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PERSONAL:
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- Collins says he was 4-foot-9 his freshman year of high school. And he played second base and the outfield.
- His senior year of high school, Collins threw a no-hitter against Auburn High School in the district championship game.
- Undersized and undrafted, Collins was set to become a carpenter upon graduation from Worcester (Mass.) Technical High in 2007. He enrolled at Rhode Island Community College, but two weeks before classes an American Legion baseball game changed everything.
The 5-foot-7 lefty made a relief appearance on a mound in Worcester, striking out 11 of 12 batters, freezing them with a big league curveball.
Luckily for Collins, then-Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi was attending the game to scout 6-foot-7 lefty Keith Landers, who went on to the University of Louisville. If Tim hadn't pitched that night in Worcester, he'd be framing houses now instead of building a career as a big league pitcher.
Within days, the Blue Jays signed Collins, who, despite not having an agent, landed a $10,000 signing bonus and a contract that included four years of college tuition ($7,500 per semester) down the road.
"I was never on the radar," said Collins, who went 91-5 and threw a no-hitter in high school. "I was all set to work a construction job for the summer and the rest of my life. That's what I went to Worcester Tech for. Baseball was kind of a hobby."
"It's a crazy story. I was 17 years old. I'd never been out of the Northeast," Collins said. "Suddenly I'm down there in the Gulf Coast League trying to find an apartment.
The diminutive southpaw was mistaken for an infielder on his first cab ride in Florida. And Indians minor leaguers reportedly poked fun at Collins—presumably for his lack of size—before an outing in the GCL.
(Kevin Gray-Baseball America-5/19/10)
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In 2008, Tim led all minor league relievers in opponent's average, holding them to a .156 average.The Baseball America Prospect Handbook rated Collins as the 30th-best prospect in the Blue Jays organization in the spring of 2009. They moved Tim up to #19 in the spring of 2010.
And, after moving to the prospect-packed Royals organization, he was up again, to #13, in the winter before 2011 spring training.At the end of the 2009 season, Collins was named the Blue Jays' Minor League Pitcher of the Year. Tim limited Florida State League hitters to a .199 average and his 13.50 strikeouts-per-nine innings ranked sixth among all full-season relievers, the second year in a row he'd joined the Minor League leaders in that category.
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Tim can't help but admire Tim Lincecum and Billy Wagner (his #1 inspiration), with whom he shares much in common. And not just a lively fastball.
"Obviously, they are not your average pitchers, being a little shorter, but they are really hard throwers," Collins said. "I'm the same way as far as trying to get everything I can out of my body."
Rigorous offseason workouts at Cressey Performance in Hudson, Mass., helped Collins increase his weight to 172 pounds and his vertical leap from 33 to 37 inches.
An outstanding athlete, Collins was also his high school's quarterback. Only a lack of size kept him off big league draft boards in 2007.Tim is a big believer in the long toss, believing it strengthens his arm.
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Before the 2011 season, Collins and Freddy Patek former big league star with the Royals at just 5-feet-4, sat down and talked—about being short and still making a big league impression.
You can't call Collins small, even though he's on a very short list for the title of "shortest pitcher since 5-foot-6 Bobby Shantz." He's got as close to a tank-like build as any pitcher. For five years now, he's worked out with trainer Eric Cressey in Hudson, Mass., and he's at it again this year—right from the 2011 season's end. Collins said he isn't focusing heavily on one thing in his workouts, taking a full-body approach and making sure he has strength for his sophomore performance. "Basically every year it's just getting stronger," Collins said. "That's what helps me stay healthy all season." (December 1, 2011)
TRANSACTIONS
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2007: The Blue Jays signed him as a free agent, out of Worcester Tech High School in Massachusetts.July 14, 2010: The Braves sent SS Yunel Escobar and LHP Jo-Jo Reyes to the Blue Jays, acquiring SS Yunel Escobar, SS Tyler Pastronicky, and Collins.July 31, 2010: The Royals sent OF Rick Ankiel and reliever Kyle Farnsworth to the Braves, acquiring Collins, P Jesse Chavez, and OF Gregor Blanco to K.C.January 16, 2014: Collins and the Royals avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a one-year pact for $1,362,500 for 2014.
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PITCHING:
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- Collins has an 88-95 mph four-seam FASTBALL, an above average overhand 12-to-6 CURVEBALL with good spin, and a slightly above-average CHANGEUP with solid fade. And he is working on a CUTTER.
Tim moves his heater on both sides of the plate and can elevate it when he needs to. He changes the hitter's eye level with his curve. His curve's unique action makes it difficult to distinguish from a high fastball—until it is too late. - Tim aggressively attacks hitters, challenging them. Collins has the mentality that when he steps on the mound, it is his game.
- As a little lefthander (5-foot-7, 155 pounds) with only average stuff, he has to prove himself every step of the way.
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Tim has an extremely high leg kick in his delivery that keeps hitters from timing him properly. Hitters take swings, but they don't take good swings because of his deception.
His arm speed is exceptional. He has a high three-quarters arm slot which allows him to stay on top of his pitches and work down in the strike zone. Collins gets excellent deception from his high leg kick, a high set position and a rock-and-turn that has his back facing the hitter as he begins to delivery the ball to the plate.Collins has a lot of heart. He is fearless and mentally tough.He works quickly, keeping his teammates on their toes.Tim is about equally adept at retiring both lefthanded and righthanded hitters.
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As of the start of the 2014 season, Collins had a 12-14 career record, a 3.51 ERA having allowed 16 home runs and 156 hits in 190 innings.
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