Kyle Drabek

From BR Bullpen

Kyle J. Drabek

• Bats Right, Throws Right
• Height 6' 0", Weight 175 lb.

• High School The Woodlands High School
• Born December 8, 1987 in Victoria, TX USA

The son of Doug Drabek, Kyle Drabek was one of the most-hyped prospects entering the 2006 amateur draft. Throwing a fastball that would reach 97 mph and a very good slider, Kyle went 12-0, 1.18 his senior year in high school (he had been 11-1, 0.82 the prior year), striking out 138 in 77 innings and batting .443 as a part-time shortstop. In football, he caught over 1,000 yards as a wide receiver his junior year and ran the 40-meter dash in 4.5 seconds. Due to concerns about his character, he fell to the 18th pick in the draft, when he was selected by the Philadelphia Phillies. He signed with the club and began his pro career that summer with the GCL Phillies. However, Drabek struggled with the team, going 1-3 with a 7.71 ERA in 6 starts.

Drabek had been arrested for public intoxication in January 2005 - charges were later dropped and Kyle denied guilt. In September of that year, he wrecked an SUV when he rammed it into a tree as he was driving to watch his little sister chearlead.

Kyle was 5-1 with a 4.33 ERA for the 2007 Lakewood BlueClaws but then had Tommy John surgery and was expected to be out until late 2008.