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Physical Description: Tall,
athletic frame. Some remaining projection. Long limbs. Looks to
have added 10-15 pounds of muscle during the 2022-23 offseason.
Mechanics: Throws from a three-quarters arm
slot, starting on the third base side of the rubber. Throws
exclusively from the stretch. Free and easy delivery. Short
stride and arm action. Hides the ball well behind. Delivery
works. Controlled and repeats delivery well.
Fastball: 91-93 mph. Tops out at 96 mph. Showed
increased velocity in spring training 2023, having previously
sat 88-92 mph and topping out at 94 mph, but his velocity
decreased as the 2023 season went on. Where pitch will sit after
return from the White Sox is unclear, as he sat 92-94 in his
first outing after his return but was 90-93 in his second outing
and was shut down soon after. Fastball has poor traits, lacking
carry or movement. Pitch falls in the deadzone of fastballs;
could stand to incorporate a two-seamer or sinker and limit the
use of his four-seam. Has the delivery and athleticism that lend
to a solid command and control profile in the future, and has
improved in that area over time having once graded out as
below-average. Potential average command and control profile.
Potential fringe-average offering.
Changeup:
80-84 mph. Pitch shows fade down and away from right-handed
hitters. Throws with deceptive arm speed and does a good job of
not telegraphing it. Pitch improved in college and took a
massive jump forward in 2022. Developed into his go-to out pitch
and showed bat-missing ability. Has the ability to throw it in
the zone or start it at the bottom and land it down and out of
the zone to induce swinging strikes. Velocity increased from
78-81 to 83-86 mph at the same time his fastball velocity jumped
in 2023, but velocity was back down after his return from the
White Sox. Potential plus offering.
Curveball:
73-78 mph. Long breaking ball with 1-to-7 break. Will flash
depth and tight rotation when he finishes it. Solid feel. Will
start at-bats with it or use it to put hitters away. Throws to
hitters on both sides. Does a good job utilizing the pitch in
conjunction with the rest of his arsenal, which allows it to
play up. Potential average offering.
Cutter/Slider:
84-89 mph. Added pitch during 2022-23 offeason. Started the
season looking like a cutter in the high-80s with short,
horizontal break. As the season went on, pitch evolved into a
slider in the low-to-mid-80s with inconsistent shape that he
struggled to command. When he was throwing the cutter, he was
able to get in on the hands of right-handed hitters and liked to
go to it early in the count. Potential fringe-average offering,
but wide-range of outcomes depending on whether he sticks with
the slider, cutter or something in between. |
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Career Notes:
Father, Bill, was a pitcher in the Royals organization from 1987
to 1990. Was selected in the 23rd round of the 2017 draft by the
Phillies. Successful quarterback in high school and did not
commit fully to baseball until he was in college. First
professional experience came in the 2020 Fall Instructional
League. Participated in the Fall Performance Program in 2021.
Was among the top 20 minor league leaders in strikeouts in 2022.
Was set to participate in the 2022 Fall Performance Program that
was canceled due to Hurricane Ian. Was among the most impressive
pitchers in minor league camp in 2023 after his stuff took a big
step forward over the offseason, showing increased velocity and
a new cutter. Dominated early in the 2023 season in Portland,
earning a quick promotion and becoming viewed by many as the top
pitching prospect in the system, but stuff and results took a
significant step back after being promoted to Worcester. In
something of a surprise, was not added to the 40-man roster in
Novmeber 2023 to protect him from selection in the Rule 5 Draft.
Was selected by the White Sox in the Rule 5 Draft in December.
Underwent a nerve decompression procedure in his left shoulder
in February and began the season on the IL. Made 10 short rehab
appearances in a bullpen role in May and early June, but was
returned to the Red Sox on June 12, 2024. After working out in
Fort Myers, made two August appearances for Worcester before
hitting the IL with left shoulder inflammation that ended his
season.
Summation: Potential emergency up-and-down
depth starter or swingman. Ceiling of a back-end starter. Early
in 2023, he flashed potential as an athletic left-hander with
four averageish pitches and a solid command and control profile.
As the season went on, however, his stuff regressed across the
board and now only his changeup projects as better than average,
with the rest of his arsenal fringy at best. Fastball lacks
quality and could limit how effective his changeup could be
against more advanced hitters. Needs to decide whether he wants
his second breaking ball to be a slider or cutter. Still has
upside, but also a chance that his stuff has plateaued and is
unlikely to profile against advanced hitters. Variance in
potential outcomes as if he comes out in 2024 with the stuff he
showed early in 2023 could push towards the higher end of his
potential outcomes. Hard worker who has improved every year
since signing.
Links
Red Sox select Shane Drohan with fifth-round pick (6.11.2020)
Scout Chatter (11.24.2020)
Scouting Report Updates (3.1.2021)
Scouting Report Update (3.4.2022) |
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