Pitcher in Escobar trade is 5-7 fireballer

Collins threw a bullpen session for Ricciardi’s scouts a few days later, signed soon after, and immediately was off to the Gulf Coast Rookie League.

Three years later, the undersized left-hander was dominating Double-A hitters for the New Hampshire Fisher Cats until he was traded Thursday to the Braves along with shortstop Alex Gonzalez and minor-league shortstop Tyler Pastornicky for Yunel Escobar and Jo-Jo Reyes.

“The Braves pushed really hard for the trade, so they obviously like me and know what I can do,” said Collins, who woke to the phone call that he was changing teams. “I can’t just go in there and expect things handed to me. I still have to go in there with the attitude that I have to prove people wrong.”

The 20-year-old Collins progressed quickly through the Blue Jays organization in the past three years. Collins’ former Fisher Cats pitching coach Tom Signore said he expects that rise to continue.

“There’s no question he can get major league hitters out,” Signore said. “Each step he takes, the hitters get better, so he’s going to have to adjust. I’m confident he’ll do that. I definitely think you’ll see him pitching on TV.”

As a freshman at Worcester Technical High School, Collins joined the junior-varsity team at just 4-foot-10 and 82 pounds. With the Fisher Cats, he grew into his listed stats of 5-7 and 155 pounds.

With several days remaining in the 2009 Fisher Cats season, Collins entered a workout facility in Hudson, Mass., to set up his off-season training program so he could begin the day after his team’s final game.

“Tim is probably one of the hardest workers we’ve ever had on the training floor,” said Pete Dupuis, the facility's vice president, who added that Collins frequently challenges gym patrons to footraces. “There isn’t one person who doesn’t know who he is, and there are a number of our clients who think Tim is on staff because he’s here so often.”

Because of his size, nearly every scout passed on Collins during his high school career, even when he compiled a 91-5 record and hurled a no-hitter against a powerful high school opponent his senior year.

According to Ron Silvestri, Collins’ high school coach, there was one professional scout who encouraged his boss to draft the fireballer. That team passed because of Collins’ size, but was among the teams who recently attempted to trade for him.

“He’s kind of a freak,” Silvestri said. “There were always people telling him that he was too small. He played with enthusiasm that’s contagious, and that’s what I love about him. We practiced hard, and when we’d get done, most kids wanted to go home and sleep. Tim would get out and want to go to the batting cages.”

While Collins throws between 90 and 94 mph, his refined off-speed pitches are what helped him drop his ERA to 2.51. After establishing a change-up, cutter and curveball, Collins has not allowed a run in over a month.

Trystan Magnuson of the Fisher Cats had been teammates with Collins at every level since 2007.

“He’s just a little firecracker,” said the 6-7 pitcher, who acknowledged the mismatched pair frequently received strange glances from those walking by because of their height difference. “He [was] probably one of the most dominant pitchers in the league. He always pitches like he has something to prove.”

During Collins’ initial game with the Gulf Coast Blue Jays, he did have something to prove. He walked into the clubhouse, and his new teammates passed right by him, assuming he was a coach’s son or the batboy for the day.

“I’ve been overlooked my whole life,” Collins said. “A little kid’s dream is to play in the big leagues. I never thought it would be a reality. Even now I’m a little shocked that I’m playing professional baseball.”

Ricciardi said he still follows Collins’ progress and takes particular pride in him because of the local tie.

“Walking in there I could see why they would think there’s no way he is a player,” Ricciardi said. “I doubt anybody is saying that now.”