Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | CHC | RHP | 5 | 50 |
Grades Update: Nov 2020
| OFP | Role | FB | CB | SL | CH | Cmd/Cnt |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 50 | 60 | 55 | 60 | 45 | 50/40 |
Nov 2020 Report
Evaluator: Jake Kerns
Age: 26 yr
Height: 6-1
Weight: 208 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2013 IFA
RuleV: On 40 man
Physical Description: Solidly built. Does not offer additional physical projection. High character and hard worker.
Delivery & Mechanics: 3/4 slot from the right side. Some effort in the delivery. Falls off toward 1B.
Fastball: 92-96; 94.7 average in 2020. Can reach back for more in short bursts. Throws two variations: a sinker and four-seamer. Sinker features above-average arm-side run and is often thrown down or to the corners. Four-seamer can be flat but is effective when elevated up and in. Both get swings and misses, but the sinker was more effective in limiting contact in a small sample. Fastballs made up 52% of his pitch mix in 2020. Grade: 60
Curveball: 78-82; averaged 80.8 in 2020. Plus spin rate that generates swings and misses. Takes several shapes, including a true downer, that is attributable to a new grip. Most effective when located as a backdoor breaker against lefties. Made up 15% of his pitch mix in 2020. Grade: 55
Slider: 83-87; averaged 85.4 in 2020. New grip made the pitch more distinguishable from his curve. Still looks like a curve out of his hand. Shows confidence with the pitch and throws it the most with two-strikes. Demonstrated to be an out-pitch; batters struck out 64% of the time and hit .040 against it in a small sample. Plus spin rate that translates into significant horizontal movement. Made up 24.5% of his pitch mix in 2020. Grade: 60
Changeup: 84-87; averaged 85.5 in 2020. Looks like FB out of his hand and shows similar rotation. Likes to use it away against lefties. Arm-side run. Flashes plus or better when he locates it but inconsistently does so. Pitch has room for significant growth. Only made up 8% of his pitch mix in 2020. Grade: 45
Control and Command: Mostly around the zone with his fastball but displays an obvious tendency to miss with his breaking balls. The changeup plays down because of his inability to locate it. Control is well ahead of his command. Control: 50 | Command: 40
Overall: Starter's repertoire; shows five distinct pitches, two of which were reintroduced in 2020. The slider became a legitimate weapon as the season wore on. Alzolay has demonstrated success in limited opportunities so far in his career and has the floor of a high-leverage reliever. Additional growth, particularly with his changeup and his control and command will unlock even more potential. He has mid-rotation or better upside.
OFP: 50
Role: 50 - #4 SP/# 5 Backend SP
Risk: Moderate
