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Physical Description: Sturdy
right-hander who has filled out considerably over the last few
years. Minimal remaining projection.
Mechanics:
Throws from a three-quarters arm slot. Medium leg kick. Long arm
action with lots of moving parts. Slight trunk twist before
coming forward. Arm action includes a stab-and-point in the
back. Effort in delivery. Repeats delivery well in short
outings, better than he did in longer outings as a starter.
Fastball: 95-97 mph. Tops out at 99 mph.
Control has improved and now grades as average. Command is a
work in progress, but is creeping towards fringe-average.
Velocity has increased in pro ball. Sat in the low-to-mid-90s as a
starter, but velocity jumped considerably after moving to the
bullpen. Potential plus offering if command continues
to improve like it did in 2022, but for now plays below that.
Split-Finger
Fastball: 84-86 mph. Shows solid feel for the offering
and the confidence to throw it both in and out of the zone.
Especially effective against left-handed hitters. Has improved
since he got into pro ball and provides a nice complement to his
fastball. Still needs improved consistency. Potential
average offering.
Slider: 83-86
mph. Will vary shape and add or subtract velocity from the
pitch. Some have a more vertical shape, while others are more
horizontal. Primary out-pitch against right-handed hitters, but
has also shown the ability to bury it down-and-in to left-handed
hitters. Will flash similar potential to his splitter, but does
not have the same consistency. Potential average offering.
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Career Notes: Velocity spiked during the
conference tournament of his draft year and stock rose, leading
the Yankees to draft him in the fourth round. Named First Team
All-Conference in his sophomore and junior years at North
Florida. Acquired from the Yankees with Adam Ottavino in January
2021, essentially as consideration for the Red Sox picking up
all of Ottavino's contract for 2021. Participated in the 2022 Winter Warm-Up. Moved into the
bullpen for the last few weeks of the 2021 season and showed
intriguingly improved stuff. Continued to excel in that role
early in the 2022 season in Portland, earning a May promotion to
Worcester. Participated in the Fall Performance Program in 2021.
Missed two weeks in late April/early May 2022 for undisclosed
non-baseball reasons. Participated in 2023 Rookie Development
Program. Designated for assignment in January 2023 after the Red
Sox acquired Richard Bleier, then was traded to Chicago (AL) for
minor league reliever Theo Denlinger on February 3. Was
designated for assignment by the White Sox in May 2023 and
claimed by Cincinnati. Reds then designated him for assignment
and June and outrighted him to Triple-A. Spent about a month on
the injured list and was released in July 2023. Re-signed with
the Red Sox in late July on a two-year minor-league contract.
Summation:
Potential high-minors organizational depth reliever. Ceiling of
an up-and-down depth reliever. Stuff has backed up from the peak
of his prospect value in September
2021/early 2022. Was very hittable in the Majors in September
2022 and has really struggled in 2023. Appears that control has
regressed signficiantly. In short bursts, his velocity has increased and his
secondaries have improved. Lacks a plus secondary pitch right
now. Has shown bat-missing ability with both splitter and
slider against minor league competition, but there are questions
about how they will translate against MLB competition due to a
lack of consistency and command. If one of his
secondaries takes a step forward along with his command, has
a better chance to carve out a full-time role in a major league
bullpen.
Links
Scouting Report Update (1.28.2021)
Scouting Scratch: Red Sox 2021 Rule 5 Preview (11.18.2021)
Scouting Report Update (3.13.2022) |
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