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Physical Description: Short,
stocky frame. Filled-out, no remaining projection.
Mechanics: Throws from a three-quarters arm
slot. Starts on the first base side. Starts facing toward third
base, even without runners on, but will take a step toward first
base before entering his delivery when the bases are empty. No
wind-up. Medium leg kick. Arm swings behind then is quick
forward. Some effort and recoil in delivery.
Fastball: 89-92 mph. Tops out at 94 mph Pitches
backwards, primarily relying his breaking pitches and mixing in
the fastball. Velocity improved early in 2024, but was back in
the 89-91 range by the end of the season. Potential
below-average pitch.
Curveball: 76-80
mph. Primary off-speed pitch. Will vary shape, but typically
shows more deep, 11-to-5 shape, with some more vertical. Good
spin rate, intriguing offering. Potential average pitch.
Sweeper: 79-83 mph. Added in Spring Training
2024. Became a pitch he threw often and a development focus.
Shows more horizontal break than his slider did, but could stand
to add more horizontal movement. Potential fringe-average pitch.
Changeup: 83-85 mph. Will flash drop and
arm-side run, but is not thrown often. Potential fringe-average
offering
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Slider: 85-87 mph. Inconsistent. Short,
horizontal break. Looks cutterish at times. Throws harder now,
perhaps in part to distinguish it from the sweeper; pitch once
sat 80-82 mph. Potential below-average offering.
Career Notes: Played for Wareham in the 2022 Cape Cod
League. Committed to Auburn as a graduate transfer before
signing. Was set to participate in the 2022 Fall Performance
Program that was canceled due to Hurricane Ian. Opened 2023 in
Extended Spring Training, but joined Salem in late April and
eventually moved into the closer role.
Summation: Potential mid-minors depth arm. Ceiling of
an organizational depth reliever. Pitches backwards off of his
curveball and, after adding the pitch in 2024, his sweeper.
Throws strikes and had success in the low minors, but did not
miss enough bats in Portland facing hitters more willing to lay
off of his offspeed who were not fooled by his unconventional
use of his pitch mix. Stuff needs to take a step forward for him
to succeed in the high minors.
Links
Red Sox select Jonathan Brand with eighth-round pick
(7.18.22) |
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