Arizona Diamondbacks director of minor league operations A.J. Hinch was in South Bend on Friday night to watch the game against the Fort Wayne Wizards.

Hinch got a first-hand view of former Norwell High School pitcher Jarrod Parker as the 19-year-old spearheaded a 2-0 shutout of the Wizards.

Parker's five-inning outing -- in which he didn't allow a run and only three hits --earned him his third win in as many starts. He's now 3-1 with a 1.05 earned run average in six starts of his first professional season.

Parker was the No. 9-overall pick in the 2007 MLB draft. Baseball America ranks the 6-foot-1, 190-pounder as the second-best player in the Diamondbacks' minor league system.

Hinch talked about the highly-touted right-hander after the game.

News-Sentinel: What's your perspective on what he brings, what he does and why the Diamondbacks like him?

Hinch: "He's a gifted athlete. He's got the intangibles. He's got the stuff and a good makeup. And he comes as advertised out of the draft. His poise on the mound is good. His ability to attack hitters is good. He's not afraid of the strike zone, which is good for a young kid. It's an impressive trait."

"Obviously, we like everything about him. He's in a perfect league for him. He's not too far away from home but at the same time he's able to kickstart what looks to be a very successful career."

News-Sentinel: With his development and how he progresses, does it look like he'll be a fast-mover?

Hinch: "The analogy we use is like building a house. You're building a foundation here in South Bend. When it clicks for him and when he gets it, he can be a fast mover. Very few guys come out of the draft and have command and control and the stuff…all three. He's got a healthy body, a lively body, and is an athlete. I think that all proves to be true with Jarrod. You never know; once you build that foundation and you're stable and you get all those of things under control… he's going to be well on his way."

News-Sentinel: I know being 19 with the arm still developing, strengthening at least, does it look like - I don't want to get ahead - he'll probably spend most of the season here or a majority of the season here?

Hinch: "It's hard to tell. I know it's a big interest to a lot of people… number one, probably his family. For the most part it depends on how his adjustments come with some of the things we're going to work on. It's not out of the question that he could move this year. But at the same time with similar impact-type guys…(outfielder) Justin Upton a couple years ago (stayed all of his first year at South Bend). (Pitcher) Brett Anderson moved last year. He's another 19-year-old. So it's case-by-case and it's early in the season to kind of start thinking that way. At the same time, he has all of the qualities and characteristics. It'd be more how we provided him with a stable environment. His stuff is (ready) today. That speaks to his ability. Now we just want to utilize it effectively."

News-Sentinel: As far as his pitching, is there anything you're looking to work on a little bit or define a little bit more?

Hinch: "I joked with him in instructional league and asked, ‘How many breaking balls did you really have to throw in high school?' He kind of smiled and said, ‘Not a lot.' I think he's raw in a sense of using his curveball, his slider, his changeup. Those are things that he hasn't had to do. We know he's going to have to use those as he goes across level by level to make him a complete pitcher. Our job - he has a dynamic fastball, good breaking ball, good changeup - if we tie all those together… by the time he's ready to get a higher and higher level you want him to be a complete pitcher. Like I said, he's building a foundation now to be exactly that."