Pos: LHP (Starter) |
DOB: 08/01/1989 |
Ht: 6’5 |
Team: San Francisco Giants |
B/T: R/L |
Wt: 235 |
Fastball: 65 |
Curveball: 60 |
Control: 70 |
Slider: 55 |
Changeup: 45 |
Fastball: Ranges from 92-95 mph, sitting at 94 mph. Has cutting movement with good downhill plane. Generates a high number of swings and misses. Extremely difficult pitch for LHH’s to hit. Not afraid to throw inside to both RHH’s and LHH’s, although he struggles to throw for consistent strikes to LHH’s. Working in all directions, isn’t afraid to elevate it but generally keeps it down in the zone well.
Curveball: Ranges from 75-79 mph. Will occasionally drop a slow curve in at 67-69 mph. Has late hard dropping movement. Generates swings and misses from it, and uses it as a strikeout pitch when it’s on. Can throw it for called strikes or as a chase pitch. Maintains great arm speed with it.
Slider: Ranges from 86-89 mph. Has cutting movement with late drop. Throws it in all directions. Uses it mainly against LHH’s. Capable of throwing it for called strikes or as a chase pitch. Likes to elevate it and throw it to his glove side. Not a swing and miss pitch typically, but does generate weak contact.
Changeup: Ranges from 83-85 mph. Has late dropping movement. Struggles to throw it for consistent strikes. Does not throw it very often at all, will use it less than a handful of time’s a game. Will not double up on it, and typically uses it against the same hitter in different at bats. Will have game’s where he will completely ditch it and never use it. Typically only uses it later in games, after first five innings.
Control: Attacks the strike zone and gets ahead of hitters. Great at making in-game adjustments, and using hitter’s aggressiveness against them. Has become a strikeout per inning guy. Works to all sections of the strike zone with all pitches. Relies heavily on the fastball but mixes in his off-speed at the right time, using them effectively. Does a solid job of keeping the ball in the ballpark.
Delivery: Throws from a three-quarters arm slot, with a long arm action. A low effort delivery (despite occasional grunting when he throws) with very little stress on his arm. Throws across his body and doesn’t fall off much at all. Slow long arm action creates great deception as the ball explodes out of his hand. Repeats his delivery very well.
Physical Description: Tall muscular ideal pitchers frame. With strength and muscle throughout. Has long limbs, high waist and a round rear. Powerful legs, with broad shoulders and a muscular back. Carries no bad weight, and has no concern over adding any in the future. No injury concerns, having pitched over 200 innings in each of the last five seasons.
Summary: A front of the rotation, perennial All-Star, who consistently is among the best pitchers in the league. Has experience beyond his years, having pitched in three World Series. A strikeout per inning guy, who doesn’t walk many and keeps the ball in the ballpark. Has also become one of the best hitting pitchers in the league, with power.