Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | MIL | LHP | 11 | 40 |
Grades Update: Jan 2021
| OFP | Role | FB | CB | SL | CH | Cnt/Cmd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 40 | 50 | 55 | 45 | 40 | 45/40 |
Jan 2021 Report
Evaluator: Rhys White
Age: 23 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 181 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/L
Acquired: 2018 Round4
RuleV: 2021
Physical Description: Good height with a frame that should be able to handle more weight. He has long legs with long arms that have some physical projection to go.
Delivery & Mechanics: He tends to vary the timing mechanisms in his mechanics but he does release the ball from the same three-quarters arm-slot. It is not normal to see a pitcher play around with so many timing mechanisms. He messes around with a Kershaw-esque leg pump and drives towards the mound. Ashby will also use a leg-kick and stop at the top of the motion before driving down. He will also do a minimal leg-kick. There seems to be no rhyme or reason for why he does this, and will oftentimes use multiple timing mechanisms during the same at bat.
Fastball: Ashby has two variations of the fastball. He has a four-seam fastball that plays best up in the zone, that has below average spin (hovering around 2100 rpms) and can get up to 94. He will also mix in a two-seamer that also tops out at 94 but gets a bit more spin sitting slightly below 2200 rpms. He tries to mix in both fastballs early and often to both handedness of batters. He becomes too reliant on the two fastballs and doesn't mix in the other offerings enough. I noticed that hitters make a decent amount of contact off of the fastballs. He lacks consistent command of the two fastballs, and pairing that with the above average velocity and below average spin rates you get two fastballs that play close to average. Grade: 50
Curveball: Ashby's curveball has standard 12-6 shape and he loves to use it late in counts to elicit swings and misses and potentially strikeouts. The curveball is best spotted in the lower part of the strike-zone where it can entice hitters and then fall out of the strike-zone. It generates below-average spin (peaks at just higher than 2500 rpms) and has above average vertical beak. Grade: 55
Slider: Ashby's slider is a low 80's offering with above average spin(clocking in at 2600 rpms). It doesn't have very much shape variation from the curveball and at times just looks like a curveball that doesn't get the downwards movement. He does throw the slider up in the zone, which plays well off of the four-seam fastball. He doesn't generate swings and misses with the slider, using it as a show me offering to grab a strike. Grade: 45
Changeup: Ashby lacks feel for his changeup, which hurts the changeup. He limits the exposure of the changeup, but will use it late in counts. It gets inconsistent tumble and fade, due to his lack of feel for the offering. If it is not spotted in the lower parts of the strike-zone it is very hiteable and leads to hard contact. Grade: 40
Control and Command: The command and control are both below average. He was experimenting with his delivery and timing mechanisms so that did not do him any favors. The hope is he settles on a consistent delivery and can make a slight step forward in both the command and control aspects of his game. Control: 45 | Command: 40
Overall: I do not envision Ashby being a starter for much longer, and with more muscle and not having to preserve his stuff, there is some hope that his stuff takes a step forward. He needs to figure out his delivery as well, and have some semblance of consistency there. The command and control limit his upside to remain a starter, which should ultimately push him to the pen where he can focus on the fastball and curveball.
OFP: 40
Role: 40 -Low Leverage Reliever
Risk: Moderate
