Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | SEA | LHP | 21 | 40 |
Grades Update: Nov 2020
| OFP | Role | FB | CB | CH | Cnt/Cmd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 40 | 50 | 40 | 45 | 60/50 |
Nov 2020 Report
Evaluator: Nick Stillman
Age: 24 yr
Height: 5-11
Weight: 210 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2015 Draft - Round 26
RuleV: On 40-man
Physical Description: Short, thick build with a ton of strength in lower half and a barrel chest. Below average athlete. Soft spoken but carries self with the confidence and poise of a veteran and has yet to appear rattled.
Delivery & Mechanics: Quick to the plate with a compact, low-effort delivery, shooting out of a high 3/4th slot with the legs doing most of the work. Attacks from the mound with breakneck pace. Repeats well and maintains average arm speed.
Fastball: Sits 89-92, t94, spins at ~2100rpm. Nicknamed the GOATball in the minors after improving velocity by 4mph in offseason (thanks to Mariners' "Gas Camp"). Generated consistent swings and misses up in the zone in AA. Plays up because of ability to locate at the top of the zone, decent ride, and deception in delivery. Not enough velocity to be a true swing and miss pitch at the major league level, though hitters still swing late/underneath more often than velo would indicate. Grade: 50
Curveball: Sits 73-78, spins at ~2000rpm. A get-me over curveball he throws to righties that can flash above-average with some late drop, but sits below average with a tumbling slow break that hitters pick up early. Not currently a swing and miss pitch but locates well enough that more consistency can improve the offering to average. Grade: 40
Changeup: Sits 83-87, spins at ~1700rpm. Best secondary offering with above average vertical break that flashes plus but sits average. Doesn't locate as well as fastball but gets it to the bottom of the zone consistently. Slight fade and above average drop but is not sharp enough to be a true putaway pitch. Can be too hard but arm speed is consistent. Grade: 45
Control and Command: Plus control and above average command, with the ability to hit spots with consistent mechanics. Can locate fastball on the edges and top of the zone and drop the changeup and curve in for low strikes. Command maximizes a below average arsenal. Control: 60 | Command: 50
Overall: A physically limited player maximizing current repertoire with excellent fastball command while lacking a true out pitch. Profiles as a swing man currently but could open up a role as a back-end starter if he can learn a decent cutter or slider to keep hitters off the four-seamer and change. Alternatively, could carve out a future in the bullpen if the change develops more late bite to be a swing and miss pitch. Has shown the ability to make large adjustments in off-season making Newsome's overall projection a bit rosier.
OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Spot Starter or Long Reliever
Risk: Low
