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) of us who solely dwell right here throughout the nice time of 12 months. The highways are out of the blue very full once more, and I’ve change into a crabby child about driving all the best way to the West Valley for day video games that then power me to drive dwelling in rush hour visitors made extra harrowing by the uptick in individuals. Alternatives to double up at East Valley stadiums are actually golden, and I’ll be at Salt River after which Mesa every of the subsequent 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 dwelling plate and (in all probability) extra hitter-focused items like this for the subsequent 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 12 months, Grant Taylor was slated to be LSU’s Friday night time 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, on account of his harm and a meager statistical monitor file that constituted one walk-prone season, he fell to the second spherical of that 12 months’s draft. Taylor was solely capable of 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 choose up reps.
He seems to be sensational, flashing 4 common or higher pitches, together with a plus-flashing changeup that wasn’t a part of Taylor’s faculty repertoire in any respect. Final week, Taylor sat 94-98 mph all through his outing, and was largely within the 96-98 vary early on. His fastball has vertical form that pairs properly together with his 83-ish mph curveball, which has truthful depth however typically lacks chunk. Taylor’s 84-87 mph slider and 87-89 mph changeup are his two nastier secondary pitches. Breaking ball consistency will likely 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 present him a weapon to neutralize lefties that’s higher than his curveball; the underside falls out of it simply because it reaches the plate.
Bear 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 based mostly on the standard of his stuff and the notion that he may develop as a craftsman as he accrues much-needed reps. Typically pitchers like this plateau and may seem like Connor Phillips did this 12 months. Talking of…
Connor Phillips, RHP, Cincinnati Reds (Glendale Desert Canine)
Phillips made his huge league debut in 2023, and it appeared very, very seemingly 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 huge 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 think about 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 outdated 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 file of stroll points is sort of lengthy at this level, lengthy sufficient that I wish 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 12 months, which suggests they solely burned one in every of his three choices initially 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’ll be able to watch Phillips’ whole outing right here and Painter’s whole begin right here, whereas following together with the pitch knowledge offered by Baseball Savant. If brevity is extra your factor, under you’ll discover a few of the finest 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 to be good, enjoying protection all around the subject and displaying stunning 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 all the time strike out an excessive amount of to be an on a regular basis participant at a single place, however Ross’ potential to play a reliable shortstop and heart subject (the latter is much less sure, however common season tape from Ross’ time there suggests it’s believable) might quickly make him a greater, extra impactful role-playing choice than Austin Martin has been.
