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Landon Sims - MLB Draft Profile

2022 MLB Draft Scouting Report for RHP Landon Sims

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Elijah Green - MLB Draft Profile

2022 MLB Draft Scouting Report & Interview with Elijah Green

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Cole Young - MLB Draft Profile
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Bryce Hubbart - MLB Draft Profile
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Zach Neto - MLB Draft Profile

Pittsburgh Pirates

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

Wil Crowe - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 PIT RHP 23 40

Grades Update: Jan 2021
OFP Role FB CB SL CH Ctr/Cmd
40 40 45 30 55 40 40/30

Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Geoff Pontes

Age: 26 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 240 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2017 Round 2, WAS
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster

Physical Description: Hefty barrel-chested build with extra weight toward the middle. Crowe's body looks built to handle big innings but it comes at the expense of improved movement on the mound. Below average fitness and conditioning.

Delivery & Mechanics: Rocker step to high leg lift that peaks at a completely upright position on mound. Moderate extension with a good leg block, but quad dominance in his delivery limits his potential velocity. Drop and drive delivery, with a raised three quarters arm slot. Does a good job of getting over front side, particularly on his slider. Messy from the stretch, gate flys open and loses command of his fastball.

Fastball: Two variations of the fastball at 90-93 mph. The first his four seamer saw greater usage than his sinker. He tends to attack high armside with his four-seam, and low gloveside with his sinker. He produces above average vertical movement off of average raw spin, and the pitch plays up for this reason. His two seamer generates late horizontal run and is an effective strike stealer versus lefties. His control for each pitch waned from the windup to the stretch, discounting the overall grade. Grade: 45

Curveball: Softer breaking ball rarely used, mostly as a change of pace offering. Below average velocity at 76-79 mph with a lack of substantial vertical or horizontal movement. Grade: 30

Slider: Harder gyro slider at 83-86 mph, above average spin at 2600-2700 rpms on average. Above average drop and horizontal movement giving it an effective two-plane movement profile. Crowe's best swing and miss pitch, and his best driver of weak contact. Shows strong feel for the pitch and the ability to throw it for strikes with consistency. Grade: 55

Changeup: Harder gyro slider at 83-86 mph, above average spin at 2600-2700 rpms on average. Above average drop and horizontal movement giving it an effective two-plane movement profile. Crowe's best swing and miss pitch, and his best driver of weak contact. Shows strong feel for the pitch and the ability to throw it for strikes with consistency. Grade: 40

Control and Command: Below average strike thrower who struggled to command his pitches from the stretch. Has mastered his slider, but his lack of fastball command magnifies the ineffectiveness of his changeup and curveball. When he's on time with his mechanics he can keep hitters guessing with his four pitch mix. When he's not, he's erratic with his fastball and pitches to strikeouts leading to walks. Control: 40 | Command: 30

Overall: A fringe backend starter with the ability to eat some innings in a long relief role. An excellent slider is not supported by quality within the rest of the arsenal. His two fastball variations are mediocre, and neither his changeup or curveball are an effective third pitch at present. Fastball command is life and Crowe is gasping for air.

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

Po-Yu Chen - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 PIT RHP 22 45

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

Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Rogelio Castillo

Age: 19 yr
Height: 6-2
Weight: 187 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2020 IFA
RuleV: 2025

Physical Description: Trim, wiry build. Sloping shoulders, with long, tapering legs, Long, loose arms. Room to fill out, get stronger.

Delivery & Mechanics: Throws from a high 3/4 slot. Starts with his right arm dangling down, pauses, with his left leg back then drives it up right under his chest then points as he drives towards home plate. Hand break, modest leg kick. Long, loose arm action. Repeats delivery consistently.

Fastball: Sits at 89-91 t193. Projected FB velocity with physical maturity. Natural tail & sink. Occasionally rides up. Grade: 45

Curveball: Sits at 71-74 with big 11/5 depth.needs some fine-tuning. Commands it; Continued pro instruction could improve the offering. Good velocity. Grade: 40

Slider: Sits at 78-80. Bites when it stays on top 1ith 10/4 tilt. Does show late life, dives at the end. Grade: 45

Control and Command: His control is advanced for his age as he can throw strikes early in the count. Repeats delivery well. Slider and curveball will improve with instruction. Slider can hang in the zone, needs to hit the target consistency. Control: 50 | Command: 40

Overall: He has above-average control for his age. Potential to grow into his size, allowing him to be a much more effective starter. Needs to work on his curve to be an effective third pitch. The slider has some good potential as a good strikeout pitch. Very mature for his age and looks like he has the endurance to be a starter.

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

Cal Mitchell - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 PIT OF 21 45

Grades Update: Jan 2021
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
45 40 45 55 50 45 45

Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Robert James

Age: 22 yr
Height: 6-0
Weight: 190 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/R
Acquired: 2017 Round 2
RuleV: 2021

Physical Description: Average height, he's billed at 6 feet but actually looks a couple inches taller. He's thin now but looks like he can add a fair amount of muscle to his current frame. Looks like a prototypical RF.

Physical Description: Average height, he's billed at 6 feet but actually looks a couple inches taller. He's thin now but looks like he can add a fair amount of muscle to his current frame. Looks like a prototypical RF.

Power: Right now Mitchell has above average raw power but really should grow into more as he develops and fills in. His 15 HR in 493 PA (.155 ISO) in an extreme pitcher's league last year. He's got a compact swing and definitely doesn't sell out for power. When he barrels it up he can hit it way out but every HR that I saw last year was hit to the pull field. His exit velos are average, he's not creating elite power but assuming continued development he should grow into at least above average power and probably even plus at maturity Grade: 55

Field: Mitchell is a good athlete and looks fine in RF. He won't be a plus defender there but should not be a liability either. Grade: 50

Arm: I did not see Mitchell throw very much and he had 10 assists last year but his arm looked slightly below average in the few looks I got. His throws are accurate but they don't have a ton of velocity or carry to them. Grade: 45

Run: Mitchell is a decent athlete but is not a base stealing threat and will probably be a slightly below average runner at maturity Grade: 45

Overall: Mitchell was one of the approximately million Pirates second round picks who was drafted out of high school. However, unlike most of the other high school draftees he is not a pitcher. Mitchell has all the tools to be a proto-typical power hitting RF. However, I am not convinced he will get there. It is really unfortunate that there was no 2020 MiLB season (get used to reading that) as this was an important year in Mitchell's development. Gun to my head I think he falls short of his ceiling and ends up as a bench bat/4th OF.

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

Rodolfo Castro - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 PIT 2B 20 45

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

Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Robert James

Age: 22 yr
Height: 6-0
Weight: 200 lbs
Hits/Throws: S/R
Acquired: 2015 IFA
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster

Physical Description: Average height. Medium build, solid lower half. Above average athlete. He "looks" great on the field even though he isn't an elite athlete. Looks very excited to hit and in the field.

Hit: Slightly open stance. Pre-load keeps his hands high, above eye level and his bat over his shoulder pointing down at a 45 degree angle. During the delivery he gets into position with a moderate leg kick. Castro has a good bat path and some feel for the barrel. As mentioned, he "looks" like a hitter and is up there to take cuts. Castro had better splits against LHP but should be able to continue as a switch hitter. Although his walk rate is low (usually around 7%) he is not a complete free swinger, he will draw a walk. Has average exit velos but can hit the ball hard. He hits a lot of choppers and mishits but as far as I can tell his swing is not geared for groundball contact. If anything, it looks like it's geared for line drives in the air. In '19 Castro tore up low-A but then struggled in 57 games in High-A but after watching him he looks like he should have hit better. Honestly, it seems like he just doesn't go up to the plate with much of a plan. He's not totally lost or anything and he doesn't get sequenced to death but he's got the tools to be a good hitter, you'd like to see him go up there looking for something specific to drive. Grade: 45

Power: Castro has some natural raw power. His raw power is probably a tick above average and in game it plays to about average. He absolutely crushed the ball in low-A (14HR in 246 PA) but even when he was struggling at High-A he had a respectable 5HR in 215 PA in an extreme pitcher's league. I think he will basically have average power at the MLB level with the chance for a tick more. . His average exit velocity isn't great because of all the mishits but he can hit the ball very hard when he squares it up. He looks to drive the ball in the air. He hit 19 HR in 412 PA last year (in a hitter's league but still) so the power is there but his problems with his hit tool are preventing the power from fully playing. Grade: 50

Field: Castro played all over the IF seeing significant time at SS, 2B and 3B. He's a good athlete but not a great one and really doesn't have the reflexes for 3B or the range for 2B. However, he should be fine as an everyday player at 2B and can backup at the other two positions as well. He won't be a liability. If they want to make him a super sub they could even try him in the OF corners Grade: 60

Arm: Castro has an average arm that should play fine at 2B. Grade: 50

Run: He rarely stole bases (in fact, I can't remember even seeing him attempt to steal) however, he ran well on the bases. Will probably settle in around average over time. Grade: 50

Overall: Castro was signed for $150,000 in international free agency (a modest amount) and has been a pleasant surprise, really breaking out in 2019. Although he struggled upon promotion to High-A he was added to the 40-man roster recently. Assuming his hit tool takes a moderate step forward, Castro has all the tools to be an average everyday regular at 2B. If not, he can profile as a bat-first utility infielder who can sub around the IF and has pop.

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

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

Steven Jennings - Scouting Report


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

Jack Herman - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 PIT OF 17 45

Grades Update: Jan 2021
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
45 40 45 55 45 55 45

Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Justin Lada

Age: 21 yr
Height: 6-0
Weight: 190 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2018 Round 30
RuleV: 2022

Physical Description: Physical build in a medium-sized frame. Broad shoulders. Since signing with the Pirates and foregoing a commitment to Maryland after high school, Herman has filled out his frame already, looking physically stronger in his chest and arms. There's a little room left to add some strength. He's already a well built, athletic, and physical 21 year old.

Hit: Uses a square-ish stand. Very compact with knees bent and upper half slightly crouched with his chest over his knees. Bat is horizontal over his shoulder. Hands are slightly active pre-pitch. Very modest leg kick timing mechanism to start his load. Starts working the barrel right on his load and gets it vertical to work it around. Very little wasted movement in his swing. Leg kick slightly closes him off and keeps his back hip and weight back and rotates extremely well once his front foot gets down. Plus bat speed and quick hands. Gets the bat and barrel through to the zone efficiently. Adjusts to velocity well. Shows decent command of the strike zone. Was young for his level in 2019 (19 at Low-A) and showed some struggles with breaking pitches and could be beat up in the zone. Ingredients for average hit tool if he shows the ability to adjust to breaking pitches. Grade: 45

Power: Rotational athlete and generates eas bat speed. Works the barrel around efficiently and shows a good feel for it. Line drive type swing but does show the ability to use shoulders and upper half to match plane and drive the ball with loft. Natural strength, feel for the barrel and plus bat speed are all there for above-average power. Grade: 55

Field: Wasn't challenged in many pro looks but is an average runner and appeared to make good reads and took efficient routes to balls to his left and right. Should be close to an average defender in right field and could fill in at centerfield. Grade: 45

Arm: No looks at his throwing arm in pro ball but pitched in high school and clocked outfield throws up to 94 as an amateur. Throws through his body with a good motion. Good carry on his throws. Grade: 55

Run: Clocked 4.33 home to first. Choppy steps but pushes back with legs well. Strong runner but average speed at best, and probably fringe-average as he ages and if he fills out the frame a little more. Won't be an impact base runner but shows good instincts on the bases and could add some value that way. Grade: 45

Overall: Herman missed half of his junior season with a left shoulder subluxation. Strong work ethic allowed him to come back strong, giving him markup for plus character. The Pirates challenged him assigning him at the SAL at 19 where he had some swing and miss issues but showed some patience and power. He's not a big, physical type mashing type right fielder, but he has the strength, bat speed and feel for the barrel to give him above-average raw power. Efficient swing will give him a chance to hit enough if he can work on weak spots up in the zone and spin recognition. Has a chance to be a mild-variance above-average right fielder with power and a good arm for the position.

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

Ji-Hwan Bae - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 PIT SS 16 45

Grades Update: Jan 2021
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
45 40 55 40 50 45 70

Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Joe Drake

Age: 21 yr
Height: 6-1
Weight: 170 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/R
Acquired: 2017 IFA
RuleV: 2022

Physical Description: Very lean frame with long levers. Some muscle on the thighs, but that's about it. Shoulders are a little wider than average. Narrow hips. Room for 15-20 pounds across the body, but especially in the chest, arms and shoulders; jersey wears him right now. Not a super projectable body, but there's room for some good weight to add strength.

Hit: Sets up mostly upright with an average width base and slowly squats into the legs as the pitcher moves through his delivery. Very active hands that rock behind the head. Hands stay high through the load. Moderate leg kick used for trigger, deep coil with hips and torso - numbers clearly visible to pitcher - and squats to a nearly 90 degree angle at the knee, basically a full crouch. Moderate effort swing, average bat speed; Steep, downward bat path that produces a lot of ground balls; Gets slappy, likes to go the other way. Plenty of hip/shoulder separation. Solid feel for the zone, happy to take a walk; doesn't always recognize spin. Doesn't whiff often. Not afraid to lay down a bunt for a hit. Grade: 55

Power: Slight frame, average bat speed and downhill swing path make for limited in-game power production. Probably fringe-average raw power at peak, below-average currently. Doesn't lift the ball often and likely lacks the requisite pop to hit the ball over the fence anywhere but pull-side. Not exclusively a slap hitter, he'll pull inside pitches, but has a tendency to slap the ball the other way. Great profile for doubles and triples if he can shoot line drives in the gaps -- double-plus speed and aggressive baserunning will help him rack up extra bases. Grade: 40

Field: Solid instincts, sees the ball well off the bat. Very good range. Smooth, solid actions on the infield; soft hands. Mistakes appear to come from lack of focus rather than lack of skill. Has the tools to stick at short, just needs to put it all together consistently. Should he move to second, would likely be one of the better defenders in the league. Grade: 50

Arm: Solid zip on the ball with firm carry when he gets into it. Not much tail on throws across the diamond. Tendency to short arm it sometimes and make routine throws more difficult than necessary for 1B. Has enough arm to stick at short if he can iron that out. Grade: 45

Run: Clocked 4.02, 3.81 H-1st - aided by how quickly he gets out of the box. Burner down the line; legitimate plus speed that he gets to very quickly, helping it play up in-game. A threat to take 2 on anything not hit at a fielder. Reads the ball well as a baserunner. Prolific base stealer in the minors, needs to cut down on CS to keep green light at next levels; very aggressive on the basepaths. Grade: 70

Overall: Contact-oriented middle infielder with speed to burn. Very good athlete who can assuredly stick at 2B if the arm isn't consistent enough for short. May grow into a little more power, but is a little slappy and is best suited to drive the ball into the gaps and run. Should develop into a high AVG/OBP leadoff hitter who plays up the middle and contends for stolen base titles with a utility bat floor if the power never comes.

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

Nick Garcia - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 PIT RHP 15 45

Grades Update: Jan 2021
OFP Role FB CT SL Ctr/Cmd
45 40 60 50 55 55/50

Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Mike Kinsela

Age: 22 yr
Height: 6-4
Weight: 215 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/R
Acquired: 2020 Round 3
RuleV: 2023

Physical Description: Tall, broad-shouldered build with good combination of strength and athleticism throughout body. Some physical projection remaining, is only 21 years old still at the time of this writing.

Delivery & Mechanics: Pretty simple operation. Garcia was a positional player/bat up until a few years ago, and has kept it simple on the mound through his conversion to great effect. Directional and on time, clean arm stroke with plus arm speed, has starter's operation.

Fastball: Pitch got into upper-90's in spurts out of the bullpen and pitches more in the 92-96 mph range as a starter at present with solid carry and average life. The ease of his operation and natural athleticism along with some projection remaining on his frame give him some velocity projection here. Grade: 60

Cutter: Third pitch right now but flashed above-average with it several times, upper-80's pitch that peaks around 90 mph, short and sharp action, really can get in on lefthanded hitter hands with this offering, will be a barrel-misser for him. Grade: 50

Slider: Thrown in the mid-80's with good feel, Garcia is comfortable with the pitch and can generate swings-and-misses with it, has flashed ability to land pitch for strikes as well as bury it out of the zone to hitters of either handedness, above-average future. Grade: 55

Control and Command: Garcia is around the zone consistently and unafraid to challenge the strike zone. The walk numbers haven't been a problem recently, but he will have to refine his command as he climbs the organizational ladder. The athleticism and physical operation give him solid command projection. Control: 55 | Command: 50

Overall: 3 pitch college starter with very limited pitching track record but success on the Cape as well as at Chapman. Has more projection than most college juniors, velocity has a chance to tick up and there's no massive deficiency to the profile. Something of a wildcard here, but realistic outcome is backend starter/good middle relief type.

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

Sammy Siani - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 PIT OF 14 45

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

Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Mike Kinsela

Age: 20 yr
Height: 5-11
Weight: 175 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/L
Acquired: 2019 Round 1
RuleV: 2023

Physical Description: Medium frame, athletic build with good beginnings of musculature and physical maturation, not overly projectable but retains some room to fill out body moving forward.

Hit: Best tool, some projected plus (or better) hit tool in pre-draft process, smooth lefthanded stroke with ideal path and above-average bat speed, covers the plate well, good posture and balance with consistency, whole-field approach with innate knowledge of the strike zone and feel for the barrel. Grade: 50

Power: 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: 45

Field: Plays center and projects to stay there for now, above-average athlete with above-average speed at times, good instincts and general headiness in the outfield, may end up in left field long term with more of a tweener profile, has a chance to stay in center long term. Grade: 50

Arm: Quick release, fundamental thrower with balance through stride and easy actions, solid-average arm strength that should play to that grade in game. Grade: 50

Run: Siani can burn above-average times down the line currently but is likely to slow a step or so as he continues to physically mature. Grade: 50

Overall: Sam is weirdly the polar opposite profile of brother Mike, who is all tools and physicality without the hit tool that Sam's profile rests on. Solid bat-to-ball with ability to play center field adequately, likely big leaguer but limited ceiling.

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

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

Liover Peguero - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 PIT SS 12 45

Grades Update: Jan 2021
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
45 40 55 40 55 55 55

Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Joe Drake

Age: 20 yr
Height: 6-1
Weight: 160 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2017 IFA, ARI
RuleV: 2021

Physical Description: Strong, lean build with muscled thighs and butt. Shoulders have average width, but are squared off. Looks a little heavier than the listed 6'1, 160, but in a good way. Long legs and a high waist. Live body; Looks like an athlete.

Hit: Sets up tall and quiet, sitting into the legs just a little. Hands wait chest-high; arms half-extended away from the body with the bat angled high over his body; almost completely still, just a subtle rock. Stance is about shoulder-width and straight on. Uses very deliberate leg lift as trigger. Knee comes about mid-thigh high and hovers for a moment as he coils the hips and torso. Sits into back leg as he coils. Foot stabs at the ground just before the swing starts. The hover will likely need to go away; he's late here and there, swing can get a little long with his hands going back. Hands drift down and a little closer to the body. Gets decent separation. Bat path is a bit flat and has some chop to it; leads to him getting under the ball for pop-ups and high flies or rolling over. Aggressive in the zone; solid feel for the zone. Tendency to chase tough pitches and make weak contact instead of waiting for something to drive. Above-average barrel control, rarely whiffs. Has the athleticism and contact skills for an above-average hit tool but needs refinement to maximize his talent. Grade: 55

Power: Average bat speed. Current approach and swing path don't lend themselves to power, but there's average to above-average raw in the frame. Needs to be more patient and find pitches he can drive. The profile is more gap power doubles and triples, which the speed will help with, and a handful or two of homeruns. If he can optimize things, there's potential for average game power, but that's more of a 95th percentile outcome. Grade: 40

Field: Good instincts, quick reactions and solid actions. Agile and able to change direction mid play. Solid actions, soft hands. Missed an opportunity to take charge on in-between play resulting in a drop. Overall, gives you the feel of a shortstop, someone who can anchor the infield defense. Grade: 55

Arm: Average arm strength. Gets himself in position to throw, but can also fire off balance and on the run as well and maintain zip and accuracy. Stays accurate when unloading on a close play. Grade: 55

Run: Clocked 4.15 and 4.28 H-1st. Moves very well; athletic and explosive. Likely to maintain most of his speed as he matures unless he fills out excessively. Good stride length, cycles quickly. Aggressive runner, willing to push for the extra base. Potential SB threat. Grade: 55

Overall: Very good athlete with potential for above-average hit who can stick at short. He's a little on the raw side right now, but still held his own in the Northwest League as an 18-year old due to excellent bat-to-ball skills. The offensive profile is definitively hit over power and combined with his feel for the zone, should make him a candidate to hit at the top of the order. The lack of over the fence power limits his overall upside. Has the glove and arm to stick at short without much question. Defense and hit tool should carry him to a below-average regular profile in the big leagues; if the hit tool lags, he's a utility player.

OFP: 45
Role: 40 - Below-Average Player: Bench/Utility
Risk: High

Travis Swaggerty - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 PIT OF 11 45

Grades Update: Jan 2021
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
45 40 45 45 60 55 60

Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Joe Drake

Age: 23 yr
Height: 5-11
Weight: 180 lbs
Hits/Throws: L/L
Acquired: 2018 Round 1
RuleV: 2021

Physical Description: Athletic. Well proportioned, strong body that's mostly filled out. Wide shoulders squared off and visible traps. Butt and thighs are thick. Lean and strong, but not overly muscular. Very little, if any projection left. Looks like a CF.

Hit: Sets up with torso tall and sitting into legs with moderate knee bend. Hands chin-level and quiet with the bat angled straight over the shoulder, nearly perpendicular to the body. Slightly wide base, open by a full foot length. Sits into back leg a bit. Loads with borderline big leg kick to the waist. Torso and hips coil a little and the hands come down and back to the rear shoulder. Steps straight at pitcher. Above-average bat speed. Swings hard and will whiff as a result, but not frequently. Chases tough pitches and stuff outside the zone, doesn't really alter with two strikes. Overall approach is swing-happy. Swing path is very flat, tendency to mishit. Occasionally tries to bunt for a hit. He has good bat control, but it's more of a hindrance than a help when he's swinging at tough pitches. Grade: 45

Power: Plus raw power with above-average bat speed, but approach severely limits ability to get to it in games. Hard to envision HRs beyond pull-side. Flat swing path and aggressiveness lead to bad contact on pitcher's pitches and a high groundball rate. Crushes mistakes when he gets them though. Speed will help him take extra bases on anything in the gaps for doubles and triples. Grade: 45

Field: Good instincts. Good reads off the bat with solid, direct routes. Reacts quickly enough to rob hits on low-liners. Speed gives him good range in center. Positions himself well to make throws. Tracks most everything down, but there's a little tension in the process at times; not effortless. Grade: 60

Arm: Arm strength is solid. Ball has average carry, needs a little loft to reach the target sometimes. Good enough to profile across the outfield. Gets himself in position to maximize arm strength and helps it play up. Grade: 55

Run: Clocked 4.01 H-1st. Moves well; smooth and fluid stride turnover. Adds to his range in center and allows him to take extra bases with ease. Solid base stealer who should be a threat at the top level. Grade: 60

Overall: Athletic, plus defender with potential for a solid bat. He has plus raw power, but his bat path and swing-happy approach lead to too much contact on pitches he can't drive and plenty of ground balls. There's a chance he irons it out and grows into average hit and power tools, toying with all-star appearances, but we've seen multiple years of this approach in the pros now. His glove and contact abilities give him a platoon floor and likely outcome of a below-average regular.

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

Jared Oliva - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 PIT OF 10 45

Grades Update: Jan 2021
OFP Role Hit Power Field Arm Run
45 40 40 40 50 50 55

Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Rogelio Castillo

Age: 25 yr
Height: 6-3
Weight: 187 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2017 Round 7
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster

Physical Description: Tall, lanky build. Rounded shoulders. Not body type to add much weight or strength. Athletic body.

Hit: Wide stance; hands at the head; slight crouch with knee bend as he loads up to swing. Average bat speed. No real big trigger or load. Short, flat stroke, slaps it where it goes. Strength through upper body swing. Grade: 40

Power: Bat speed & leverage in swings indicates future average power. Strength & quickness. Will get a hold of a few. Gap power now, more to follow. Line drive, alley type. Added strength will give a power boost. Grade: 40

Field: Solid average fielder - good defensive habits. Improving, defensive actions. Good first step read. Has the basic skills needed. Still needs some polish. Grade: 50

Arm: Arm strength is average, good throwing mechanics that keep improving. Playable arm strength for the position. Grade: 50

Run: Smooth runner out of the box, type of speed that makes the defensive rush. Quick first step; Gets good leads. Excel acceleration. Playable speed for his position with good instincts on the basepath. Best tool. Grade: 55

Overall: He shows gap power and above-average power flashes but could use some more upper body strength to continue to develop that based on the swing. He will need to continue to learn the outfield as he can over field his position. Still very raw for centerfield but if he can cut back on his swing and misses, can be an average centerfielder or play the corner at some point if his power numbers can be consistent.

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

Jose Soriano - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 PIT RHP 9 45

Grades Update: Jan 2021
OFP Role FB CB CH Ctr/Com
50 50 55 60 45 40/30

Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Geoff Pontes

Age: 22 yr
Height: 6-3
Weight: 220 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2016 IFA, LAA
RuleV: On 40-Man Roster

Physical Description: Tall at 6-3, with long levers and a lean wiry strong physique. Some remaining physical projection in the lower half, arms and shoulders, but his back is strong, and his fitness level is fairly high. Excellent athleticism and the ability to get into his glutes to generate upper-tier velocity. Underwent Tommy John surgery February of 2020, but should be ready by May or June, hopefully earning enough time to meet Rule 5 requirements.

Delivery & Mechanics: Overhead motion, starts with rocker step to high leg kick, gets deep into back leg before drop and drive. Shorter arm action with a near over the top slot. His arm is a little lower on the breaking balls to the point that it’s noticeable. Difficulty repeating his motion. Lots of moving parts in his full operation. Soriano/s mechanics from the stretch aren’t any better, and can best be described as rapid. He brings his knee to his chin on his leg kick and extends toward home. It’s a toned down version of his full delivery without the overhead rocker step. Noted strong pickoff moves to first. Needed element of game due to slow moves to home.

Fastball: Serious heat at as high as 98 mph in game during 2019 observations. Consistently sat upper-90s during the season as a starter. Fastball command is inconsistent from pitch to pitch, but it’s really accentuated from start to start. When he’s on, his fastball has good zip elevated with a little cut. When it’s off the pitch runs armside late and is an easy take or it’s straight and easy to square. Early 2019 season velocity was more 92-95 mph, saw a velocity bump, and then a string of injuries. Grade: 55

Curveball: Overhand 12-6 curveball with big drop. Gets lots of swings and misses over it and the bender is definitely Soriano’s go to pitch versus right handed hitters. Excellent dump, but only fringe-average to average velocity in the 76-80 mph range. Shows average command of this pitch, an element lacking from his fastball and changeup quality. He does an excellent job of landing it at the bottom of the zone 80% of the time. On his off throws they mostly land above the zone with an elevated element of horizontal break. Plus breaking ball with the ability to drive weak contact and miss barrels. The games where Soriano can’t command his breaking ball he’s dead in the water. Grade: 60

Changeup: Inconsistent pitch with above average movement. Serious armside run, and 10-12+ mph separation from his fastball. Changeup first plan of attack versus left handed batters and enough confidence in the pitch to use off the plate in same side matchups. His command of the pitch is below average, but it moves and there’s enough arm speed quality to fool hitters. Fringe average fastball with a change to reach average status with improved feel. Grade: 45

Control and Command: Major control and command issues. From start to start Soriano struggled to master his fastball and show continued strike throwing that would lead to potential dominance with his stuff. He consistently misses high glove side with his fastball, his changeup sees the strike zone around 40% of the time. While his curveball - though commanded well - can lose its touch for the bottom of the zone, especially on Soriano’s worst command days. Below average strike throwing with poor command, improvements in this area could boost the overall profile significantly. Control: 40 | Command: 30

verall: Soriano possesses some of the most elite stuff in the entirety of the Pirates organization. A high-90s fastball, a curveball that falls off a table, and a changeup with heavy armside run, it’s a pretty pitch mix. However, his strike throwing at times is reminiscent of Carlos Marmol, as he’ll really lose his point of release and subsequently feel for the zone, often unable to stop the bleeding. This is why his long term profile as a starter is highly unlikely, especially as he returns from Tommy John Surgery. Soriano looks capable of filling a bullpen role immediately for the rebuilding Pirates where his fastball velocity and two bat missing secondaries can potentially play up. Poor command has broke many a reliever so some expectation of a Craig Kimbrelesque existence is a losing bet. Low leverage arm with average high leverage relief potential. As the top overall pick in the rule five draft, Soriano has minimum requirements to meet on Pittsburgh’s active roster in order to remain with the organization.

OFP: 45
Role: 40 -Low-Leverage Reliever
Risk: Moderate

Eddy Yean - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 PIT RHP 8 50

Grades Update: Jan 2021
OFP Role FB SL CH Ctr/Com
50 50 55 60 40 50/45

Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Geoff Pontes

Age: 20 yr
Height: 6-1
Weight: 180 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2017 IFA, WAS
RuleV: 2021

Physical Description: Average pitcher height at 6-1, broad shouldered and strong build. Muscular arms and shoulders, with a strong lower half, highlighted by strong glutes and defined calf muscles. A little thick in the middle, but it might be more body type than actual poor conditioning. Looked more trim during his 2019 season. Looks like he's added 10-15 pounds since fall 2019. Close to physical max.

Delivery & Mechanics: Quiet operation, starts with side step to leg kick with moderate height. Quick arm, delivers from a classic three quarters arm action. Moderate effort throughout operation, stays synced and on time with lower half and arm. Excellent repeatability. Operation stays on time from stretch with a limited loss of feel from the full delivery. Elite extension at nearly seven feet, with a low release height of 5 feet-8 inches. Both intriguing characteristics from a metric standpoint.

Fastball: Potentially plus offering that plays above average at the moment. Averaged 94.1 MPH at instructs with above average raw spin at 2300-2400 rpm. Cuts fastball, can straighten out at times, making it easy to square up. Limited efficiency impacts the overall movement profile, but a good plan of attack with player dev should up the efficiency due to his raw spin and lower release. Unlocking another gear of quality on Yean's heater. Some projection on the pitch, but he showed feel for the strike zone and the ability to command it during his 2019 campaign. Near plus velocity and excellent characteristics of future success. Grade: 55

Slider: Pure gyro spin slider thrown at elevated velocity, averaging 87 mph on average during instructs. Low efficiency offering similar to Atlanta's Luke Jackson's slider. True slider spin with the ability to add late drop when needed. Controls and commands the pitch well showing the most advanced feel of any offering in his arsenal. True swing and miss characteristics based on movement, velocity, and the ability to command the breaker. Plus pitch. Grade: 60

Changeup: Limited feel at this point for his offspeed. Similar shape to his fastball with limited and inconsistent armside run. Heavy supination profile limits ability to generate desired movement. Below average velocity separation at an average of 88 mph, giving just a 6 mph delta between the offspeed and the fastball. Strong strike throwing skills and innate pitchability give me hope he can get to fringe average at maturation, below average at present. Grade: 40

Control and Command: Displays average command of his fastball and slider at present. Worked around the strike zone efficiently in his two New York-Penn League outings with Auburn, still learning command to his gloveside. Poor changeup command at present detracts from overall grade. Strong ability to locate armside Control: 50 | Command: 45

Overall: It's too often that players are lauded as "potential breakouts" but Yean fits the bill. A strong baseline of stuff and control coupled with characteristics that would allow his stuff to play even better if optimized. The major questions with Yean are his ability to hold his velocity over the course of 90-100 pitches, and the development of his changeup. Both areas of concern but ultimately strong overall profile that can play at league average in a variety of roles.

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

Tahnaj Thomas - Scouting Report


Rank History
Year Team Position Team Rank OFP
2021 PIT RHP 5 50

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

Jan 2021 Report

Evaluator: Rogelio Castillo

Age: 22 yr
Height: 6-4
Weight: 190 lbs
Hits/Throws: R/R
Acquired: 2016 IFA, CLE
RuleV: 2021

Physical Description: Athletic build; Wide shoulders with a long, thin waist. Muscular thighs and legs. Big hands. Not body type to add much weight or strength. Built like a wide receiver.

Delivery & Mechanics: Throws from a high 3/4 slot. Starts from the stretch with his back facing the first base side and drives his front front towards home. Long, loose arm action. Hand break, modest leg kick. Repeats delivery consistently; Balance throughout his delivery.

Fastball: Sits at 95-98 t100 with modest life in the zone. Throws downhill with natural tail & sink; Riding life at upper end of velocity. Whip-like life. His best pitch. Grade: 50

Slider: Primary secondary offering; 82-84. Fair bite. Does not use it much. Still learning, Caught in between CB and SL with some break. Grade: 50

Changeup: Lacks feel for pitch; Needs further development. Needs to develop to complement FB. Grade: 40

Control and Command: Commands FB both sides of the plate. Shows good control just a few seasons removed from playing shortstop. He can challenge hitters inside with his fastball. Slider needs to develop more in order to be a consistent second pitch. Flashes a changeup but have not seen it enough to be a consistent third pitch. Control: 55 | Command: 50

Overall: This is a very live arm that could be a steal for the Pirates. Continued development of his slider and changeup could make him a front tier starter. He is only 20 years old so he has time to develop those pitches to complement a very good plus fastball. Current sequencing of his two pitches could also put him as a high leverage reliever. He is new to pitching so he is extremely raw and could get better as he moves through their system.

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