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Physical Description: Tall,
sturdy frame with long levers. Frame has some remaining
projection in his upper body, but lower half is filled out.
Mechanics: Throws over the top starting on
the third base side of the rubber. Makes use of his height.
Medium-to-high leg kick. Arm action has effort, including a stab
when he brings his arm back. Delivery is on the stiff side, but
is controlled.
Fastball: 90-94 mph.
Velocity has not yet fully returned since UCL revision surgery
in 2021, but is slowly ticking back up. Sat 92-95 mph and
touched 97 mph prior to his surgery. Varies from outing to
outing. Sometimes sits in the lower end of the velocity band,
other times closer to the higher end. Pitch shows high induced
vertical break, which leads to carry up in the zone. Fringy
command and average control. Primarily uses his fastball to get
ahead in the count. Chance more velocity comes back as he gets
further away from his surgery, but right now looks like a
potential fringe-average offering.
Changeup:
81-85 mph. Shows significant drop. Throws with deceptive arm
speed and does a good job keeping hitters off-balance with it.
Pitch looks a lot like his fastball until late. Potential
average offering.
Curveball: 80-83 mph.
Long, 12-to-6 shape. Pitch shows depth and bat-missing ability
when he gets over it and can bury it down in the zone. Used to
throw a slider as well, with the curve coming in at a lower
velocity band, but seems to have scrapped the slider and is only
throwing one breaking ball. Potential average offering. |
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Career Notes: Son of former
MLB All-Star Jay Bell. Older brother Brantley is a third baseman
who has played in the Reds and Padres organizations, reaching as
high as Triple-A, as well as independent ball. Began JuCo career
as a two-way player, but blew out his arm early in his sophomore
season and underwent Tommy John surgery. Came back with
increased velocity and chose to focus exclusively on pitching.
Committed to Auburn. Participated in the Fall Instructional
League in 2019 and 2020. Underwent UCL revision surgery, a
procedure essentially revising a prior Tommy John surgery after
reinjuring the ligament that is not exactly the same as Tommy
John, in the last week of May 2021 and missed the entire 2021
and 2022 seasons. Participated in the 2021 Fall Performance
Program while rehabbing.
Summation:
Potential organizational depth arm, but that is very fluid as he
is still in the early stages of his return from his second
significant elbow ligament surgery. Has some intriguing traits
and things to build on as he gets further out from his surgery
and rehab. Still does not have many miles on his arm and is raw
for his age. Secondary pitches are ahead of his fastball right
now, with both flashing bat-missing ability. Over-the-top arm
slot provides an uncomfortable look for hitters and allows him
to pitch north-south with his fastball up and then changeup and
curveball down. Fastball is on the light side and upside could
depend on whether or not his velocity comes back given how tough
it is to succeed in a bullpen role with fringy velocity.
Links
Scouting Report Update (3.31.20)
Scout Chatter (11.30.2020) |
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