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Physical Description: Tall,
sturdy pitcher's frame. Has filled out considerably since
signing, especially in his lower half. High waist and long
limbs. Has filled out in his upper half as well. Was listed at
160 pounds when he signed. Returned from Tommy John surgery in
very good condition.
Mechanics: Throws
from a three-quarters arm slot with effort in his delivery. Very
quick arm. Starts on the first base side and does not utilize a
wind-up, although he had in the past. 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. Needs to improve
consistency with his delivery. Because of how quick his arm is,
it can get out ahead of the rest of his delivery, causing him to
constantly yank the ball glove-side.
Fastball:
94-98 mph. Tops out at 100 mph. Pitch sat 96-97 mph in 2020 in
shorter outings at the Alternate Training Site and was still
sitting there after he returned from Tommy John in 2022. Added
significant velocity in 2018; pitch used to sit 90-92, topping
out at 94. Throws two variations, a four-seam at 96-98 mph and
two-seam at 94-96 mph. Threw primarily four-seam fastballs in
outing scouted in 2022. Still learning to harness that velocity
and needs to work on command and control. Fastball shows sink
down in the zone and some life when elevated, though it is
easier to hit than you would expect given its velocity. 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. Has a tendency to yank his fastball glove-side.
Potential plus pitch, but a lot depends on how his command
develops.
Slider: 86-90 mph. Added pitch
coming into Spring Training 2019. Initially, pitch was longer
and looked like a slider at lower velocities and more like
cutter when thrown harder. In 2020 looks, pitch had become a
more defined slider with sharp, late break. 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. Pitch will flash plus potential with
depth, but has not constantly snapped off in return from Tommy
John and the pitch has shown the tendency to roll to the plate.
Potential solid-average offering if he can find more consistency
with it.
Curveball: 77-79 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. Will flash more potential, but
lack of consistency pulls down grade. Potential average
offering.
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Changeup: 87-89 mph. Throws with deceptive arm
speed. Velocity has increased from 82-83 mph as fastball
velocity increased. Pitch is on the firm side, but feel is
improving and pitch shows late fade. Has shown the ability to
turn the pitch over down in the zone against left-handed hitters
on occasion. Potential average-to-better offering, but that
grade is fluid.
Career Notes: Expected
to sign with the Brewers in July 2015 at the start of the
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
reportedly 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. Was
promoted aggressively early in his career: was the youngest
player in the South Atlantic League in 2017 and in the Carolina
League in both 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. Participated
in the Fall Performance Program in 2021 as a rehabber. Returned
to games on a rehab assignment in June 2022 and returned to
Portland and was activated at the end of that month.
Participated in 2023 Rookie Development Program.
Summation: Projects as a back end starter or
multi-inning relief arm with premium stuff to handle a late
inning role if necessary. Ceiling of a mid-rotation starter.
Still has a wide range of outcomes as he makes his return from
Tommy John surgery. Raw stuff is back, but feel for secondaries
and command come and go within outings. Might be able to start,
but could be more effective in shorter bursts out of the
bullpen. Delivery still has effort and we need to see how his
stuff holds up over longer, 5-6-inning stints and when pitching
on a consistent starter’s schedule. Will show the potential for
a true four-pitch mix with two potential plus offerings. Has
shown the ability to miss bats with all four pitches at various
points in his career. Harnessing command of his arsenal will be
key for his development. Injury risk had become a concern even
pre-Tommy John surgery, as he last made it through a full season
healthy in 2017. 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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