I've seen all year." Lincecum's gem dashed in ninth

Statistics

Year	Ag	Tm	Lg	W	L	G	GS	CG	SHO	IP	H	R	ER	HR	BB	SO	HBP	WP	BFP	BK	ERA	WHIP	OBA
2007	23	SF	NL	7	4	22	22	0	0	133⅓	110	64	60	12	57	142	2	10	560	0	4.05	1.253	.225
Totals:				7	4	22	22	0	0	133⅓	110	64	60	12	57	142	2	10	560	0	4.05	1.253	.225

★ Through September 4, 2007 Tim Lincecum Statistics Tim Lincecum Stats

Awards and accomplishments

★ 2006 Golden Spikes Award recipient.

★ During his 2006 and 2007 minor league campaigns, Lincecum struck out the highest percentage of batters (minimum 100) of any minor league pitcher in the last 10 years: 30.9 percent. Lincecum a Giant among prospects

★ Going into 2007, Lincecum was ranked as the #11 prospect in baseball by Baseball America. 2007 Top 100 Prospects

References

External links

★ University of Washington Bio

★ The Book on Tim Lincecum from "ScoutingBook.com"

★ Controlled Fury: Tim Lincecum