Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | SEA | RHP | 6 | 55 |
Grades Update: Nov 2020
| OFP | Role | FB | CB | SL | CH | Cnt/Cmd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 55 | 60 | 60 | 55 | 55 | 55 | 70/60 |
Nov 2020 Report
Evaluator: Alex Jensen
Age: 23 yr
Height: 6-4
Weight: 215 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2019 Draft - Round 1
RuleV: 2023
Physical Description: Long, lean and athletic 6'4 frame that has added some good weight since draft date. Prototype starters frame. Controls his body well and still has room to add 10-15 pounds of good weight. QB frame.
Delivery & Mechanics: Clean, repeatable arm action with an uncanny ability to find consistency with his release point. Length of levers and frame leads to huge extension. Low release height thanks to extension and arm slot. Above average to plus arm speed comes with slight effort but head stays steady. Clean and repeatable with almost surgical precision. Slight rocker step leads into windup with natural delivery and tempo. Torque and shoulder rotation stand out. Easy to see velo projection as he continues to add good weight.
Fastball: One of the better commanded pitches in baseball. Has sat 91-93 in the past but is now sitting 93-95. Was consistently touching 98-99 in instructs as he has added nearly 15 pounds since the draft. Finds and controls all quadrants of the zone. High usage pitch that is used as a tool to control counts. Good velocity, plus command and late movement help Kirby find the zone without finding barrels. Grade: 60
Curveball: 11-5 movement profile is thrown somewhat hard in the low 80's. Arm action doesn't stick out from other offerings and he repeats the pitch well. Not a dynamic chase pitch yet, but he throws it with confidence and finds the zone. Hitters looking fastball are unable to adjust until it's too late. Main weapon used against lefties. Plays above it's grade due to plus command of the pitch. Grade: 55
Slider: The more volatile of his breaking pitches. Thrown in the mid to high 80's with sharp bite when it's on, the slider will flash plus and is especially dangerous against righties. He seems less confident with the slider than his curve and command is game to game. Will scrap pitch completely in starts where command of the pitch isn't there for him. Has a chance to develop into his best secondary in time, but command is currently too inconsistent. Grade: 55
Changeup: Still gaining confidence in his least used pitch. Mimics fastball arm speed and action well. Shows flashes of plus sink and good depth when it's on and keeps solid 8-10 mph velocity separation when it's working. Throws strikes with it, but command isn't as consistent as his fastball, but likely will come with reps. Plus pitch ceiling, but still developing currently. Grade: 55
Control and Command: Some of the best control/command in the entire minors and perhaps even in baseball. If command of his secondaries improves to near his fastball level, we could be talking about Bieber level command here. Gives him an incredibly high floor as a starter without sacrificing ceiling. Control: 70 | Command: 60
Overall: This is how you draw them up. Kirby flashes the ability to miss bats without giving up free bases and avoids mistake pitches. Hitters have to earn it. Prototype frame and added weight should be monumental for his durability. Floor is a backend starter, but if his secondaries can tick up we could be talking about a top-of-rotation guy. Not there yet, but has been trending in the right direction. Fun blend of floor and ceiling who has drawn rave reviews off of the field.
OFP: 55
Role: 60 - #3 SP
Risk: Low
