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Physical
Description: Tall, athletic frame. Minimal
remaining projection. Long limbs. Has put in work to make
himself stronger since being drafted. Will always be on the
skinny side, but showed up to camp in 2025 in excellent shape
and noticeably stronger.
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: 92-94 mph. Tops
out at 96 mph. Showed increased velocity in spring training 2023
after having previously sat 88-92 mph, topping out at 94 mph,
but his velocity decreased as the 2023 season went on. Sat 92-94
in his first outing after his return from the White Sox in 2024,
but was 90-93 in his second outing and was shut down soon after.
Velocity jumped considerably early in the 2025 season, sitting
94-95, but it backed up after he missed three months due to
injury. Fastball has intriguing characteristics, including a
flat approach angle, and ride. 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 average offering.
Cutter:
88-90 mph. Short, horizontal break. More of a cut-slider than a
true cutter. Most effective when he is able to get in on the
hands of right-handed hitters and tends to go to it early in the
count to get ahead. Originally added the pitch during the
2022-23 offseason. Hit hard when he leaves it over the plate.
Potential fringe-average offering.
Changeup:
83-86 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 pro ball. 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. Potential
above-average offering.
Curveball: 76-79
mph. Long, 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.
Slider: 82-86 mph. High spin
breaking ball with horizontal break. Lacks depth, solid feel.
Able to land in the zone or bury down when looking for a whiff.
Primarily thrown across left-handed hitters. Potential average
offering. |
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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 but did not sign.
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,
becoming viewed by many as the top pitching prospect in the
system, as reflected in his SoxProspects ranking at the time,
but stuff and results took a significant step back after he was
promoted to Worcester. In something of a surprise, was not added
to the 40-man roster in November 2023 to protect him from
selection in the Rule 5 Draft, where he was selected by the
White Sox in December. Underwent a nerve decompression procedure
in his left shoulder in February 2024 and began the season on
the injured list. Made 10 rehab appearances in a bullpen role in
May and early June, then was returned to the Red Sox in
mid-June. After working out in Fort Myers, made two August
appearances for Worcester before hitting the IL again with left
shoulder inflammation that ended his season. Missed just over
three months in 2025 with left forearm inflammation.
Summation: Potential quality major league depth
arm capable of pitching multiple innings or in short relief.
Ceiling of a multi-inning bridge arm or leverage reliever.
Athletic left-hander with a diverse arsenal and distinct shapes.
At his best he will flash three bat missing secondaries to
complement his fastball and cutter. Fastball shape and
effectiveness took a step forward in 2025. Continued development
of his cutter will be key for him going forward to have a chance
to pitch multiple innings. Stuff took a step forward in short
bursts in 2025, but he struggled to stay healthy again and his
stuff backed up some after he returned from injury. Even with
diminished stuff he was still effective, but questions remain
whether he can stand the rigors of a full season's workload.
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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