Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | STL | RHP | 9 | 45 |
Grades Update: Dec 2020
| OFP | Role | FB | CB | CH | Ctl/Cmd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | 40 | 55 | 55 | 50 | 45/40 |
Dec 2020 Report
Evaluator: Joe Drake
Age: 23 yr
Height: 6-1
Weight: 205 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2015 IFA
RuleV: On 40-Man
Physical Description: Solidly built frame with a round butt and strong legs and long arms. Shoulders are wide and square, not a lot of room for additional weight, but some. Thighs are thick and strong. Lean and strong, overall. Longer legs and a high waist. Frame looks close to maxed out but will hold 5-10 more pounds. Not quite the ideal pitcher's build, but not far off, either. Maintains poise and composure in rough outings and when defense lets him down. Level-headedness of a starter.
Delivery & Mechanics: Starts windup angled toward the right. Deliberate pause at rock step before coiling into letter-high leg kick. Sits into glutes well which helps lower release height. Arm comes through at high 3/4s slot. Average pace with a couple of pauses mixed in. Arm action is on the longer side and drops down behind the body; hides the ball well. Moderate to high effort; low finish that falls off first base side. Very good separation at foot plant and arm is on time. Repeats pretty well. Similar from the stretch. Pace is up a tick, leg lift mostly the same. Conscious of runners, keeps good ones honest with a quick move to first.
Fastball: 91-93, T94. Not enough velo to really challenge good hitters and is most successful when he's spotting it well. Gets more whiffs than you'd expect based on velo; ball appears to jump on hitters. Higher arm slot and lower release help it play up high in the zone, likely gets good ride. Able to run it by rehabbing big leaguers when he's on. Uses it as his out pitch, dares guys to hit it at times, but still gets it by them more often than not. Loses a tick deeper into outings. Mostly maxed out frame doesn't leave much room to dream on velo increase coming. What you see is probably what you get. Grade: 55
Curveball: 78-81. Tight, vertical break at its best, loses the tightness at times and the break becomes more gradual. More depth than sweep, drops hard when it's on. Changes the shape a bit, utilizing one with tighter bite and a slightly slower version with more depth. Tunnels well off the fastball and fools hitters. Gets whiffs in and out of the zone and can freeze guys with it, too. Not afraid to drop it over the plate when behind in the count or to start an at bat; lots of confidence in the pitch. Clear best secondary pitch. Above-average more often than not with a few bangers and a few hangers mixed in. Grade: 55
Changeup: 78-79. Good separation from the fastball and average fade. More run than depth. Struggles to command it sometimes, clear third offering based on pitch profile and usage. Used predominantly against lefties. The best ones are good enough to get big whiffs with strong fade. Sells it solidly with armspeed. Grade: 50
Control and Command: Has a knack for finding edges andt has the ability to really paint corners when he's on. Around the zone often, but doesn't spot up consistently; Hitters who control the zone well make him come over the heart. Loses the release on the breaker occasionally and hangs it over the middle. Loses the feel at times and will fall behind and walk hitters. He either has it or he doesn't, for the most part. Control: 45 | Command: 40
Overall: Pitchability righty with a collection of average to above-average offerings. Not a strikeout artist, but does a good job inducing weak contact in concert with some Ks. Sequences and mixes pitches well, not afraid to work backwards. Movement profile on the fastball allows it to punch above its velocity and the secondaries flash plus. Had success in AA prior to turning 22 and looks poised to make his MLB debut in 2021. Has a chance to stick at the back of the rotation with a fairly safe floor of long relief or low-leverage work.
OFP: 45
Role: 40 - Spot Starter / Long Relief & Low Leverage
Risk: Moderate
