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Physical Description: Lanky
right-hander with an athletic frame. Still somewhat on the
skinny side, but has added noticeable muscle. Some projection
remaining, but will always be on the thin side.
Mechanics: Throws from a three-quarters arm slot.
Starts with a wide base and does not utilize a wind-up.
Medium-high leg kick. Stays in line to the plate. Loose, quick
arm. Arm action is a little long behind and very quick coming
forward. Gets good extension. Some effort in his delivery, but
does a good job repeating it. Arm can get out ahead too quickly.
Fastball: 95-98 mph. Tops out at 99 mph.
Four-seam fastball primarily sits 97-98 mph. Generates easy
velocity. Command needs refinement and grades as below-average.
Struggles to locate arm-side, but has shown more feel commanding
to his glove side. When his arm gets out too quick, he loses his
release and tends to crossfire the pitch. Average spin rate.
Shows tail down in the zone and some ride and late life when up
in the zone. Will also mix in a two-seam fastball with arm-side
run in the mid-90s. Four-seam velocity has steadily increased
over his career, from 91-93 mph during the 2018 Fall
Instructional League to 93-96 at 2020 Fall Instructs. Potential
plus offering.
Changeup: 87-89 mph.
Started as a work in progress, but is now his best secondary
pitch. Throws with deceptive arm speed. Has good feel for it and
consistently throws competitive pitches. At its best, shows
late, arm-side fade down and away from the barrel of left-handed
hitters. Can really pull the string on it and the pitch will
fall off the table late. True major league-quality,
swing-and-miss pitch at its best. Most effective against
left-handed hitters, but has started to incorporate it more
against righties as well. On occasion, will slow his arm and
pitch ends up on the firm side. Potential plus offering.
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Slider: 83-86 mph. Short, 10-to-4 shape. Will
flash the ability to land the pitch in the zone or get swinging
strikes, but command is still inconsistent. In some outings, he
lacks feel for the pitch and does not snap it off. Pitch has
shorter break when thrown harder and more break at lower
velocities. Pitch has a slightly above-average spin rate
compared to the MLB average for a right-hander. Shape will vary
at times, with some more vertical and others more horizontal.
Will throw often and in any count. Potential above-average
pitch.
Career Notes:
Did not sign until age 18. Was fairly dominant during debut in
the DSL, but was old for the level. Jumped all the way to
Greenville the following year. Struggled in the first half in
2019, but got stronger as the season went on. Participated in
the 2018 and 2020 Fall Instructional League. Named to the 2021
MLB Futures Game. Threw a seven-inning no-hitter on May 6, 2022.
Summation: Potential back-end starter.
Ceiling of a mid-rotation starter. If he can not stick as a
starter, could develop into a high-leverage reliever. Stuff
looks like that of a starter, but combination of thin stature
and delivery could indicate a future in the bullpen. Has done a
much better job repeating delivery and holding velocity deeper
into starts in looks in 2022. At his best, will flash three at
least above-average pitches, and on the right day, all will look
like potential plus pitches. Fastball and changeup are his best
pitches right now and could profile in a late-inning bullpen
role if slider and command do not continue to develop. Not
imposing physically, but still has projection and has the type
of athleticism you look for. Has continued to improve year after
year, and now is one of the top pitching prospects in the
system.
Links
State of the System: Mid-Minors Pitchers (4.3.20)
Scouting Report Update (7.29.2020)
Scout Chatter (12.4.2020)
Scouting Scratch (7.21.2021)
Scouting Scratch: Red Sox 2021 Rule 5 Preview (11.18.2021)
Scouting Scratch: Breaking Down Brayan Bello (6.10.2022) |
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