Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | BOS | RHP | 39 | 30 |
Grades Update: Dec 2020
| OFP | Role | FB | CB | SPL | Cnt/Cmd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 30 | 40 | 60 | 20 | 50/50 |
Dec 2020 Report
Evaluator: Geoff Pontes
Age: 25 yr
Height: 6-0
Weight: 156 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2014 IFA
RuleV: Eligible
Physical Description: Six feet tall, perhaps a shade under and slender. More slight frame overall, may not add much more strength. Undersized and lacking projection physically.
Mechanics: Higher three quarters arm action, heavy shoulder tilt, and above average extension create a sub-6 foot release point on all of his pitches. Full delivery starts with a side step to an exaggerated leg lift, before a slight pause as he brings the ball from his glove, followed by an explosive jerk forward toward the mound. This springboard delivery adds to his deception while limiting his command. Inconsistent release point and doesn't always repeat his landing spot, some areas to clean up but the operation works.
Fastball: Buzardo's fastball in a case study in having one particular metric analysts look for and others that render that one positive null and void. Buzardo has an average release height of five feet, seven inches. An incredibly low release and a characteristic that's important for fastballs that play well in the upper quadrants. Unfortunately he lacks much raw spin averaging in the 2200 range with a 12:30 tilt, and below average vertical movement of 15.1 inches. His tendency to supinate means he gets a fair amount of gyro spin moving his four-seamer inefficiently to his armside. He has below average velocity for a right handed reliever clocking in at an average four-seam velocity of 91.2 mph. In closing, unless Buzardo can tighten his efficiency or add 4+ mph his fastball won't play against big league hitters. Grade: 40
Curveball: The clear best pitch in Buzardo's arsenal. A bender curveball in-line with his low efficiency profile. High average spin rates of 2800+ rpms, and good velocity at an average of 80 mph. The pitch has a lot of early vertical followed by late dump as it hits the plate. He commands the pitch well and has no issues attacking right handed and left handed batters alike with the pitch. Potential plus offering. Grade: 60
Splitter: Variation of previous changeup, equally as straight with very little horizontal movement or velocity separation from fastball. Not a reliable offering, unknown projection at this point Grade: 20
Control and Command: Classic control over command profile. Strike thrower with little issue finding the zone but will often miss his spots with his fastball. Solid enough for a relief profile, in that he's not wild, and can control his one major league caliber pitch, his curveball. Struggled to develop third pitch or maximize fastball. Control: 50 | Command: 40
Overall: A major league ready depth arm, will need improvement to fastball velocity or movement profile to make the jump to below average reliever. One plus offering in the curveball that it might be enough to get him some time with the major league club in 2021. Not much if any projection remaining and went unprotected in the 2019 Rule Five Draft. Threat to be left off the 40 man again.
OFP: 30
Role: 30 - Up/Down Emergency Depth
Risk: Low
