In this section, we'll post the scouting report on MLB pitchers making their first career start or sometimes their season debut if they have not started for a while.  

May 12

James Kaprielian (RHP - OAK)

Kaprielian was a first-round sign in 2015 by the Yankees, taken 16th overall and ahead of current standouts like Walker Buehler (RHP - LA) and Mike Soroka (RHP - ATL). There were significant questions about his fastball at signing, and here five years later, those concerns remain. SIx-foot-three and 225 pounds, the 26-year-old has had a bevy of ailments that have kept him out for a significant amount of time: flexor-tendon strain wiped out all of 2016, UCL strain during spring training the following year requiring Tommy John, and then recurring bouts of shoulder soreness in both 2018 and 2019 during rehab causing shutdowns. It’s been a long road back, including being packaged in a trade for Sonny Gray (RHP - CIN) and as a result, Kaprielian’s fastball currently works as a below average pitch, sitting 92 and relatively straight. It was higher pre-surgery, and as velocity takes a bit to come back, there’s a chance it could return. The slider and change-up are his primary secondaries, both average-to-above-average pitches that Kaprielian was hesitant to go to upon return. It’s unlikely at this point that he gets back any frontline luster he had, instead having to work as a finesse guy who lives in and around the zone. 

Somehow, Kaprielian still remains on prospect lists entering his age-27 season. After seasons upon seasons of arm injuries, he popped up in the majors a couple times in relief, sitting mid-90s and leaning on his hard slider as his primary off-speed, which was also his best off-speed in 2019. In his four innings last year in relief, he was pummeled to the tune of a 7.36 ERA. Given that he’s only thrown 101 innings in a five-and-a-half year pro career, It’s probably best to watch from afar but then again, he’s probably going to be a big price in Boston and Moneyball is pretty smart with their players,   

2019 STATS: Las Vegas (AAA) — 1 g, 0-0, 2.25 ERA, 4.0 IP, 0 BB’s, 7 K’s, 0 HR, .333 oppBA, 1.50 WHIP

Midland (AA) — 7 g, 2-1, 1.63 ERA, 27.2 IP, 2.6 BB’s/9, 8.5 K’s/9, 2 HR, .186 oppBA, 0.94 WHIP

May 8

Zac Lowther (LHP - BAL)

Lowther fits the crafty lefty mold, as he lacks plus stuff or high velocity, but has a good idea of how to pitch. Like a lot of pitchers of his profile, he has dominated minor league hitters at the lower levels, most recently posting a 2.55 ERA in 2019 at AA across 148 IP. He sits around 89-92 on his fastball that he delivers from a high three-quarters slot. Lowther gets good extension on the fastball, allowing the pitch to play above its velocity, and he also gets sink and run on his fastball that allows him to suppress hard contact with it. He complements his fastball primarily with an average changeup that shows decent fade and plays off his fastball well. He also throws a curveball with decent 12-6 movement that does not tunnel as well as his two core offerings, reducing its effectiveness. The plan was for Lowther to be a long man out of the bullpen but it looks like he’s in line for some starts for an Orioles’ team with an unsettled rotation. 

May 4

Sam Hentges (LHP - CLE)

Sam Hentges was selected by Cleveland in the 14th round of the 2014 draft and has overcome Tommy John surgery early in his pro career. He has spent the majority of his time as a starter, though many believe he is best positioned for a bullpen role. He has great size – 6’6” 245 pounds – and uses a high ¾ slot to throw on a steep downward plane to the plate. While at the alternate site in 2020, Hentges added more velocity to his fastball and now is sitting between 95-99 mph. He uses three secondary pitches and the best one may be the upper 70s curveball that he can get hitters to chase. The rest of his arsenal consists of a mid-80s cutter and mid-80s change-up. An analysis of his minor league numbers may not do him justice given the velocity jump and better control so he might be undervalued right off the hop. His strikeout rate has always been good (career 10.6 K/9), but his control has been inconsistent, particularly because of his erratic delivery and release point but he has worked on that extensively. This is a prospect to keep a close eye on. He’s good. 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

April 29th

Shane McClanahan (LHP - TB)

The Rays selected Shane McClanahan with the 31st pick in the 2018 draft out of South Florida. It was a little surprising a college lefty with that kind of swing-and-miss stuff fell that far, but there were significant durability concerns with him—his velocity was down his draft year—and plenty of scouts thought the command profile would work better in the ‘pen. McClanahan dominated in the minors, striking out 167 batters in 127 innings, and he did throw about as close to a full-season as you will get from a starting prospect in 2019. He’s had bouts of wildness and has only thrown 18 innings above A-ball, but the dominating stuff put him on the radar. 

McClanahan’s fastball is absolutely electric. He sits in the high 90s and hit 100 mph in the playoffs. It’s difficult to pick up and it moves around; it’s just a tough pitch for batters to deal with. He pairs that with a slurvy low-to-mid-80s breaking ball. It’s a knee-buckler when it’s right, but he struggles to throw it with consistency and command. It’s quite possible that he’s going to end up in the bullpen, as scouts' opinions vary from “there’s an outside chance he’ll start” to “there’s very little chance he’ll start.” His changeup is underdeveloped (he barely threw it in his playoff cameo), his command isn’t great, and his delivery is inconsistent. These are all major relief markers. McClanahan was called up for the postseason, and indeed became the first pitcher in major-league history to make his debut in the playoffs, where he pitched low-to-low-medium leverage innings for the Rays on their pennant run. His stuff was nasty and his command was all over the place, so he basically pitched to his report. The Rays are probably going with their 2+ inning strategy today as part of their Famous Closer Carousel to get through an entire game. 

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

April 25th 

Luis Patino (RHP - TAM)

The Rays will promote 21-year-old Luis Patino from the alternate site to make his season debut after a bit of a rough ride last year, mostly in relief. Patino was a high-profile acquisition from the Padres in December 2020 after a season in which he appeared in 11 games covering 17 innings (he struck out 21 batters). He has among the best pure and electric arms in all of baseball regardless of level. He uses an extraordinarily athletic delivery and arm action to deliver mid-to-high 90s fastballs to the plate. It features natural rise, which makes him difficult to square up. He can blow that by hitters or use a variety of secondary offerings to punch them out. His mid-80s slider can be lethal when on while he mixes in an occasional curveball and high 80s change-up that flashes plus. With this kind of electric stuff, he has significant strikeout potential regardless of role. There are some concerns about his size (6’1” 192 pounds) as well as his inconsistent command and control. Because he often overthrows, his mechanics can get out of whack and he can miss the strike zone badly. Patino could be an impact pitcher as either a No. 2 starter or back-end reliever, possibly a closer. This is a guy to keep an eye on. Patino has a career 2.35 ERA, 3.1 BB/9 and 10.7 K/9 in the minors but he also had a 5.19/6.12 ERA/xERA split in the 11 innings he pitched last year.

April 15th

Anthony Kay (LHP - TOR)

The Blue Jays obtained the former first round pick (31st overall in 2016) from the Mets in July 2019 and he started two games for Toronto as a September call-up. The 2019 campaign was only his second professional season and he started strong with 12 outstanding starts in Double-A. Kay is an aggressive starter with a solid three-pitch mix. He establishes the plate early with his 91-95 mph fastball and has a terrific curveball with a vicious break that can register strikeouts. All of his pitches exhibit quality downward action, particularly the change-up that he throws with average command. When he throws strikes, he's very good. When he doesn’t, he can be hit hard. Kay has a feel for changing speeds and knows how to set up hitters by his pitch sequencing. He doesn’t necessarily stand out when watching him in-person, but the sum of his parts is quite strong. Kay may get a few spot starts for the Blue Jays in 2020 and he should be counted on to become a mid-rotation starter going forward. He has a career 3.58 ERA, 3.7 BB/9 and 9.1 K’s/9 in two professional seasons.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A cheaper and better alternative to CABLE

TV Programming

A GREAT OFFER FOR SPORTSWAGERS READERS:

We’re offering a better and cheaper alternative to cable TV. You will literally save thousands of dollars. If you’re sick of paying a fortune for programming that you don’t even want or need, this is for you. All pro sports -- EVERY GAME, tons of college football and basketball games and tons of regular programming (non-sports). Over 2500 channels all in HD for a mere $20 per month. You have to be nuts not to get it.