Joel Kuhnel - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 CIN RHP 26 40

Grades Update: Nov 2020
OFP Role FB SL Ctr/Cmd
45 40 60 50 45/40

Nov 2020 Report

Evaluator: Justin Lada

Age: 26 yr
Height: 6-4
Weight: 280 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2016 Draft - Round 11
RuleV: On 40-man

Physical Description: Tall; large frame; thick body. Strong thick lower half. Build reminiscent of one-time Reds reliever Jonathan Broxton.

Delivery & Mechanics: Has undergone some variations of starting from the stretch over the last three years. In 2020 he started with his back tilted towards the plate. Used to use the leg kick to drop down on his back leg. Leg kick will occasionally be waist high, sometimes chest high. Breaks hands as the front leg begins to sweep forward before plant. Uses a short-arm, downward arm swing. Allows him to hide the ball behind his back leg. Gets into drive leg well, creating a 90 degree angle with his knee. Shows good torso and shoulder separation. High three-quarters arm slot; efficient in rhythm; mechanics appear fluid; moderate to high effort delivery; release point wanders on occasion.

Fastball: Inconsistent velocity. Has sat 96-98 in the past; other outings yield 92-94 velo. Averaged 95.4 during his brief MLB call up this past season. Shows arm-side run; mostly flat. Modest middling spin rate. Fringe-average command. Grade: 60

Slider: Sits 84-86 with horizontal movement; lacks significant vertical drop. Inconsistent but tunneled well off his fastball. Average spin and below-average command. Grade: 50

Control and Command: Inconsistent arm slot and release point lead to erratic control and command. Fringe-average fastball command; slider command lags behind considerably. Control: 45 | Command: 40

Overall: Profile screams power reliever. Two-pitch mix anchored by a plus fastball that has a track record of scraping upper-90s. Prototypical control over command relief arm with a solid history of missing bats. Lack of a lethal secondary pitch and below-average command make him likely better suited for a middle relief role. Overall a potential solid low leverage reliever with just moderate risk.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Low-Leverage Reliever
Risk: Moderate