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Landon Sims - MLB Draft Profile

2022 MLB Draft Scouting Report for RHP Landon Sims

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2022 MLB Draft Scouting Report & Interview with Elijah Green

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Jason Kamlowsky

Zac Lowther - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 BAL LHP 20 40

Grades Update: Dec 2020
OFP Role FB CB SL CH Cnt/Cmd
40 40 45 50 40 40 55/45

Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: Jason Kamlowsky

Age: 25 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 235 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/L
Acquired: 2017 Draft - Round CBB
RuleV: Eligible

Physical Description: Thick, unathletic build. Broad shoulders but heavy through the midsection. Lower body is well developed. Not much more room for projection. Weight could be a blessing or a curse: Has the body of a durable starter but could get away from him without proper maintenance. Mid-section will need to be area of focus.

Delivery & Mechanics: Low-maintenance, repeatable delivery. 3/4 arm slot with a whippy arm motion. Calm mound presence. Starts on the third base side of the rubber. Slight rocker step with the hands staying at the chest through the balance point. High leg kick that extends straight down to his plant foot. Gets good drive to the plate in his lower body. Hips get through the throwing zone well. Arm can lag at times causing pitches to sail.

Fastball: 88-91 MPH. Relies more on movement and deception than velocity. Above average spin rates makes ball appear to jump out of his hand. Consistently around the plate. Moves the fastball around the zone with confidence. Throws black to black with authority. At his best when throwing down in the zone but not afraid to throw to upper third and change eye levels. Command of the fastball is already above average. Grade: 45

Curveball: Slow and loopy 73-77 MPH. Really tough on lefties. Will throw in any count. Drops it into the zone at will. Can generate swings and misses because of above average command. When thrown to the bottom third, can be an above average offering. Grade: 50

Slider: 78-82 MPH. Thrown slightly harder than the curveball with different tilt. Used more as a chase pitch than one that gets dropped in for a strike. Not quite as effective as the curveball but can be used as a weapon against righties or lefties. Grade: 40

Changeup: 83-85 MPH work in progress. Has enough separation off the fastball to be effective. Command of his changeup lags far behind the fastball. More of a show-me pitch but could flash average with work. Grade: 40

Control and Command: Polished for his age and doesn't get rattled. Knows how to set up hitters and induces a lot of soft contact. Command of the fastball has flashed plus. Has confidence to throw it in any situation despite lack of velocity. Command of the secondaries lacks consistency. Will need to show the ability to throw his curveball and slider more consistently in the zone to hit his ceiling. High baseball IQ and knows how to pitch. Control: 55 | Command: 45

Overall: What Lowther lacks in premium velocity, he makes up for with a four-pitch mix that has allowed him to have success as he's advanced through the Orioles system. His strikeout numbers are a testament to the spin rate on his fastball and his ability to move the ball around the zone. Lowther is an interesting prospect for a couple of reasons. He already has an advanced feel for how to pitch but due to his law of plus stuff, his margin for error against big league hitters will be considerably smaller. You have to admire a guy who gets the most out of his talent and that is exactly what Lowther is going to do. He may never be more than a back-of-the-rotation starter or swingman, but he likely will become a valuable member of the Orioles staff in the near future.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Spot Starter or Long Reliever
Risk: Moderate

Michael Baumann - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 BAL RHP 7 50

Grades Update: Dec 2020
OFP Role FB CB SL CH Cnt/Cmd
50 50 60 45 55 45 55/50

Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: Jason Kamlowsky

Age: 25 yr
Height: 6-4
Weight: 225 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2017 Draft - Round 3
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster

Physical Description: Impressive physical stature. Long and thick lower half that has already filled out giving him plenty of strength in his legs. Good looking upper body with plenty of muscle down through his forearms. Could take on some extra weight although it is not a necessity to be effective. Sturdy righty whose body is built to eat innings at the big-league level. Wouldn't look out of place on a Major League mound.

Delivery & Mechanics: No nonsense approach and repeatable delivery. Gets right to work attacking hitters. Slight side step off the first base side of the rubber with the hands starting at the chest and working down to the waste then back to the chest. Minimal effort through the balance point. Balance point out of the windup is place of strength and allows him to get tremendous drive off his back leg. Long, overhand delivery with enough deception to keep hitters honest. Gets consistent full extension through the pitch and follow-through. Can fall off to the first base side. Athletic enough to recover on bunts and slow rollers.

Fastball: Has a four-seam fastball that explodes out of his hand. Touches 99 but sits consistently around 93-96. Good glove side run. Uses it to get ahead early in the count and gets bonus points for movement. Command is plus and throws it to all four quadrants. Does need to harness it early in games. Elevates in the zone which may present an issue. Has no fear of coming inside on hitters. Overall potential plus pitch. Grade: 60

Curveball: 77-80 MPH show me pitch. Much different look than the slider with more traditional loop. More confident throwing to lefties. Development of this pitch could be the difference between him being a high-floor SP3 or a back-end starter. Grade: 45

Slider: 88-89 MPH with hard, tight spin. Breaks like a cutter and he uses it effectively against righties and lefties. Can generate swings and misses and is already a put-away offering. Command can be spotty at times although it gets better later in games. Seems to get a better feel in the middle innings. Projects as an above-average offering. Grade: 55

Changeup: 84-88 MPH work in progress. Velo isn't a concern relative to his fastball. Shows some late movement but not enough to warrant more than an average offering at present. When he gets on top of it, he is much more effective. Will need to improve consistency. Grade: 45

Control and Command: Fills up the zone and gets right to work. Made vast improvements in pitchability and sequencing in 2019. Flashed above average on secondary pitches. Needs more consistency, although the slider is coming along nicely. Fastball command is already above average. Sometimes tends to push his changeup and will need to work better down in the zone. Mound presence is among the best in the Orioles system. Control: 55 | Command: 50

Overall: I will try and temper my enthusiasm here but Baumann could be the SP3 Robin to DL Hall and Grayson Rodriguez's Batman for years to come. He broke out in 2019 pitching effectively across two levels. Threw a no-hitter for Bowie and had a stretch of 27 innings in AA where he gave up just one run. There is some concern he may be better in a relief role so he can let his stuff fly like a bull coming out of the chute. Fastball velocity holds late into games and gives me a lot of optimism that he can hit his ceiling as a starter, however. One of the fastest risers in a very good system for pitching. Should make his Baltimore debut sometime in 2021. Mid-rotation upside, with back of the rotation SP a more realistic ceiling.

OFP: 50
Role: 50 - #4 / #5 SP
Risk: Moderate

DL Hall - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 BAL LHP 3 55

Grades Update: Dec 2020
OFP Role FB CB SL CH Cnt/Cmd
55 60 60 55 55 50 55/45

Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: Jason Kamlowsky

Age: 22 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 195 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/L
Acquired: 2017 Draft - Round 1
RuleV: 2021

Physical Description: Medium build but looks to be heavier than 190. Not the prototypical pitcher's body but has off-the-charts athleticism. Can drunk a basketball flat-footed and is one of the best pure athletes in the entire system. Has added weight, especially in his core, and could stand to add more. Fluid and smooth body movements.

Delivery & Mechanics: Athletic delivery. Starts on third-base side of the rubber. Slight rocker step with a high leg kick at the balance point. More repeatable from the windup than the stretch. 3/4 arm slot with loose, quick arm. Sometimes has arm lag instead of getting out in front. Tremendous leg drive. Has made adjustments from rushing his front side through and collapsing the backside, unlocking more velocity. Has tendency to pitch uphill out of the stretch getting a little crouch before separating his hands. Needs to consistently generate a downhill plane.

Fastball: Live arm. Throws an easy 97 and sits 93-96. Reports are that he has touched 99 at the Orioles instructional camp. Gets some late run which gradually increases later in the game. Pitches to both sides of the plate. Arm lag and inconsistency out of the stretch allows fastball to sail. Potential plus pitch. Grade: 60

Curveball: 75-79 MPH with 2/7 shape. Can be devastating, especially on lefties. Already shown ability to drop it into the zone. Will throw it in any count or situation. Potential out-pitch that has flashed plus. If the slider is for real, the curve will pair with it as a terrific secondary combo. Grade: 55

Slider: 86-88 MPH, touching 90 at instructs. Has passed the curveball as his best secondary offering. Hasn't thrown it much in live games but has been unhittable in instructs. Could be the big-time weapon that turns him into an ace. Grade: 55

Changeup: 83-85 with consistent arm action to fool hitters. Gets above average late fade. Command comes and goes. Will need to mix it more to be truly effective. Grade: 50

Control and Command: Command of the fastball is solid for his age. Works the lower half of the strike zone well. Curveball command flashes average when arm slot is maintained. In my live looks he already knew how to set hitters up. Sequencing is coming along. Changeup command needs significant work. Will go outside, inside, and then drop a curveball making him one of the top left-handed pitching prospects in baseball. Control: 55 | Command: 45

Overall: The raw stuff is outstanding and when combined with the elite athleticism there is a lot to get excited about. The Orioles got a steal with Hall dropping to 21st overall in 2017 and the new front office has done wonders for him. The projectability here is off the charts and he has already shown that he loves the big stage in getting a 1-2-3 inning in the 2019 Futures Game. If the slider is as good as it has been advertised to be in instructs, Hall could have some of the nastiest stuff in all of baseball. Overall there's legitimate impact level mid-rotation upside here.

OFP: 55
Role: 60 - #3 SP
Risk: High

Hudson Haskin - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 BAL OF 16 45

Grades Update: Dec 2020
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
45 40 40 40 50 50 60

Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: Jason Kamlowsky

Age: 22 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 200 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2020 Draft - Round 2
RuleV: 2023

Physical Description: Long and lean, carries his 200 pounds well. Athletic build. Muscular, well-defined lower half. Could stand to add some weight in his upper body. Could easily play at 210 or 215. Above average straight-line speed. Enough strength to eventually develop into a power threat.

Hit: Swing is ugly, but effective. Aggressive approach. Upright, slightly open stance. Hands start right above his ear. Pronounced leg kick with noticeable weight shift that causes his lower half to drift through the zone at times. Legs tend to bow when getting through hitting zone. Backside can collapse when trying to go to the opposite field. Gets bat head to the zone well with quick hands. Will make contact on a consistent basis. Doesn't strike out a lot. Grade: 40

Power: Big, strong kid who has above average power to his pull-side. Opposite field power needs work. Swing generates natural loft. Will need to improve his lower half mechanics to unlock peak power profile. Grade: 40

Field: Potential plus defender with great instincts. Never made an error in college. Can play all three outfield positions. Takes good angles to the ball. Has plenty of range to run down balls in the gap. Attacks the ball in the outfield. High baseball IQ. Grade: 50

Arm: Plus arm strength with overhand release. Gets good carry. Throws are usually on target around the bag. Good balance in his throw and his body stays underneath him. Arm tool should carry as he advances. Grade: 50

Run: Elite speed. Clocks 4.10 to 4.15 consistently. Wasn't asked to run a lot in college. Speed isn't used as a weapon offensively. Needs to be more aggressive on the bases. Can track down most balls in the outfield. Speed should help him advance quickly. Grade: 60

Overall: If you like toolsy outfielders, Haskin is your guy. Already has good size and speed which should play up as he advances. Will need to walk more and change his approach at the plate to adjust to the Major League level. The swing is unconventional but gets the job done so it will be interesting to see how much the Orioles tinker with him. If the hit tool and power develop, we could be talking about an everyday starter with room for more. Defensively he will be able to play all three outfield spots which, in a system starved for position players, should benefit him. There is a reasonably wide ranges of outcomes here but if everything comes together, the tools are there for him to an everyday regular and potential leadoff hitter.

OFP: 45
Role: 40 - Below-Average Player: Platoon or Utility
Risk: High

Trey Riley - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 ATL RHP 31 35

Grades Update: Dec 2020
OFP Role FB CB SL CH Cnt/Cmd
35 30 45 40 50 50 40/30

Dec 2020 Report

Evaluator: Jason Kamlowsky

Age: 23 yr
Height: 6-3
Weight: 205 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/R
Acquired: 2018 Draft, Round 5
RuleV: 2021

Physical Description: Former two-way high school player with above average athleticism. Prototypical pitcher frame with projectable body. Tall and lean through his core. Lower half is still developing but he's worked to get bigger there. Carries his current body weight well. Has put on almost 30 pounds since his first year of JUCO ball.

Delivery & Mechanics: Command and control issues stem primarily from mechanical flaws through his release. While the delivery is repeatable, there is some effort here. Good balance point from the stretch but could stand to get lower through his delivery. 3/4 arm slot with some slight cross body action. Is too tall through his release and follow through. Finishes with a slight trail off to the first base side. To be more consistent, needs to work on driving down through his front side.

Fastball: Live arm. Ball jumps out of his hand. Sits consistently 92-95 but has touched 97. In a relief role it's easy to envision him sitting 95+. Can generate swings and misses due to some modest movement. Has tendency to miss spots leaving him vulnerable to hard contact. Control and command are both lacking, something that is a theme throughout his repertoire. Grade: 45

Curveball: 76-79 MPH that is more loopy than the slider. Inconsistent work in progress that he brought back into his arsenal in 2019. Thrown primarily to the outer half on righties and rarely used against lefties. More of a show me pitch than an effective one at this point. Grade: 40

Slider: 85-89 MPH with some 2-7 tilt. Sets up well off the fastball. Potential plus offering. Currently his best pitch and could be what allows him to flourish in a bullpen role. Can throw it for a strike early in the count. Uses it more against righties than lefties but comfortable throwing it in any count. Grade: 50

Changeup: 82-85 MPH but rarely used. Doesn't have enough confidence to throw it consistently. Will likely lag far behind other offerings throughout his career. Grade: 30

Control and Command: Command and control are below average right now. Can be effectively wild but is generally inconsistent throwing strikes. Will get hitters in an 0-2 hole and then fill up the count. Most of his control issues are self-inflicted due to mechanical issues in his delivery. Mound presence needs a lot of polish. Wears emotions on his sleeve and lacks poise. Control: 40 | Command: 30

Overall: Riley was seen as somewhat of a steal when the Braves got him in the 5th Round of the 2018 draft but control issues have plagued him early in his career. Appropriately nicknamed <93>Nuke<94> after Tim Robbins character in Bull Durham, Riley has an electric arm but has yet to harness it enough to be effective. He registered more walks (46) than strikeouts (41) in 2019 and had an unsightly 7.32 ERA. A complete overhaul of his mechanics might be a bridge too far, but some tweaks need to be made to help his command play. The fastball and slider combo boost his profile as a reliever and a full-time move to the bullpen is probably his best chance to make it to the big leagues. He does have some pedigree as his dad P.J. was drafted by the Astros in the 1989 draft but his mound presence and mechanics will need a lot of work in order for him to be a legitimate prospect.

OFP: 35
Role: 30 - Up/Down Emergency Depth
Risk: High

Connor Cannon - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 SF 1B 38 35

Grades Update: Apr 2021
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
35 30 40 70 30 40 30

Apr 2021 Report

Evaluator: Jason Kamlowsky

Age: 23 yr
Height: 6-5
Weight: 240 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2019 Round 17
RuleV: 2022

Physical Description: This is a large human. Looks like he has slimmed down a bit from college. Naturally strong. High waisted and thick in his lower half, particularly in his hips and thighs. Upper body is far from being toned.

Hit: For a guy his size, he has a simple swing. Hands start high and the bat settles on his shoulder pre-pitch. Doesn't overstride or try to get big. Has shown propensity to go the opposite way with plenty of pop. When he gets his arms extended, he can do damage. There is a fair amount of swing and miss here. Doesn't walk much. Mostly a two-outcome hitter, but he understands what he is and attempts to capitalize on his strengths. Grade: 40

Power: Raw power is off the charts. He can muscle balls out of the park with ease. Raw power might be double plus and game power is plus. Simplified swing helps him go to all fields with pop. This is his best tool and will need to carry him. Grade: 70

Field: Moves surprisingly well for a kid his size. That said, his range is average at best. Will field balls hit right at him but isn't going to range over to the line or to his hand side. Pats his glove on his thigh before getting to the fielding position - a habit he needs to break. Probably best suited for a DH-role but could play 1B in a pinch. Grade: 30

Arm: Average arm strength. Throws from a low arm slot that takes some time on his release. Makes accurate throws to start double plays. Ball carries well enough across the diamond to be serviceable but playing first base means he will rarely make that type of throw. Grade: 40

Run: Below average, awkward runner. Stiff and upright when he runs, will struggle to score from second on a hit. Not a threat to steal. Grade: 30

Overall: Cannon has impressive raw power, probably the best in the Giants' system, but beyond that the tools are lacking. He hit 13 home runs in Rookie ball back in 2019 but he was 22 at the time, making him old for that level. He has the classic "long levers" for his size which is going to make it hard for him to maintain his power numbers as he advances. He is probably best served in a DH-role which will make breaking through that much more difficult.

OFP: 35
Role: 30 - Up/Down Emergency Depth
Risk: High

Garrett Frechette - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 SF 1B 30 40

Grades Update: Apr 2021
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
40 40 50 40 40 50 40

Apr 2021 Report

Evaluator: Jason Kamlowsky

Age: 20 yr
Height: 6-3
Weight: 200 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/L
Acquired: 2019 Round 5
RuleV: 2023

Physical Description: For just turning 20, this is a really good-looking kid. Has really worked on his body since being drafted. Muscular forearms and well-defined upper body. Is still filling out through his shoulders. Lower body is coming along. Has done well to put on weight in his lower half. Can put on 15-20 additional pounds without much problem.

Hit: Classic left-handed stance. Simplified approach without much noise through his swing. Starts slightly open with a little crouch in his lower half. Shifts weight from his back leg through a slight front leg kick. Hands start by his shoulders and stay quiet through the swing path. Gets directly to the ball with a short swing. Doesn't dive after pitches away. For his height, he does a reasonable job of hitting pitches low in the zone. Solid approach at the plate, especially given his age. Grade: 50

Power: Raw power profile is intriguing. Has the frame to grow into an impact power source but not convinced that happens. With only 165 minor league plate appearances, game power is mostly projection at this point. With a shorter swing path, he can square up pitches with authority. Willingness to go to all fields may hinder his power projection a bit. Would prefer to see him not sell out for power and be a more complete hitter, especially given San Francisco's home park dimensions. Grade: 40

Field: Athletic enough for the Giants to give him a look in the outfield. Footwork around first base is adequate. Will never win a Gold Glove but also won't be a liability. Grade: 40

Arm: Very limited looks here but arm strength is above average, enough so that it would allow him to play left field. If he sticks at first base, arm will carry just fine. Grade: 50

Run: Average runner who won't steal many bases. Can lumber a bit out of the box. Not sure he has the speed to stick in the outfield, especially in a system that is so rich at the position. Grade: 40

Overall: Frechette is an interesting prospect. He was hurt for much of his senior year at Orange Lutheran High School but displayed enough power in a pre-draft workout that the Giants took him in the 5th Round and signed him to a well-above-slot contract. While he has the physical look of your prototypical left-handed slugger, I prefer he keeps his approach in hitting to all fields and being selective at the plate. The lack of a 2020 season likely set him back but his age and projectability both work in his favor. He could be much higher on this list in a year.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Below-Average Player: Platoon or Bench
Risk: High

Jared Triolo - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 PIT 3B 35 35

Grades Update: Jan 2021
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
35 30 40 45 50 50 40

Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Jason Kamlowsky

Age: 23 yr
Height: 6-3
Weight: 212 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2019 Round 2
RuleV: 2022

Physical Description: Average athlete with an ordinary build, lacks significant strength throughout his body. Long limbed athlete with a high waist. Doesn't fill out the jersey and could add weight in his lower half. Some physical maturity remains.

Hit: Above average hitting approach. Slightly open stance, bow-legged stance. Wide base and a deeper crouch. Hands start above his letters with his back elbow down. Can dive in at pitches off the plate but does well going the opposite way with moderate power. The hole in his swing is his inability to pull the ball with authority, especially low in the zone. Does handle pitches up and in. Appears to pick up spin, though he will offer at offspeed pitches out of the zone. A slight adjustment in his front side attacking the baseball could help the overall hit tool. Grade: 40

Power: More gap-to-gap power at present. Opposite field power is ahead of his pull side. Doesn't have the frame to support an advanced power profile at the moment. Will hit a handful of home runs but will be unlikely to top 10-12 at peak. Lower half mechanics will need to be tweaked to unlock peak power potential. Grade: 45

Field: Above average defender at third base. Has the range and lateral movement for the position. Works well with his footwork around the bag. Soft hands and good instincts. Played a few games at shortstop but lacks athleticism to be more than a backup there. Can drift mentally on the defensive side of the ball leading to botched plays with the glove. Will need to play every day at third rather than being forced into a utility role. Grade: 50

Arm: Above average arm allows him to make most throws across the diamond. Makes hard throws look easy but sometimes makes easy throws look hard. Throws have good carry and, when he is focused, are accurate. Improved consistency should help projection. Grade: 50

Run: Average speed and not a real threat to steal. Gets out of the box well but has heavy feet when he runs. Long strides with average acceleration. Grade: 40

Overall: Triolo is your traditional college draftee in that he has a high baseball IQ and sound approach to the game. There is not standout tool at present, although his glove has flashed plus. He isn't a great athlete and his physical profile limits his overall potential. He may eventually end up as a defense-first late-game replacement, although the Pirates lack of organization depth boosts his chances to be more.

OFP: 35
Role: 30 - Up/Down Emergency Depth
Risk: Moderate

Blake Cederlind - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 PIT RHP 29 40

Grades Update: Jan 2021
OFP Role FB CT CH Ctr/Cmd
40 40 60 50 40 45/40

Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Jason Kamlowsky

Age: 25 yr
Height: 6-4
Weight: 215 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2016 Round 5
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster

Physical Description: Prototypical reliever build. Twitchy athlete. Long arms and legs. Strong lower half with a well-built upper body. Toned forearms. Could add 10 pounds of muscle without much problem but isn't a necessity.

Delivery & Mechanics: High effort delivery that is typical of power relievers. Pitches exclusively from the stretch. Stiff front leg at the balance point. Crouch at hand separation allows him to drive off his back leg. Can be too upright at times causing pitches to stay up in the zone. On-line to home plate delivery. Front side can fly open forcing his arm to catch up with the rest of his body. Big follow through on the leg kick causes him to trail to first base side.

Fastball: Double plus velocity at 96-98 MPH and has touched 101. Power offering thrown with two different grips. Four seamer that can get decent movement when thrown up in the zone. Can elevate hitters eye level at peak velocity. Toyed with the offering last spring to get more traditional sinker feel. Changed grip to decrease spin rate. Responded with 21 inches of vertical drop giving it late sinking life when thrown down in the zone. Grade: 60

Cutter: 89-91 MPH secondary that he uses against both righties and lefties. Thrown mostly to the bottom of the zone with promising results. Higher spin rate than the slider but thrown with less velocity. Command is still a work in progress but could be the secondary pitch that allows him to be a high leverage reliever. Grade: 50

Changeup: 88-90 MPH. Fringe below average offering that he didn't throw at all in his major league debut. Will more than likely end up being a two-pitch specialist. Grade: 40

Control and Command: Control has been below average over most of his minor league career but he has made strides. Switch to the bullpen has made a big difference in his ability to throw strikes. Still getting a feel for his sinker which is his best offering. I don't anticipate his control or command issues holding him back. Command of his cutter will be the difference between him being a high leverage arm for the Pirates and just another hard throwing reliever. Control: 45 | Command: 40

Overall: Cederlind was impressive last spring before baseball shut down. After a bout with COVID he returned and logged a modest four innings at the major league level. He has a lightning bolt for an arm and he has added a sinker grip to his more traditional four seam fastball. On a club like Pittsburgh he likely has a better chance of becoming a high leverage arm but his ability to throw in the high-90's with increased movement enhances his profile. Look for him to be in Pittsburgh for all of 2021, most likely as one of their top right-handed relievers due to lack of depth.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Low Leverage Reliever
Risk: Moderate

JT Brubaker - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 PIT RHP 24 40

Grades Update: Jan 2021
OFP Role FB CT CB SL Ctr/Cmd
40 40 50 55 45 50 50/45

Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Jason Kamlowsky

Age: 27 yr
Height: 6-3
Weight: 185 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2015 Round 6
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster

Physical Description: Long-limbed, prototypical body for a pitcher. High waisted with room to grow in his lower half. Room to add strength throughout his body. Tapered shoulders with long arms and defined forearms. Likely near his physical projection due to age. Has dealt with a forearm strain in the past.

Delivery & Mechanics: Repeatable, low effort delivery that suits his frame well. Throws with a high 3/4 arm slot. Starts on the third base side of the rubber. Modified windup and steps to the first base side with hands coming from his face down to his belt. Gets a little cross body action with his delivery giving him some moderate deception. Can rush through his balance point in the stretch. Athletic enough to make most plays off the mound.

Fastball: Has touched 99 with his fastball, though he sits between 92-95. Tough to project the velocity increasing much due to his age. Average spin rates in the 2200 rpm range but he does well to elevate his fastball to play off his sinker and slider. Primarily uses it against lefties, although he has struggled with his command at times. Grade: 50

Cutter: Sinker: 92-94 MPH and most effective pitch. Maintains arm speed. Good feel and can throw in all counts though he leans heavily on it to righties. Gets tremendous arm side run making it more of a chase pitch for lefties. Sets up nicely off the other secondaries. Most effective pitch should continue to make gains. Grade: 55

Curveball: 78-81 MPH and much more loopy than the slider. Absurd 2800 rpm spin rate. Will start in the middle of the plate and fall off the table to lefthanded hitters. Doesn't have the same feel as he does for the slider but will throw it in two-strike counts. More of a chase pitch than a strike offering making it fringe-average. Grade: 45

Slider: 86-89 MPH that with tremendous vertical drop. Has shown good feel. 2600 rpm spin rate creates two-plane break. Pounds the inner third to lefties and the outer third to righties and rarely deviates. Will likely be an above average offering. Grade: 50

Control and Command: Attacks the corners effectively, especially with his secondaries. Changes eye level with success. Secondaries are more control than command at times. Lack of a changeup will make it difficult for him to sustain success as a starter. Might be better in a relief role with his above average secondaries. Control: 50 | Command: 45

Overall: Brubaker possesses the physical traits you want in a starter but the raw staff has yet to develop enough for him to be one. On most clubs, he would be a swingman or long reliever but he is in the mix to start because Pittsburgh lacks anything resembling quality depth at the major league level. He would benefit from a move to the bullpen, although that is unlikely in his current situation. Expectations should be tempered as he is already 27 and there isn't a lot of projection left.

OFP: 40
Role: 40 - Spot Starter or Low Leverage Reliever
Risk: Low

Mason Martin - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 PIT 1B 19 45

Grades Update: Jan 2021
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
45 40 40 60 40 50 40

Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Jason Kamlowsky

Age: 22 yr
Height: 6-0
Weight: 205 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/R
Acquired: 2017 Round 1
RuleV: 2021

Physical Description: Two-sport high school athlete who also played football. Weight room junkie. On the shorter side for a first baseman. Bulked up in a big way during quarantine. Muscular upper body and defined through his core. Powerful lower half that helps him generate big-time power to his pull side. Picked up yoga in the offseason to help him with flexibility. Not a lot of room for physical projection but has a great makeup and work ethic of a professional. Father played semi pro ball.

Hit: Slightly open stance. Hands start high - above his ear. Has a little pre-pitch wiggle in his hands. Front leg kick is used a timing mechanism. Has done a better job of staying on his back leg. Gets his hands through the zone well and shortened up in 2019. Can dive at pitches outside. Will offer at offspeed pitches leading me to believe he struggles picking up spin. Big time pull-side hitter. Can try to yank pitches even on the outer third. Grade: 40

Power: Plus power that has already played up during games. Typical left-handed masher who should enjoy taking aim at PNC Park's short right field porch. Will hammer pitches on the inner half of the plate. Could flirt with 30-35 home runs if given regular playing time. Grade: 60

Field: Lacks prototypical height for a 1st Baseman. Average defender who will be adequate with his glove. Has been working with former Pirate Kevin Young to improve his footwork at first base. Doesn't necessarily stand out but has good enough instincts around the bag to be adequate. Grade: 40

Arm: Above average arm. Doesn't have to make many throws but is accurate when asked to do so. Combined with his glove he should be league average at first base defensively. Grade: 50

Run: Above average runner, especially given his power profile. Not a threat to steal but is a good enough athlete to score from 2nd on a hit. Despite the increased muscle mass, new commitment to yoga should help him maintain speed on the base paths. Grade: 40

Overall: Martin was the Pirates Minor League Player of the Year in 2019 after hitting 35 home runs across two levels. His plus raw power makes him a rarity in the organization which, depending on what Pittsburgh decides to do with Josh Bell, could land him on the North Side by 2022. His pull-side power profile matches up well with PNC Park (and most of the parks in the NL Central) so in a system that isn't rich in those types he could find himself with an everyday role at some point. He needs to continue to work on hitting to all parts of the field and improve on his pitch recognition but as he hasn't played above High-A ball, there will be growing pains. Still, the raw power and overall makeup should make him an everyday player in Pittsburgh.

OFP: 45
Role: 40 - Below-Average Player: Bench/Platoon
Risk: Moderate

Jared Jones - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 PIT RHP 13 45

Grades Update: Jan 2021
OFP Role FB SL CH Ctr/Cmd
45 40 50 50 40 45/40

Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Jason Kamlowsky

Age: 19 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 180 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/R
Acquired: 2020 Round 2
RuleV: 2024

Physical Description: A bit undersized but one of the better high school athletes in the 2020 draft class and a Texas commit. Explosive athlete who was a two-way player in high school. Projectable body with plenty of room for growth, though he looks bigger than 180 pounds. Thick and defined calves give me optimism that he will add good weight in his lower half. Tapered shoulders with long arms. Upper body is lagging behind the lower body a bit in development. Father was drafted by Arizona in 1997 and has two cousins who both pitched in the majors.

Delivery & Mechanics: Athletic delivery with a high 3/4 arm slot. Slight rocker step to the first base side of the rubber. Gets to the balance point well and pushes off his back hip. Drives down through his front side well. Can trail off to the first base side at times. Repeatability needs some work and has a little more effort than I prefer in a potential starter. If he can keep his head still and settle himself down through the balance point there is a load of potential here.

Fastball: Velocity is already plus. Sits 93-96 but has touched 98 with some late riding life. Gets better run on the glove side and some cutting action. Consistently paints arm-side black. Control over command at this point but should develop into a plus offering. Grade: 50

Slider: 80-83 above average offering with tight spin and good bite. Like most teenagers, command is still a work in progress. Gets good tumble and fade. Arm can lag causing the pitch to hang high in the zone at times. Has a good feel despite his age. Would like to see him throw it harder to compliment the excellent velocity on his fastball. Grade: 50

Changeup: 85-88 MPH. Developmental offering at present. Will need to establish it if he wants to have a chance to be a starter. Hasn't thrown it enough to warrant much more consideration than a show-me offering. Grade: 40

Control and Command: Like most teenagers, is working on his command. Refining his delivery to have less effort will help development here. Does have a feel for how to pitch and set hitters up. Will throw to both sides of the plate, though consistency can be questionable at times. Off the chart athleticism and competitiveness should help his command develop. Control: 45 | Command: 40

Overall: A two-way high school star at La Mirada High School, Jones fell into the Pirates lap at 44th overall as he was being projected as a possible first round pick. He is one of the best overall athletes in the 2020 draft class and he could have been a high round pick even as a position player. Jones is somewhat of a project as a pure pitcher as he has a high effort delivery and he lacks prototypical size. That said, he has a high baseball IQ and is a fierce competitor which is something the Pirates system has lacked in recent years. From a projection standpoint, his athleticism reminds me a little of the Orioles D.L. Hall who also slid down the first round back in 2017 and is now regarded as one of the top pitching prospects in baseball. That would obviously be a top-5% outcome for Jones but one that is fun to dream on.

OFP: 45
Role: 40 - Long Reliever or Spot Starter
Risk: High

Carmen Mlodzinski - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 PIT RHP 7 50

Grades Update: Jan 2021
OFP Role FB CT SL CH Ctr/Com
50 50 50 55 50 50 50/45

Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Jason Kamlowsky

Age: 22 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 230 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2020 Round 1
RuleV: 2023

Physical Description: Average height with strong lower body. Sturdily-built righty with college pedigree. Despite being just 6'2 he is long through his waist and legs. In terms of development, his upper body is lagging behind the lower body. Can still fill out some through his chest and forearms. Solid through his core and then has a nice wide base in his hips. Good mound presence and competes every pitch. Foot surgery caused him to miss most of his sophomore year at South Carolina.

Delivery & Mechanics: Throws with more of a short-armed delivery than 3/4 slot giving him a fair amount of deception, especially on his offspeed pitches. More pronounced leg kick from the windup than the stretch. Good tempo though his delivery and his body stays centered through his balance point. Gets good drive down through his front side and full extension into his release. A fair amount of effort in his delivery but it is repeatable. Mechanics do not need a lot of polish, which is to be expected for a three-year college guy.

Fastball: Throws a heavy ball. Fastball velocity has ranged anywhere between 92-98 but sits comfortably in the low-to-mid 90's. Gets good late life to both planes. Likes to run it in on right-handed hitters and has had success doing so. Command is above average and throws to both sides of the plate with authority. Elevates hitters eye level at peak velocity generating swings and misses. Above average command. Inconsistent velocity dampens projection a bit. Grade: 50

Cutter: 94-96 MPH. Mid-90's power pitch with tremendous late run. Pounds righties in on their hands inducing weak contact and handcuffing hitters. Release point helps him get a fair amount of deception. Leans on it in all counts but is most effective when ahead. Plus pitch that should help him accelerate through the system. Grade: 55

Slider: Slider: 80-82 MPH with good depth. Has already used it as a strikeout offering and can drop it into the zone. Really tough pitch on lefties as it starts in the middle of the plate and falls out of the zone to their back foot but has also shown propensity to front door righties. Compliments the fastball well because of the velocity drop and slurvy feel. Would like to see him throw it with more regularity. Could develop into a plus pitch that help him reach his ceiling. Grade: 50

Changeup: Changeup: 79-81 MPH with sinking action. Velocity drop take almost 14 MPH off his fastball. Thrown exclusively to the bottom of the zone and plays well off the sinker and slider/cutter action of his other two secondaries. Grade: 50

Control and Command: Is a jack of trades with throwing a variation of five different pitches. Can throw all of his pitches for strikes, although the secondaries with less consistency. Made strides at the Cape walking just five in 34.1 innings and continued that success in an abbreviated junior season at South Carolina. Fastball command has improved. Better command of the Sinker/Cutter combination will be needed to unlock the true potential. Changeup command is fringe average. Sequences well, setting up hitters to both sides of the plate. Has a good feel for how to pitch but is more control over command at this point. Control: 50 | Command: 45

Overall: Mlodzinski has some intrigue as a guy with a potential four-pitch mix who has pitched at a high level both in college and the Cape. The velocity has been a little inconsistent but if he can hold his mid-90's fastball and sinker that will vastly enhance his overall profile. He's a student of the game and has a plus makeup with a reputation for being one of the hardest working guys in the South Carolina program. The Pirates are retooling their system so Mlodzinski may end up advancing relatively quickly and end up in Pittsburgh as soon as 2023.

OFP: 50
Role: 50 - #4-#5 SP or High Leverage Reliever
Risk: High

Brennan Malone - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 PIT RHP 6 50

Grades Update: Jan 2021
OFP Role FB CB SL CH Ctr/Com
50 50 55 50 45 40 50/40

Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Jason Kamlowsky

Age: 20 yr
Height: 6'4
Weight: 205 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2019 Round 1, ARI
RuleV: 2023

Physical Description: One of the top prep pitchers in the 2019 draft. Already looks like a grown man on the mound. Strong, durable, and athletic build. Despite just turning 20, his lower half is already filling out and looks terrific. Thick through the hips and butt. Upper body still has some projection left but this is a really good-looking kid. Forearms are thick and is defined through the chest and core area. Looks bigger than 205 but at 6'4 he is starting to blossom physically.

Delivery & Mechanics: The delivery out of the windup requires some effort but is repeatable. The 3/4 slot arm action is loose and combined with a slight twist of the hips at the balance point, allows him to hide the ball well. Starts off-center on the rubber with hands at the chin in the windup. Slight rocker step towards the plate and gets to the balance point well. Appears to close himself off at the balance point which causes him to overcompensate on his front side. Arm acceleration is tremendous and explodes towards home plate. Out of the stretch he comes set with his front foot off-center from his back foot. Falls off to the first base side out of both the stretch and the windup. Can finish too high and will need to work on driving his front side down, especially when throwing his secondaries.

Fastball: Has a projectable four-seam fastball that was one of the best among prep arms in the 2019 draft class. Consistently sits in the lower-90s but has been clocked as high as 97. Will locate to either side of the plate but tends to work up in the zone. Doesn't generate much movement yet but has the raw athleticism to inspire confidence that it will come with his development. Command will wane at times and will need to work on locating lower in the zone with more consistency. Grade: 5550

Curveball: 74-77 MPH with traditional 12-6 shape. Has more loop than bite. Can finish a little upright and leave it hanging but when he puts his mechanics together this could be a demoralizing third pitch. Would like to see him throw it with a bit more velocity but the overall movement is already above average. Grade: 50

Slider: 80-82 with late glove side movement that has flashed plus. Gets good bite and some two-plane movement. Best compliments the fastball when thrown low in the zone. Propensity to throw it with two strikes against righties getting them to chase. Has already proven to be an out pitch and could develop into his best over time. Grade: 55

Changeup: 81-83 MPH developmental offering. Hasn't used it much and is still working on refining the arm action. Slows his arm down considerably when throwing it, letting hitters know it's coming. Could end up being a useful secondary pitch but lags far behind the curveball and slider at the moment. Grade: 40

Control and Command: Biggest area for improvement at the moment. Has tendency to throw instead of pitch. Like most young power arms, command comes and goes during games. Fastball command should improve quickly as he is able to throw to both sides of the plate now. Working lower in the zone should be an area of focus, although the combination of launch angle revolution and raw stuff will allow him to work to the top of the zone with success. Despite just turning 20, his poise and mound presence are already well developed and he carries himself like a professional Control: 50 | Command: 40

Overall: Malone's acquisition from the Diamondbacks as part of the Starling Marte deal signals a change in philosophy for the Pirates front office. They are now coveting power pitchers with swing and miss stuff as opposed to pitch-to-contact sinkerball pitchers, and Malone definitely fits that bill. He was one of the hardest throwing righties in the 2019 draft and he has already shown the ability to hold his velocity late in games. His physical stature and baseball acumen significantly raise his floor but it is the raw stuff that make his ceiling so tantalizing. If the command catches up to everything else, Malone could be a power pitcher who racks up big time strikeout numbers.

OFP: 50
Role: 50 - #4-#5 SP or High Leverage Reliever
Risk: High

Quinn Priester - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 PIT RHP 4 50

Grades Update: Jan 2021
OFP Role FB CB CH Ctr/Com
50 50 55 60 50 50/45

Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Jason Kamlowsky

Age: 20 yr
Height: 6-3
Weight: 215 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2019 Round 1
RuleV: 2023

Physical Description: Two-sport star at Cary-Grove Community High School in Illinois, was also part of a state championship football team as a senior. Tall, athletic build with an easy 3/4 arm action. Listed at 215 pounds, he looks to be closer to 200 giving him plenty of room to grow into his 6'3 frame. Although he just turned 20, he has already started to fill out in his lower half and his forearms. Has physical potential to be a frontline starter.

Delivery & Mechanics: Has an easy, repeatable 3/4 delivery with a slight cross body angle. Holds hands at his waist through his rocker step, then separates at the balance point giving him a hint of deception in his delivery. Excellent arm acceleration. Has improved his balance point and follow through since being drafted, though at times he rushes his balance point out of the stretch. Hold runners well. Low effort delivery should give him the opportunity to work deep into games.

Fastball: Has a four-seam fastball that touches 97 but sits consistently around 93. Has good command his four-seamer and uses it more on right handed hitters. Also throws a heavy two-seam fastball that lacks the velo and command of the four-seamer but has more sink and glove-side run. Two-seamer sits at 88-90 and he uses it to attack lefties with success. Both are average-to-above average at this point. Grade: 55

Curveball: 77-80 MPH and has good shape and depth. Can short arm it at times but when he gets out in front, it is devastating. Will attack hitters and has already proven to be an out pitch. Generates swings and misses and can already land it in the zone. Future potential plus pitch. Grade: 60

Changeup: 82-85 MPH work in progress. Finally landed on a grip he liked with modest success. Ideally would throw it with slightly less velo but the arm action is consistent giving me some optimism that it be an above average offering. Grade: 50

Control and Command: Already has a good feel for how to pitch relative to his age. Control is average right now with room for growth. Understands how to set up hitters and isn't afraid to challenge them inside. Throws to all quadrants with authority. Fastball command is ahead of secondary offerings. Curveball gets away from him at times leaving it up in the zone. Potential to grow into above average or better territory. Control: 50 | Command: 45

Overall: Priester is a two-sport athlete from a cold weather state which raises his ceiling considerably. He has the type of pitch arsenal the Pirates covet throwing two variations of a fastball including a two-seamer with plenty of life. The fact that he already carries a curveball that has proven to be an out pitch is a sign of his maturity despite the fact he has just 36.2 professional innings under his belt. A tremendous student of the game, Priester taught himself how to pitch watching others on YouTube. His floor should be that of a very strong backend starter but his combination of size, athleticism, and skill makes me dream of a mid-rotation or better arm.

OFP: 50
Role: 50 - #4-#5 SP or High Leverage Reliever
Risk: High

Ke'Bryan Hayes - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 PIT 3B 1 55

Grades Update: Jan 2021
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
55 60 60 50 70 60 55

Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Jason Kamlowsky

Age: 24 yr
Height: 5-10
Weight: 205 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2015 Round 1
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster

Physical Description: Athletic build with room for projection. Will gain more strength with maturity. May need to monitor his weight as he ages, though his body has developed well since being drafted. High character, son of former major leaguer Charlie Hayes.

Hit: Compact swing that allows him to make consistent hard contact. Uses the whole field and gets hands to the hitting zone with ease. Hands start by his shoulder with a little pre-pitch wiggle. Slightly open stance with a moderate front leg kick that is used as a trigger. Uses his lower-half and gets hips through the zone well. Aggressive approach but above average knowledge of the strike zone that should not hinder his ability to get on base. Does have a tendency to lunge after off-speed pitches. Pitch recognition will have to improve to unlock the ceiling but the potential to be a middle-of-the-order threat is here. Grade: 60

Power: Average to above average raw power at present with projection for more. Will consistently barrel up balls and create hard contact. 2020 power surge was a nice surprise. Has gained strength for power but approach is a work in progress. Aggressiveness suppresses power at times leading to more doubles and less home runs. Good gap power but needs to lift the ball more. Did show the ability to lift balls up in the zone. Potential is there to eventually hit 30 home runs. Will need to fill out physically to reach peak power profile. Don't be surprised to see disappointing home run numbers in 2021. Grade: 50

Field: One of the best defenders among all infield prospects. Read angles off the bat even on balls that are scorched. Quick first step. Hands are quiet and smooth, will rarely misplay even the hardest hit balls. Moves well laterally and his athletic frame will allow him to stick at third base. Has potential to be a Gold Glove third baseman. Grade: 70

Arm: Plus arm. Can make accurate throws across the diamond with ease. Even on balls to his glove side he has plenty of velocity to first base. Grade: 60

Run: Above average runner, enough to keep defenses honest. Straight line speed is well above average and he can go 1st to 3rd on most singles. Could steal 10-15 bases early in his career but will likely settle in closer to 8-10 per year. Grade: 55

Overall: Hayes made a splash at the big-league level in 2020 slugging five home runs and hitting .376 in just 95 plate appearances. Will be a defensive stalwart and should be one of the top hitters in Pittsburgh for years to come. His work ethic, athleticism, and pedigree are coming together and making him one of the game's fastest rising prospects. One of the hardest workers in the Pirates' organization, Hayes has the makeup of a potential 15-year veteran who could win multiple Gold Gloves and be a potential All-Star.

OFP: 55
Role: 60 - Above-Average Everyday Regular: Occasional All-Star
Risk: Low