I'm writing this article as a follow-up to MLB Prospects: Kansas City Royals' Tim Collins Pitching Taller Than He Really Is.
5' 7", 175-pound Tim Collins wasn't on the 40-man roster when camp opened up for the Kansas City Royals on February 14, in Surprise, AZ. In fact, Collins wasn't even drafted.
He will, however, be on the team's opening day roster as Kansas City hosts the the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
A unique story to say the least—to learn more about Collins' rise to the major leagues please follow this link.
Collins' fastball reaches in upwards of 95 mph or higher, probably about 10-12 mph more then when he signed at about 145 pounds.
He's gained strength and put on weight, having been training with a program set up by trainer Eric Cressey, who's catered to Red Sox superstars including Curt Schilling and Kevin Youkilis at his gym, Cressey Performance in Hudson, Mass.
Collins was acquired by the Royals on July 31, 2010 from Atlanta, along with pitcher Jesse Chavez and outfielder Gregor Blanco in a deal that sent pitcher Kyle Farnsworth and outfielder Rick Ankiel to the Braves.
That all came just 17 days after Collins had been shipped to the Braves by the Blue Jays in another trade. Collins fit in nicely with the Royals' Triple-A club at Omaha, posting a 1.33 ERA, two wins and four saves in 15 games.
Collins received word from coach Ned Yost this morning that he had made the roster, the Royals returned (LHP) Robert Fish, a Rule 5 guy, to the Angels to clear a 40-man spot for Collins. He and Robert Fish were the only two lefties in competition for bullpen spots.
Rule 5 provisions mean Fish must remain in the big leagues for the entire season or be offered back to his former club. While there are notable exceptions—Joakim Soria for example, (ironically the closer Collins will be setting up for)—few Rule 5 picks make it.
Through nine outings this spring, Collins has pitched 10.1 innings with a 2.61 ERA and 12 strikeouts, including a scoreless ninth versus the Diamondbacks on Saturday for the save.
Collins throws unusually hard for a pitcher that's 5' 7" and his delivery makes it difficult for batters to follow and pick up on the ball.
Collins will earn a significant pay increase from the construction job direction he was headed towards before being discovered. He will earn a reported $417,000, which is the major league minimum.
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