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Physical Description: Lanky
right-hander with an athletic frame. On the skinny side at
present, has projection remaining.
Mechanics:
Throws from a three-quarters arm slot. Starts with a wide base
and doesn’t 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 quick.
Fastball:
95-97 mph. Tops out at 100 mph. Generates easy velocity, pitch
shows late life up in the zone. Command needs refinement and
grades as below-average command at present. Struggles to locate
arm side, but has shown more feel commanding to the 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 when up in the zone. Velocity has
steadily increased over his career, from 91-93 mph during the
Fall Instructional League in 2018 to 93-96 at Fall Instructs in
2020. Potential plus-to-better offering.
Changeup: 85-89 mph. Started as a work in progress, but
is now his best secondary pitch. Throws with deceptive arm
speed. At its best, shows late arm-side fade. 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. On
occasion, will slow his arm and pitch ends up on the firm side.
Potential plus offering.
Slider: 84-88
mph. Short 10-4 shape. Has shown the ability to land the pitch
for strikes or get swing and misses, but still is inconsistent
with it. Some outings he lacks for feel for it and doesn’t 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. Will
throw often and in any count. Potential above-average pitch.
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Career Notes: Did not sign
until age 18. Was fairly dominant during debut season 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 despite nearly doubling his
inning total from the previous season. Participated in the 2018
and 2020 Fall Instructional League. Named to the 2021 Futures
Game at MLB All-Star Weekend.
Summation:
Potential mid-rotation starter or high leverage relief type.
Even though he is in Double-A, has a wide variation of potential
outcomes. At his best will flash three at least above-average
pitches and on the right day, all will look like potential plus
pitches. Fastball/changeup are best two pitches right now and
could profile in a late inning bullpen role if slider and
command don't 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) |
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