Game Logged Date: 3/7/2020
Teams: Tennessee versus Wright State
Potential First Round 2020 Draftee
Name: Garrett Crochet
Game Notes: Went three innings coming off early season shoulder soreness. Two hard hit balls, lineout in the second, and a hard hit double in the same inning. Preceded to work out of a jam with runners in scoring position. Getting a big strikeout to end the frame. One of his hits was an infield single the second baseman ate on a slow roller. Heavy fastball + slider but the combination was lethal.
Pitch Mix: Fastball, Slider, Changeup, Curveball
Pitch One: Fastball
Velo: 95-97 touched 99 twice
Movement: Like all of Crochet’s pitches everything breaks gloveside. The angle he creates with his arm action and release point plays up his fastball. Not that he needs it with top notch velocity. His command of the pitch particularly to his gloveside was tremendous as he fooled right-handed hitters consistently despite living on the inner-half of the plate. That’s a double-edged sword as right-handed hitters with elite bat speed should be able to turn on it to their pullside. Still a tall order.
Pitch Grade: 55/60
Pitch Two: Slider
Velo: 84-86
Movement: Much like his fastball the slider breaks gloveside, but he was adept at backfooting it to right-handed batters. It moves on a very similar tunnel to his fastball but with late vertical tail. His best secondary and swing and miss pitch a present, was consistently gone to as an out pitch versus lefties and righties. The tremendous sweep on the pitch is tough to lay off for left-handed hitters as it looks like it’s headed to the outside portion of the plate before dropping with late tail to the gloveside. It’s a plus pitch but a matter of commanding it deeper into longer outings.
Pitch Grade: 50/60
Pitch Three: Changeup
Velo: 89-90 mph
Movement: Initially I mistook a few of them for curveball but on second look it’s clearly a changeup as the pitch runs armside with nice fade. He does a good job of selling the pitch with his arm speed and the early movement on the pitch which starts off with the sweeping angle before pulling the string and watching it run armside. MLB Pipeline graded the pitch a 60. With his infrequent use of it I’d only be comfortable grading it 45 present/55 future. It’s clearly a potential swing and miss pitch but holding his fastball velocity in the 95+ mph range will be important as 89-90 is firm for a changeup.
Pitch Grade: 40/50
Pitch Four: Curveball
Velo: 80
Movement: Showed one curveball during his final inning. More 12-6 drop than you’d expect from a lefty with his arm action and release point. Reluctantly grading the pitch but need more viewings.
Pitch Grade: 40/45
Mechanics: Athletic but offbeat mechanically, big leg kick that closes off his front side to the plate as he pushes off from the third base side of the rubber before exploding toward the plate. The motion despite unusual works for him as he extends well and drops down low to deliver from a low three quarters slot. There’s some inconsistency in his back leg but he’s able to repeat his motion for the most part landing on-line with the target at release.
Overview: Extremely athletic lefthander with a high-waisted build that should add good weight over the years. Repeats his mechanics well, and uses his athleticism to create deception. He hides the ball well, and then delivers from a tremendously difficult angle for hitters right or left handed to barrel. His plus velocity and movement make it an even more treacherous task to overcome.
As for knocks, the long term health issues loom large. Let’s be frank, shoulder soreness isn’t great to hear. There’s also a slight chance he struggles against more advanced hitters, particularly pull hitters that will sit on his fastball on the inner-half. That said, neither would stop me from drafting him inside the first twenty picks in the draft. If he continues to show more confidence in his changeup and stays healthy Crochet has the makings of a stud. There is risk in the profile as a track record of injuries and a lack of sustained high level performance are definite red marks.
Overall: 50/60
Future Role: High end mid-rotation piece or elite high leverage relief arm