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Physical
Description: Tall, athletic frame. Minimal
remaining projection. Long limbs. Has put in work to make
himself stronger since being drafted. Showed up to camp in 2025
in excellent shape and noticeably stronger.
Mechanics: Throws from a three-quarters arm slot,
starting on the third base side of the rubber. Throws
exclusively from the stretch. Free and easy delivery. Short
stride and arm action. Hides the ball well behind. Delivery
works. Controlled and repeats delivery well.
Fastball: 92-94 mph. Tops out at 96 mph. Showed
increased velocity in spring training 2023 after having
previously sat 88-92 mph and topping out at 94 mph, but his
velocity decreased as the 2023 season went on. Sat 92-94 in his
first outing after his return from the White Sox, but was 90-93
in his second outing and was shut down soon after. Velocity
appears to have returned as of Spring Training 2025. Fastball
lacks carry and is on the straight side. Pitch falls in the dead
zone of fastballs; could stand to incorporate a two-seamer or
sinker and limit the use of his four-seam. Has the delivery and
athleticism that lend to a solid command and control profile in
the future, and has improved in that area over time having once
graded out as below-average. Potential average command and
control profile. Potential fringe-average offering.
Changeup: 80-84 mph. Pitch shows fade down and
away from right-handed hitters. Throws with deceptive arm speed
and does a good job of not telegraphing it. Pitch improved in
college and took a massive jump forward in pro ball. Developed
into his go-to out pitch and showed bat-missing ability. Has the
ability to throw it in the zone or start it at the bottom and
land it down and out of the zone to induce swinging strikes.
Potential above-average offering.
Curveball:
76-78 mph. Long, 1-to-7 break. Will flash depth and tight
rotation when he finishes it. Solid feel. Will start at-bats
with it or use it to put hitters away. Throws to hitters on both
sides. Does a good job utilizing the pitch in conjunction with
the rest of his arsenal, which allows it to play up. Potential
average offering.
Cutter: 85-89 mph.
Short, horizontal break. More of a cut-slider than a true
cutter. Most effective when he is able to get in on the hands of
right-handed hitters and tends to go to it early in the count to
get ahead. Originally added the pitch during 2022-23 offseason.
Potential fringe-average offering. |
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Career
Notes: Father, Bill, was a pitcher in the
Royals organization from 1987 to 1990. Was selected in the 23rd
round of the 2017 draft by the Phillies but did not sign.
Successful quarterback in high school and did not commit fully
to baseball until he was in college. First professional
experience came in the 2020 Fall Instructional League.
Participated in the Fall Performance Program in 2021. Was among
the top 20 minor league leaders in strikeouts in 2022. Was set
to participate in the 2022 Fall Performance Program that was
canceled due to Hurricane Ian. Was among the most impressive
pitchers in minor league camp in 2023 after his stuff took a big
step forward over the offseason, showing increased velocity and
a new cutter. Dominated early in the 2023 season in Portland,
becoming viewed by many as the top pitching prospect in the
system, as reflected in his SoxProspects ranking at the time,
but stuff and results took a significant step back after he was
promoted to Worcester. In something of a surprise, was not added
to the 40-man roster in November 2023 to protect him from
selection in the Rule 5 Draft, where he was selected by the
White Sox in December. Underwent a nerve decompression procedure
in his left shoulder in February 2024 and began the season on
the injured list. Made 10 rehab appearances in a bullpen role in
May and early June, then was returned to the Red Sox in
mid-June. After working out in Fort Myers, made two August
appearances for Worcester before hitting the IL again with left
shoulder inflammation that ended his season.
Summation: Potential emergency up-and-down depth
starter or swingman. Ceiling of a sixth starter/long-reliever.
Early in 2023, he flashed potential as an athletic left-hander
with four averageish pitches and a solid command-and-control
profile. As the season went on, however, his stuff regressed
across the board and now only his changeup projects as better
than average, with the rest of his arsenal fringy at best. Was
hampered by injuries while he was with the White Sox as a Rule 5
pick in 2024, and his stuff had regressed when he was returned
to Boston. Having a full, healthy offseason should serve him
well heading into 2025 as he looks to re-establish himself as a
future major league depth option. Fastball lacks quality and
could limit how effective his changeup could be against more
advanced hitters. Still has upside, but there is also a chance
his stuff has plateaued and is unlikely to profile against
advanced hitters.
Links
Red Sox select Shane Drohan with fifth-round pick (6.11.2020)
Scout Chatter (11.24.2020)
Scouting Report Updates (3.1.2021)
Scouting Report Update (3.4.2022) |
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