| Date | List | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| 12/29/21 | Top 300 | 13 |
| 11/1/21 | Top 200 | 27 |
| 9/8/21 | Top 150 | 26 |
| 7/26/21 | Top 100 | 24 |
| 1/8/21 | Early Top 100 | 65 |
Scouting Report - Feb 2022
Landon Sims, RHP - 55 OFP
DOB 1/3/2001 (21) HT 6-2 WT 227 H/T R/R
School Mississippi State
| Fastball | Slider | Changeup | Command | Risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 60 | 70 | 40 | 50 | High |
PHYSICAL Stout, durable frame with a thick lower half and present strength throughout. Lacks further projection overall but body should maintain as he matures; Plus arm speed out of a shorter arm action that operates from a deceptive high three-quarters slot. Will get deep into his lower half and create extension downhill extremely well. Will work extremely fast on the mound with an imposing mound presence. There’s some head whack and effort in the delivery that adds some reliever risk, but can be ironed out.
STRENGTHS Sims has one of the premier two-pitch combos in the 2022 draft class. Fastball will induce a ton of swing and miss at the top of the zone and above with big, late carry from a vertical plane. Has flashed double-plus potential as a reliever, looking as an unhittable pitch at times with upper-90s velocity that blows by or gets on top of every bat. Loses a tick on the fastball as a starter, but gains better feel for the strike zone as a whole. Slider looks like it could be in an MLB bullpen today. Tunnels extremely well off of the same fastball plane and has shown impressive ability to manipulate the shape either creating horizontal sweep or hard, gyro-esque vertical movement that both create whiffs. When thr breaking ball starts below the numbers combined with the feel/movement Sims has creates one of the more dominant pitches we’ve seen in college baseball.
WEAKNESSES Further development of a changeup is the biggest hiccup in reaching his full potential and maintain as a starter at the next level. Command can waver at times with both the fastball and slider in extended outing, having a slight tendency to leave pitches middle-middle and more susceptible to having balls barreled up. Overall consistency to hold his stuff deep into outings still needs to be proven as well.
SUMMARY It’s fairly easy to envision a big league role for Landon Sims in the near future, in what role will be ultimately determined on how his pitch mix develops going forward. There’s legitimate potential for either a late inning, high leverage relief arm or even a possible middle-rotation piece for the defending National champion, and that’s upside that will be far and few between in the 2022 class.
EVALUATOR Ian Smith
