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Physical Description: Tall
pitcher's frame. Has filled out considerably since signing,
especially in his lower half. High waist and long limbs. Has
started to fill out in his upper half as well. Was listed at 160
pounds when he signed. Could stand to watch his conditioning as
he matures given how much weight he has added in a short period
of time.
Mechanics: Throws from a
three-quarters arm slot with effort in his delivery. Very quick
arm. Starts on the first base side and utilizes a full wind-up.
Deceptive arm action. Somewhat deliberate going back, then whips
arm forward. Arm-heavy delivery, does not do a great job
incorporating his lower half, but has gotten better at doing so
in recent years. Works fast, which can cause his delivery to get
out of whack. Could perhaps stand to slow things down a bit.
Release point can get inconsistent and he tends to overthrow at
times, especially as he works deeper into games and tires.
Delivery has gotten significantly cleaner as he has progressed
through the system. Has had trouble finding a consistent arm
slot at times. Needs to improve consistency with his delivery.
Fastball: 94-96 mph. Tops out at 100 mph.
Pitch sat 96-97 mph in 2020 in shorter outings at the Alternate
Training Site. Added significant velocity in 2018; pitch used to
sit 90-92, topping out at 94. Occasionally falls into the 91-93
mph range later in outings. Throws two types of fastball, a
four-seam at 94-96 mph and two-seam at 91-93 mph. Still learning
to harness that velocity and needs to work on command and
control. Fastball shows plus sink down in the zone and life when
elevated. Command and control still need significant refinement.
Too often, he will lose his delivery and release point and his
fastball control will suffer as a result. Still struggles to
locate arm-side. Potential plus pitch, but a lot depends on how
his command ends up.
Slider: 86-90 mph.
Added pitch coming into Spring Training 2019. Initially, pitch
was longer and looled like a slider at lower velocities and more
like cutter when thrown harder. In 2020 looks, pitch is
definitely a slider with sharp, late break. Pitch will flash
plus potential with depth. Has really taken to the pitch and
improved his feel and confidence in it as he has used it more.
Pitch gives him another weapon to throw at hitters in a new
velocity band.
Curveball: 78-80 mph.
11-to-5 break and two-plane movement. When he snaps it off,
pitch will show depth. Can throw pitch in the zone and is
comfortable doing so. Will often use to steal a strike early in
the count, but has shown the ability to backdoor the pitch to
left-handed hitters when ahead in the count as well. Potential
average offering.
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Changeup: 84-86 mph. Throws with deceptive arm
speed. Velocity has increased from 82-83 mph as fastball
velocity increased. Inconsistent pitch right now. Can be on the
firm side, but has had better feel at times in 2020. Has shown
the ability to turn the pitch over down in the zone against
left-handed hitters on occasion. Potential fringe-average
offering, but that grade is fluid and could increase if it looks
like it has at times in 2020.
Career
Notes: Expected to sign with the Brewers in
July 2015 at start of international signing period, but a groin
injury derailed that agreement and he rehabbed the injury on his
own before signing with the Red Sox in January 2016 for what was
likely a much smaller bonus. Impressed at 2016 Fall
Instructional League. Fit description of (and likely was)
unnamed player whom Red Sox declined to include in trade talks
during 2016-17 offseason. Started the 2017 season in extended
spring training before being promoted to Greenville at the end
of May. Has been promoted aggressively; was youngest player in
the South Atlantic League in 2017 and Carolina League in 2018
and 2019. Pitched just once after July 10 in 2018 due to a back
injury. Missed a month with shoulder soreness in 2019. PItched
at the Alternate Training Site in 2020, suffering a hamstring
injury in late August that caused him to miss his last couple of
starts. Participated in the 2020 Fall Instructional League.
Suffered a slight UCL tear in March 2021 and underwent Tommy
John Surgery on April 13, 2021.
Summation: Projects as a back-end starter,
but delivery and command profile could ultimately push him to
the bullpen, where his stuff could play in a late-inning relief
role. Ceiling of a mid-rotation starter. Has a much better
chance to start now after taking to his new slider and cleaning
up his delivery. Changeup still needs refinement, but has the
potential for a true four-pitch mix with two plus offerings. Has
shown the ability to miss bats with all four pitches at various
points in his career. After developing physically, harnessing
command of his arsenal will be key for his development. Injuries
are becoming a concern, particularly after 2021 UCL injury. Will
need to continue to watch conditioning as he physically matures.
Still is very young and is a very intriguing arm who still has a
lot of pitching development left. Tommy John Surgery in April
2021 clouds future starter profile.
Links
Scouting Scratch (10.4.16)
Notes from the Field (3.22.17)
State of the System: High Minors Pitchers (4.9.20)
Video from Pawtucket (8.5.2020) |
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