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Physical Description:
Strong pitcher's frame. Looks the part, doesn’t have the size of a typical
teenager. Durable frame and looks like someone who could one day throw 180
innings a year. Wide, mature body that looks all of his listed height and
weight. Body will need maintenance and bears
watching as he matures. How his body develops will depend on how much work
he puts in off the field both in-season and during the offseason. Height
is imposing on the mound.
Mechanics: Controlled,
repeatable delivery. Loose arm. Throws from a three-quarters arm slot.
Starts on the third base side of the rubber from the wind-up. Free and
easy arm action. Starts with his feet close together and slightly pointed
towards the on-deck circle on the first-base side. Utilizes a high leg
lift and gets extension over his front side. Hides the ball briefly when
he brings it behind his back and then again behind his head as he comes
forward. At times has trouble getting his arm in sync with the rest of his
delivery. When arm is out ahead, will miss up to the glove side; when arm
drags behind, tends to miss arm-side.
Fastball:
Sits
91-93 mph, but will pitch in the 94-96 mph range at times. Generates easy velocity. Pitch
gets on hitters quick and has life. Needs to show the ability to hold
velocity deeper into games. Has the potential to sit at higher velocity as he
matures. Pitch has shown swing-and-miss potential, with arm-side run at times
and cut on other occasions. Potential to develop into a plus-to-better
offering.
Curveball: 79-82 mph. In at least one
Spring Training look was up to as high as 85 mph, and in the past has been
as low as 75 mph. 1-to-7 shape. At
its best, shows depth and late finish. Has advanced feel for the offering
and does a good job snapping the pitch off. Can throw it for strikes or
bury it down and out of the zone when looking for a swinging strike. Has
the potential to be a big league-quality out pitch. Already shows plus and
has the potential to become a plus-plus offering with improved
consistency.
Changeup: 84-86 mph. In the past sat
80-83 mph. Clear third offering at present. Didn't throw pitch
much in high school and didn't
throw much in outings scouted in 2016. Incorporated the pitch more in
2017, but pitch was a work in progress as he tried to develop feel for it.
At times will show average-to-better potential with late fade. At other
times, will show well-below-average, coming in straight and firm and
looking like a fastball he took something off of. Doesn’t throw with
consistent arm speed; still developing. Solid-average potential, but will
take some time to develop.
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Career Notes: Was considered by some to be the
top on-field talent in the 2016 draft class, but fell due to
signability and makeup concerns. Committed to Vanderbilt
initially, but conflicting reports emerged saying he either
decommitted the week of the draft to commit to Chipola (Fla.)
Junior Colleg - potentially allowing him to re-enter draft in
2017 - or Vanderbilt pulled his offer; SoxProspects sources
unanimously confirmed the latter. Transferred to IMG Academy in
Florida for his junior season but returned to Barnegat High in
New Jersey as a senior and was later retroactively suspended for
an improper transfer, causing his team to forfeit two games.
Signed for nearly $500,000 over slot. Participated in 2016 Fall
Instructional League. Club reportedly was unhappy with his
conditioning entering 2017 Spring Training. Suffered an
intercostal strain during his first start of the 2017 season,
causing him to miss two months. Was shut down in mid-August 2017
with forearm soreness. Father was arrested on drug and weapons
charges during 2017 season. Worked out with Chris Sale in Ft.
Myers during the 2017-18 offseason. Pulled from first spring
training start in 2018, resulting in May 2018 Tommy John
Surgery. Missed the 2018 season, returned to action in August
2019.
Summation: Has the potential to
develop into one of the top left-handed pitching prospects in baseball,
but has missed most of his first two full pro seasons and will now miss
most of his third. Talent-wise, could easily be the system's top prosect,
but injuries have cost him valuable reps.
Projects as a solid number three starter with the ceiling of a high-end
number two starter, but injury risk complicates that projection
significantly. Has the build of a workhorse starting pitcher and clean,
repeatable mechanics, yet will be hard-pressed to have 100 pro innings
under his belt by the end of 2019. Early makings of a three-pitch mix with
fastball and curveball both projecting to be at least plus offerings.
Could stand to add a cutter to give hitters another look when he reaches
the high minors. Has a wide range of outcomes with a significant gap
between his floor and ceiling.
Links
Jay Groome video from Lowell (9.2.16)
Scouting Scratch (9.8.16)
Scouting Scratch (9.29.16)
Notes from the Field (3.29.17)
Scouting Scratch - Jay Groome (7.5.17)
Notes from the Field (4.6.18) |
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