Dodgers' Matt Magill has rough Triple-A debut, but don't be too concerned

Matt Magill's Isotope debut was a rough one on Friday afternoon. It could have been nerves, it could have been the environment and it could have been he was just off. It doesn't really matter after the first game of the season.

• Magill's line: 4 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 4 BB, 2 K, 1 HR

It certainly isn't the the worst line ever posted in the Isotopes' home park, but for my No. 6 prospect, it's a tad disappointing. But it isn't time to worry. If it's July and things are still this way, then it might be time to worry.

Chris Jackson of the Albuquerque Examiner said Magill, 23, topped out at 91 MPH with his fastball and ranged from 86-90. That velocity is what he threw early in his minor-league career. He was sitting in the low-90s toward the end of last season. Now, it is just his first start of the season, so it's not time to panic.

Update (5:07 p.m.): This from Jackson after talking to manager Lorenzo Bundy.

Postgame tidbit: Add about 2-3 mph to every one of those radar gun reports I had earlier. Bundy said they're usually off by that. #Topes
— Chris Jackson (@TopesWriter) April 6, 2013

So, that makes me feel a little bit better.

Jackson also said his off-speed stuff was generally in the low-80s. He has a swing-and-miss slider, so it was surprising to hear he didn't throw many of them in his debut.

When I was at spring training, I ran into Magill after his March 15 outing on the back fields. He told me he was "sitting at 95 (MPH)" in Major League camp. I'm not sure that's entirely accurate, but he impressive while he was in camp with the Dodgers.

• Magill's spring training line: 4 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 8 K

Other than inconsistent velocity, the biggest concern with Magill is his control. He has a 3.6 BB/9 rate in 513 2/3 minor-league innings (before today). Not a horrible rate, but a rate that could use some improving. He also offsets that rate with a career 8.9 K/9, which leads to a 2.50 K/BB ratio. So, not all bad.

We'll see how Magill fares going forward. This assignment isn't preferred for Dodger pitching prospects, but if any of them are going to have some modicum of success in the Pacific Coast League, I'd put Magill near the top of the list.

Photo credit: Courtesy of Evan Chavez, I Bleed Dodger Blue 2