We’ve reached the purpose within the Arizona Fall League calendar when the climate has formally shifted towards autumn, which makes being on the ballpark throughout the day about as near heaven as one can get. The return of nice climate additionally means the return of the Valley’s snowbirds, the (often retired) people who solely stay right here throughout the nice time of yr. The highways are all of a sudden very full once more, and I’ve develop into a crabby child about driving all the best way to the West Valley for day video games that then power me to drive house in rush hour site visitors made extra harrowing by the uptick in folks. Alternatives to double up at East Valley stadiums are actually golden, and I’ll be at Salt River after which Mesa every of the following couple of days.
We’re now deep sufficient into the AFL schedule that I’m beginning to shift my in-person scouting focus towards hitters, particularly when pitchers I’ve already seen a few occasions are within the sport. It means spending extra time down the baselines moderately than behind house plate and (in all probability) extra hitter-focused items like this for the following couple of weeks. However for now…
Grant Taylor, RHP, Chicago White Sox (Glendale Desert Canine)
Some readers will recall that the autumn earlier than their draft yr, Grant Taylor was slated to be LSU’s Friday evening starter the next spring whereas Paul Skenes, contemporary from the switch portal, was the presumptive quantity two. A draft-eligible sophomore, Taylor blew out and wanted Tommy John proper earlier than the beginning of the 2023 collegiate season and, because of his damage and a meager statistical monitor report that constituted one walk-prone season, he fell to the second spherical of that yr’s draft. Taylor was solely in a position to squeeze in 19.1 innings throughout the 2024 common season as soon as he was completed rehabbing, and got here to the Arizona Fall League to select up reps.
He seems sensational, flashing 4 common or higher pitches, together with a plus-flashing changeup that wasn’t a part of Taylor’s school repertoire in any respect. Final week, Taylor sat 94-98 mph all through his outing, and was principally within the 96-98 vary early on. His fastball has vertical form that pairs properly along with his 83-ish mph curveball, which has honest depth however typically lacks chew. Taylor’s 84-87 mph slider and 87-89 mph changeup are his two nastier secondary pitches. Breaking ball consistency will probably be key for Taylor shifting ahead. His slider’s end is inconsistent however when it’s proper, at that velocity, it’s plus. His changeup goes to provide him a weapon to neutralize lefties that’s higher than his curveball; the underside falls out of it simply because it reaches the plate.
Keep in mind, Taylor has barely pitched since 2022. He’s unpolished however is extremely gifted each athletically and from a stuff standpoint. Take a look at how highly effective his decrease physique is and the way substantial his hip and shoulder separation is on the finish of the embedded video. This can be a fairly particular cat who’s making an argument for inclusion on the Prime 100 primarily based on the standard of his stuff and the notion that he would possibly develop as a craftsman as he accrues much-needed reps. Typically pitchers like this plateau and may appear like Connor Phillips did this yr. Talking of…
Connor Phillips, RHP, Cincinnati Reds (Glendale Desert Canine)
Phillips made his large league debut in 2023, and it appeared very, very possible that he’d be a part of the Reds’ 2024 pitching workers in some capability, definitely for lengthy sufficient to lose prospect standing. As a substitute, he ran an 8.01 ERA at Triple-A Louisville, walked 6.86 BB/9 and didn’t pitch within the large leagues in any respect. Phillips piggybacked with Phillies prospect Andrew Painter on Thursday, working 4 scoreless innings and strolling only one. His stuff stays very nasty, particularly his sweeper, which at occasions I’d contemplate a 70-grade pitch on the scouting scale. He additionally airmailed a fastball to the backstop at one level throughout this outing.
Phillips continues to be a piece in progress as a strike-thrower, however he’s solely 23 years previous work. His curveball provides him sufficient of a weapon to compete in opposition to lefty hitters, and he can attain again for 99 when he actually must bully somebody with velocity. Nonetheless, I’ve thought-about Phillips extra prone to be a multi-inning reliever for some time now. His monitor report of stroll points is kind of lengthy at this level, lengthy sufficient that I need to see tangible enchancment on this space earlier than upgrading Phillips’ projected position. The Reds neatly promoted him on the very finish of 2023 and didn’t choice him in any respect that yr, which suggests they solely burned one in every of his three choices at the beginning of 2024. That offers him two extra years to percolate and attempt to enhance his strike-throwing effectivity sufficient to be extra comfortably deployed as a starter.
You possibly can watch Phillips’ total outing right here and Painter’s total begin right here, whereas following together with the pitch knowledge supplied by Baseball Savant. If brevity is extra your factor, beneath you’ll discover among the greatest breaking balls each pitchers threw on this sport:
Ben Ross, Utilityman, Minnesota Twins (Salt River Rafters)
I do know his numbers aren’t good, however superutilityman Ben Ross seems good, taking part in protection all around the area and displaying shocking energy for a hitter as lithe and thin as he’s. Ross “broke out” in 2023 with 19 bombs at Excessive-A Cedar Rapids, however he struck out in roughly 30% of his 2024 plate appearances and posted a mere 78 wRC+ at Double-A Wichita. Ross struggles with secondary pitch recognition, however he’s very harmful within the middle-up parts of the zone and his swing is surprisingly quick contemplating how a lot energy he has. He’ll in all probability at all times strike out an excessive amount of to be an on a regular basis participant at a single place, however Ross’ skill to play a reliable shortstop and heart area (the latter is much less sure, however common season tape from Ross’ time there suggests it’s believable) may quickly make him a greater, extra impactful role-playing choice than Austin Martin has been.