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Physical Description: Small,
undersized frame. Minimal projection even though he is on the
thin side. Could stand to add upper body strength.
Mechanics: Throws from a high three-quarters
arm slot. Starts on the third base side of the rubber with hands
at his waist. Jerky, effortful delivery. High leg kick and
slight trunk twist. Slight stab behind before whipping his arm
forward. Loose, quick arm. Head whack. Some deception as he
keeps his arm hidden behind his body. Average extension. Repeats
delivery.
Fastball: 92-94 mph. Tops out
at 98 mph. Pitch shows sink and cut on occasion when he drops
his arm slot. Does a good job keeping the ball down and
generates a lot of weak contact. Above-average control but
below-average command at present. Has shown the ability at times
to command the pitch arm-side, but glove-side command is more
inconsistent. Velocity jumped from 91-93 mph to 94-97 mph at the
2020 Fall Instructional League. Sat around 92-94 mph in 2021
prior to his injury. Velocity tended to fall off in later
innings as a starter, but is not an issue out of the bullpen.
Potential plus pitch.
Breaking Ball:
83-85 mph. Whether it is a slider or curveball depends on who
you talk to. Advanced feel. 11-to-5 break. Elite spin rate,
among highest in the system. Pitch has tight rotation and depth
when he snaps it off. Has feel and confidence in the offering;
willing to throw in any count to hitters from both sides of the
plate. MLB-quality out pitch. Velocity ticked up at Fall
Instructional League to 83-87 mph; used to sit 79-83 mph. At the
ATS in 2021, velocity was back down at 79-83 mph, but had ticked
back up into 82-84 mph range when he made his major league
debut. Potential plus-to-better pitch.
Split-Finger Fastball: 88-91
mph. On the firm side and lacks separation from fastball. Will
show drop on occasion. Clear third pitch that is still in
development. Replaced changeup in his repertoire. Potential
fringe-average pitch.
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Career Notes: Older international signee at 18
years old, then spent three years in the complex leagues before
breaking out as a starter in 2018 in Lowell. Was a candidate to
be added to the 40-man roster after the 2019 season, but was not
added and was not selected in the Rule 5 Draft. Participated in
2018 and 2020 Fall Instructional League. Had a breakout showing
at 2020 Fall Instructional League that led to his addition to
the 40-man roster. Began 2021 season at the Alternate Training
Site. Made MLB debut in April 2021. Suffered a lat strain in May
2021 and missed about three months. While on the minor league
IL, the Red Sox recalled him in July 2021 in order to place him
on the 60-day IL and open up a 40-man roster spot, giving him
about two months of service time while injured or rehabbing
before activating and optioning him in mid-September. Was a
surprise DFA on Opening Day in 2022 after pitching just one
inning in MLB games during spring training.
Summation: Potential 11th or 12th pitcher on a major
league staff. Ceiling of a quality middle reliever. Drastically
improved velocity at 2020 Fall Instructional League changed his
projection, forcing the Red Sox to add him to the 40-man roster
and putting him on the bullpen depth chart. Potential for
plus-to-better fastball and breaking ball with jerky, deceptive
delivery could play in high-leverage innings. Needs to improve
fastball command and improve consistency with his breaking ball
in order to reach his ceiling.
Links
State of the System: High Minors Pitchers (4.9.20)
Scouting Report Update (4.24.20)
Scouting Report Update (7.29.2020)
Scout Chatter (11.19.20)
Scouting Report Update (3.10.2021)
Scouting Scratch (5.5.2021)
Scouting Report Update (6.29.2021) |
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