Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | TB | RHP | 2 | 55 |
Grades Update: Aug 2021
| OFP | Role | FB | CB | SL | CH | Cnt/Cmd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | 60 | 70 | 45 | 60 | 50 | 50/45 |
Aug 2021 Report
Evaluator: Ian Smith
Age: 22 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 190 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2017 Round 1 (PIT)
RuleV: 2021
Physical Description: Well proportioned, athletic frame with present strength in his lower half. Uses his natural athleticism and strength well on the mound, and is a lot stronger then his frame would indicate.
Mechanics: Baz will work exclusively out of the stretch utilizing a chest high leg kick into a traditional three quarters arm slot. Showing some of the best natural arm speed in all of the minors, Baz gets down the mound quickly with impressive extension. Has significantly improved his lead leg block over the past few years, and will now consistently hold his mechanics throughout his outings with more ease. Overall ability to drive through his lower half has grown leaps and bounds in 2021.
Fastball: 96-99, T100; You'll be hard pressed to find easier, consistent upper 90s velocity from a 22-year-old after watching Baz pitch. Using his plus arm speed combined with the torque created from driving through his lower half, Baz can reach back for 99 and triple digits without adding stress to his delivery. It's a high efficiency, high spin offering that will show elite fastball RPMs in the 2400-2750 range consistently, and will get a ton of late life at the top of the zone. Baz will add some cut to it when working down in the zone to give hitters a slightly different look, and overall can command the pitch anywhere he wants in the strike zone. Fastball has been a plus pitch for Baz since his prep days, but now is flirting with a double plus offering. Grade: 70
Curveball: 75-79; A pitch Baz has slowly gone away from since joining the Rays organization, but still shows qualities to be a 3rd or 4th pitch down the line. Holds consistent quality 12/6 shape and has the most velocity separation out of any offering he throws. Will primarily use the curveball early in counts to get ahead, and tends to rarely deploy it in any other situation. Baz has the feel to spin on the pitch but overall command of the pitch will waver. Lack of use besides as a get me over pitch will likely limit the growth of the pitch, but has qualities that will play. Grade: 45
Slider: 85-90; A quality second pitch, Baz has run the slide piece up to 92 in the past, and settles in the mid/high 80s with this offering. Shows an advanced ability to manipulate the pitch from having a ton of sweep to RHH or gyro type movement with tight shape to LHH where he creates a ton of vertical break. Has confidence in the ability to throw this pitch in any count and will create a high number of whiffs on a nightly basis. Can land this pitch wherever he wants glove side, and continuing to improve working backdoor to RHH could take this pitch to a whole different level. Grade: 60
Changeup: 83-88; Firm out of his hand, with late tumbling action. Baz has had some trouble in the past maintaining his arm speed on the pitch, but is showing big improvements so far this season in that regard. Has been frequently elevating the pitch to tunnel off the fastball better and has been creating a high number of ugly swings. Overall has been deploying the pitch at a much higher clip to LHH and the results are improving. Command can still be spotty on the pitch, but the confidence Baz has shown to throw it more deeper in counts is impressive. Adding a consistent changeup to Baz' arsenal is key to his overall ceiling, and slowly we're seeing the makings of above average pitch. Grade: 50
Control and Command: The overall growth Baz has made in his control in 2021 has been outstanding. A career BB/9 of over 4.5 coming into this year, Baz currently has 8 walks in nearly 52 innings. Fastball and slider command are head and shoulders above the rest of his pitch mix, but the development of the changeup has made things much easier to project. Control: 50 | Command: 45
Overall: Since joining Tampa Bay and their widely known player development team in 2019, Baz has taken his game to a higher level. K rates are up, Walk rates are down, and the entire pitch mix continues to get more lethal as he pushes through the minors. At the beginning of Shane Baz' career you were likely looking at a high leverage reliever at best, but now we are seeing close to a fully developed starting pitching prospect who's ceiling could be that of a #2 or #3 in s big league rotation.
OFP: 55
Role: 60 - Mid-Rotation SP #3
Risk: High
