Rank History
| Year | Team | Position | Team Rank | OFP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | PIT | RHP | 18 | 45 |
Grades Update: Jan 2021
| OFP | Role | FB | CB | SL | CH | Ctr/Cmd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | 40 | 45 | 55 | 45 | 45 | 55/50 |
Jan 2021 Report
Evaluator: Robert James
Age: 22 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 175 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2017 Round 2
RuleV: 2021
Physical Description: Good size for a starting pitcher. He's got a medium build. He's thin and has some room on his frame to grow. Might put on some more muscle.
Delivery & Mechanics: High 3/4 arm slot. Gets about average extension, maybe a bit below. His delivery is clean though and is easily repeatable. He has a high leg kick but it actually looks a little bit shorter than when he was drafted.
Fastball: 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. Grade: 45
Curveball: Although Jennings may use his slider more, his curveball is his best secondary. He throws it around 77-80 and it has a good 12-6 break. Does not appear to slow his arm down at all to throw it. Jennings can throw the pitch in any count. He throws it for strikes and it is a not a pure swing and miss pitch, however, he can get swings and misses in the zone with it. Jennings commands the pitch very well.. Does not slow his arm down at all and it has a classic 12/6 shape. Can consistently throw it for strikes. Often works backwards and uses it to get ahead of hitters early in the count (starts a lot of guys off with it). It's a good pitch but he doesn't use it as a chase pitch and bury it in the zone much. Good control and command Grade: 55
Slider: In some starts this was his main secondary, however, it's not as consistent as the curveball. Around 83 mph. Has almost two types, sometimes it would have more of a tight one-plane break with a little help and other times it would be slurvier. He can throw it in the zone but mostly uses it as a chase pitch, burying it low and away to RHH. He would really pull it glove side too often, however Grade: 45
Changeup: I only saw a few changeups but they seemed to have good tumble and fade. Seemed to maintain arm speed. Grade: 45
Control and Command: Jennings' control and command are good. Although Jennings would struggle at times to command his breaking balls he was almost always around the zone. Jennings throws a ton of breaking balls and for the most part was able to keep hitters off balance by throwing them for strikes Control: 55 | Command: 50
Overall: For the past few years the Pirates have taken a high school right-handed starting pitcher with their second pick in the draft, Jennings is one of those picks. Normally, the Pirates like to select a big, projectable righty who has a good fastball and the beginnings of a breaking ball with the idea being that they will develop them into a power starting pitcher. Jennings sort of fits the mold and sort of doesn't. Although he's not huge, he was projectable when he was drafted, however the velocity never came. If Jennings lived around 96mph, he'd be a great prospect but right now the ceiling is more of a back end type but even that assumes he gains some more velocity. Because of his pitchability, his grade will move up a notch but Jennings is pretty close to becoming an org guy.
OFP: 45
Role: 40 - Long Reliever or Spot Starter
Risk: Moderate
