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Physical Description: Short,
stocky frame. Average build with minimal remaining projection.
Mechanics: Throws from an over-the-top arm
slot. Max effort delivery. Starts on the third base side of the
rubber and doesn't use a windup. Very quick arm. Short, stiff
arm action behind. Hides the ball well.
Fastball:
92-96 mph. Topped out at 99 mph in college. Sat 94-96 mph after
signing in 2018, but velo was down in 2019, often sitting 92-94
and only touching 96. Reports from spring training 2020 had his
velocity was down even more to the low-90s. At its best, the
pitch explodes out of his hand and has late life, making it
tough to square up. Club had him work on locating the pitch up
in the zone early in 2019 after he had focused on locating it
down in the zone in college and in 2018 pro debut. After
struggling through the adjustment, particularly with his command
and with needing to sacrifice velocity to locate the pitch,
returned to locating it lower in the zone near the end of the
season, with improved results. Command still needs improvement
and is inconsistent from outing to outing. Potential plus
offering.
Slider: 84-86 mph. True power
breaking ball. Pitch shows hard bite and depth though the zone.
Gets over it well and finishes the pitch. Able to throw in the
zone or get hitters to chase it out of the zone depending on the
situation. Lost feel for the pitch early in 2019, causing him to
focus on his curveball more often, but returned to the pitch
later in the year. Potential plus pitch with the ability to miss
bats at the highest level, but inconsistency in 2019 makes it
seem much less likely the pitch will consistently grade out that
high.
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Curveball: Low 80s. Clear third pitch. Has rarely
thrown in outings scouted by SoxProspects staff. Reports on
pitch differ between describing it as slurvy or having 12-to-6
break. Began relying on the pitch more in early 2019 when he
lost feel for his slider, but leaned more on the slider later in
the year.
Career Notes:
Was TCU’s closer all three years of college, tying the school’s
career saves record (32) and setting the school’s single-season
mark in 2017. Was ranked a consensus top 100 player in the 2018
draft and was projected by many to be the fastest player in the
draft to make the majors, even as fast as in 2018, based on
fastball-slider combination. Moved quickly through the low
minors after being drafted in 2018, pitching just 23 1/3 innings
before beginning 2019 in Portland. Participated in the Fall
Instructional League in 2018, 2019, and 2020.
Summation:
Potential middle reliever with a power fastball/slider combo.
Ceiling of a late-inning reliever, but 2019 struggles made it
seem less likely he will reach that ceiling. Both fastball and
slider show plus potential at their best. Fastball command will
be key to development going forward, as well as whether he gets
comfortable throwing it up in the zone or not.
Links
Scouting Scratch 8.8.2018
Scouting Report Update 6.16.2020
Scout Chatter (11.30.2020) |
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