Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | MIN | RHP | 5 | 50 |
Grades Update: Apr 2021
| OFP | Role | FB | CB | SL | CH | Ctr/Cmd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | 50 | 60 | 50 | 55 | 45 | 55/50 |
Apr 2021 Report
Evaluator: Joe Drake
Age: 22 yr
Height: 6-5
Weight: 215 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2016 Round 5
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster
Physical Description: Large, long frame that fits listed numbers. Broad shoulders, long legs, high waist. Prototypical starter frame. A tick above "skinny" now, has added good weight but still room for more projection. Hip flexor injury in 2018.
Delivery & Mechanics: Semi-windup; Drop and drive delivery from lower 3/4s arm slot with moderate effort. Average arm speed; simple motion that he repeats well; hides the ball fairly well, long limbs whipping through create some deception. Solid extension from long legs. Long arm path, but generally on time in my looks. Good scap retraction and separation.
Fastball: 93-96; Solid carry despite lower arm slot with some run. Plays well up in the zone where he attacks often. Frequent whiffs and pop-ups. Will dot the corners with it as well. Leaves some over the heart, but movement helps keep it off most barrels. Best out pitch. His go-to pitch that he'll lean on in any situation. Grade: 60
Curveball: 79-82; vertical 11-5, very similar to slider but slightly more depth and less sweep. Not as sharp as the slider, less bite. Shape and speed blend with the slider too much leaving little separation between the two; should probably be considered one pitch that he manipulates. Uses this after he's already established the slider to give the hitter a different look. Grade: 50
Slider: 83-86; good depth with some sweep to it. Mirrors fastball well due to arm slot and movement profile. Flashes above-average, borderline plus, but has consistency issues; hangs some that roll in and give up loud contact. Leaves it up at times. Works it to both sides of the plate, stealing strikes in the zone and inducing whiffs and weak contact when low or below the zone. Grade: 55
Changeup: 87-91; Solid depth, some fade. Often firm with little to no separation from fastball aside from depth. Little feel at present. Keeps it low most of the time, but some leak up over the plate and get punished. Looked better in brief 2021 spring appearance. Grade: 45
Control and Command: In and around the zone often; attacks hitters. Reliable strike thrower who limits walks most days. Works to all 4 quadrants, typically living near the edges. Pitches will leak over the heart a few times an inning. Solid pitchability and sequencing. Not afraid to work backwards and is effective in doing so as it sets up his fastball. Control: 55 | Command: 50
Overall: Big, projectable righty with a plus fastball and multiple breaking balls. Balazovic marries good stuff with above-average control to put together a backend starter package with a little more projection left in the tank. The fastball is his best offering which he uses to start and end at-bats, but the slider and curve can also be used for strikeouts and weak contact. Balazovic could end up as a mid-rotation arm if the velocity takes another step forward, but currently projects for a backend role. Should he move to the pen, he would likely compete for a high-leverage role.
OFP: 50
Role: 50 - Backend #4 SP
Risk: Moderate
