Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | HOU | RHP | 16 | 40 |
Grades Update: Jan 2021
| OFP | Role | FB | CB | SL | CH | Cont/Cmd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 40 | 40 | 40 | 55 | 50 | 60/55 |
Jan 2021 Report
Evaluator: Geoff Pontes
Age: 24 yr
Height: 6-3
Weight: 227 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2018 Draft, Round 11
RuleV: 2021
Physical Description: Tall, broad shouldered and strong with good strength throughout his frame. Strong lower half with room to add projection with continued training focus.
Delivery & Mechanics: Pitches exclusively from the stretch, hand set by waist, quick leg lift that closes off front side as he extends his leg before drive, low three quarters arm action. Fluid repeatable motion but one that doesn't do a good job of tapping into his lower half, particularly his glutes for velocity.
Fastball: Below average offering, with sub-optimal velocity at an average of 88-90 mph. Locates well to both sides of the place as well as north to south. Efficient backspin and deceptive low release allow it to play elevated at 90-91 mph but that's unlikely to play at the major league level. Minimal armside run, lacks late life and action despite efficient spin axis. Grade: 40
Curveball: Loopy slow offering in the 73-76 mph band. More vertical version of his slider and a fourth pitch he'll show versus lefties and righties. Gets swings and misses but some of that may be due to clever sequencing. Grade: 40
Slider: Best pitch in arsenal, sitting 80-84 mph with tight gyro spin. He throws it a lot like his fastball and it tunnels due to his lower slot and release point. Will throw the pitch early and often all over the zone. Shows the ability to manipulate it for more slurvy break, similar shape to a harder version of his curveball. It's an above average offering and the focal point of his sequencing. Grade: 55
Changeup: Consistent feel for the off-speed pitch with big tumble and fade armside. Goes right after left handed batters with it. Consistently lands the pitch for strikes, and generates swings and misses as well as weak groundball contact. Will mix in right on right but a majority of his usage is against lefties. One major negative is the lack of velocity between his fastball and changeup. Grade: 50
Control and Command: Above average command profile, as his strike throwing, feel for his secondaries and ability to hit his spots is impressive. One of the better control arms we've scouted this off-season. Shows the ability to move all of his pitches around the zone and consistently nail his intended spots. Control: 60 | Command: 55
Overall: Unconventional is the best way to describe Conine. He pitches backwards almost exclusively and the first two pitches of any at bat are a guessing game between any of his four offerings. Added velocity is needed for him to play as a starter long term. That said, his efficient strike throwing, advanced sequencing and good secondary stuff plays in the rotation. Conine's control and command is so advanced we're more the comfortable projecting him as a 45 OFP with a backend starters ceiling. With the strategic usage of bullpens in the modern game Conine could fit as somewhat of a bulk starter a la Ryan Yarbrough.
OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Spot Starter or Long Reliever
Risk: Moderate
