Nov 2020 Report
Evaluator: Justin Lada
Age: 25 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 223 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2015 Draft - Round 18, NYM
RuleV: On 40-man
Physical Description: Physical upper-body build. Strong in the chest and arms. High waist and somewhat long-limbed. Build is that of a Major League starter. TJ Surgery 8/27/17.
Delivery & Mechanics: Works first base side of the rubber. Uses a quick front foot step towards first and rocks into a mid-section high leg kick. Stays stacked over the middle and creates good leverage from his drive leg. Long arm swing. Shows ability to get extension in his delivery and stays over the rubber. Solid shoulder/torso separation Uses a high 3/4 arm slot. Appears from older outings to have an inefficient deceleration.
Fastball: Runs 91-94 and will hit 95. Reportedly a pitch with high spin and movement backs it up, showing late 'rise' and using an arm angle to create the kind of spin axis that would produce high spin rates. Humphreys uses that characteristic by working the pitch well high in the zone. His heater doesn't have much in the way of horizontal movement but it does show that late, vertical 'rise' and runs above hitters bats. Above average command of the pitch, the spin and ride helps it play above average velocity. However, after Tommy John surgery and setbacks from it, those characteristics aren't yet back for the pitch. Grade: 50
Curveball: 77-79. Good, sharp, downward action. 11-5 shape with good depth. He gets consistent vertical drop on the pitch and was adept at throwing it for strikes before TJ. Works it to drop in on the hands of left handers and down and away from right handed hitters. Can throw it for a strike or get swings and misses. Like the fastball, arm slot backs ability to create good sprin axis needed to produce efficient spin on the pitch, backing up reports. Grade: 55
Slider: Newer pitch developed post TJ. Late, downward break. Pre-TJ it appeared he had a slider that looked like it had inconsistent shape with vertical drop, but occasionally mistaken for a cutter. Not a traditional arm slot for a slider but Humprheys shows feel for spin on his curveball and had good command of his other offerings pre-TJ. Limited views on this pitch combined with track record for other breaking stuff and waiting to see prior stuff 'comeback' from TJ leave it with a fringe-average look for now. Grade: 45
Changeup: 81-83. Inconsistently used offering. Mostly showed good vertical drop, but less consistent arm side run. Able to use it to get under bats of left handers. Like the rest of his arsenal, pre-TJ command was average enough to make it a useable pitch that needs improvement. Grade: 40
Control and Command: Prior to TJ, Humphreys' command is what made his arsenal play up. Showed above average consistent comment with the fastball and with the curveball. DId not command the changeup as well as the other two pitches, but enough to give it fringe-average status. Most effective command comes from working north/south with the fastball and curveball, less so glove/arm sides. Unknown overall command of the slider. Avoids walks. Post-TJ surgery, plus complications and limited looks after getting back on the mound are a question mark on pre-TJ abilities. Control: 50 | Command: 45
Overall: Prior to his injury, Humphreys looked on track to profile as a back of the rotation arm. He had two above average pitches that he commanded well, and a fringe-average third offering that he showed control with. He avoided walks and showed the feel for spin and knew how to make his stuff work, and where. He has the build to start and a moderately effortless delivery. His arm slot is consistent with creating a good spin axis on his heater and bender, which work well together. It's reminiscent of current Tribe reliever James Karinchak. Karinchak had a high 3/4 arm slot in college with a high spin heater and curve. Cleveland raised his arm slot when he got into the system, which took some effort with his postural shift and gives him command issues at times. I don't think Humphreys would have that problem because of his low effort in keeping his center of gravity balanced. Even if Cleveland doesn't look to raise Humphreys' arm slot, the fastball and curveball can tunnel well together with the release point and spin. If the spin and command can return once he's back on the mound, it can help him profile well as a reliever, which might even tick up his velocity. He could be used as a multi-inning relief option too. Adding the slider could help his arsenal remain in the rotation. Pre-TJ he had more than enough command to start. Limited looks post TJ make it more difficult where his future is. He had complications after the surgery, which make the comeback more challenging.
OFP: 35
Role: 30 - Up/Down Emergency Depth
Risk: High
