Dec 2020 Report
Evaluator: Geoff Pontes
Age: 24 yr
Height: 6-4
Weight: 200 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2019 Draft - Round 4
RuleV: 2022
Physical Description: Tall, lean, and athletic, high waisted and broad shouldered, projectable frame long term, room to add good weight, without any conditioning concerns. Has had to keep up a strict physical regiment as a member of the Naval flight academy. Long levers, and room for growth.
Delivery & Mechanics: Higher effort mechanics with violence at the point of delivery. Head whack at release, arm speeds up at end of stroke. Arm lags early on in mechanics with stroke slightly behind timing wise at foot strike. Shorter arm stroke, release point from higher three quarters arm slot, side step to leg lift that contracts into the torso, closing off the front side during rock prior to stride. Above average extension, plus arm speed, and repeatability. Song's ability to repeat, and his lack of injury history quell some of the fears around the violence in his operation.
Fastball: Plus velocity will range from 92-97 mph from start to start. Will sit 94-96 mph for stretches and has been clocked up to 99 mph in game. Higher release point coupled with lower quadrant plan of attack will create downward plane on the pitch. Can rise and ride the fastball depending on location, showing advanced feel for the pitch. Works both sides of the plate with relative ease showing four quadrant command despite elevated velo and action. Adept at stealing strikes on the edges, and not frightened to pitch inside versus either handedness. Plus pitch. Grade: 60
Curveball: Softer breaking ball in the 75-79 mph velocity band. Loopy shape with 11-5 break, more of an early count strike stealer versus left handers on the outer-half of the plate. More of a change of pace than a true weapon in his arsenal. Grade: 40
Slider: Tighter break with sweepy movement to gloveside. Above average velocity, sitting 83-86 mph, near 9 o'clock spin axis with late drop. Absolute soul-stealer versus right handed batters, will steal strikes on the outer half after big horizontal break. Will backdoor to righthanders, tendency to be more changeup-centric versus left handed batters. Will lose feel at times and leave the pitch elevated, hanging it without it's best shape and it will get hit. Above average offering with split-heavy usage. Grade: 55
Changeup: A consistent above average offering during July 2019 looks, point of emphasis in development and heavily used in right on left matchups. Showed the ability to consistently pronate landing it armside with late fade and tumble. Good arm speed sells pitch in tandem with fastball. Consistently missed bats versus left handed hitters. Command still comes and goes and he will snap off some firmer off-speed. Grade: 50
Control and Command: It's a control over command profile, particularly when it comes to Song's secondaries. The aforementioned struggles with his slider losing shape, and the inconsistency of his changeup soften the overall control and command grade. His fastball feel is plus, though he will sail it from time to time when elevated, he does an excellent job of working both sides of the plate. An improvement in his command of his secondaries could see these grades raise upon further observation. Control: 55 | Command: 50
Overall: It's become cliche to utter "potential day one guy, if not for..." at this point. The proverbial elephant in the room and "if not for" in this instance is Song's military service. Song graduated from the Naval Academy in 2019, was given clearance to participate in the 2019 New York - Penn League season with Lowell before heading back to the Academy to enter Flight School. The unusual timing of the events of the last year perhaps have rendered the concerns around missed development time moot as he could return as early as the first half of 2021. What player returns and how long it takes him to regain his stuff are major questions within the profile. On the field he's an above average prospect with the pitch mix, strike throwing, ability, body and makeup to start. Whether the organization will fast track him to the majors in a relief role may depend on when he returns. If he does not return until late in 2021 or misses the season entirely there's a real chance (as he enters his age 25 season in 2022) that he's developed as a reliever with his Rule Five date looming that winter. If he returns early next season, the organization will have time to develop him as a starter for the better part of a year and half before having to make a decision on adding him to the active roster. A unique player and situation but a very talented pitcher.
OFP: 50
Role: 50-#4 or #5 SP or Above-Average High Leverage Reliever
Risk: Extreme
