Spring Training Notes: 2/26/18

Note: There was a ton of guys (e.g. Matt Bush) I wanted to see in Arizona but none of the relevant games were broadcast. It’s 95% Grapefruit league today.

Braves vs Nationals

A radar gun and some interesting young arms pulled me into this game.

Max Scherzer
FB: 91-94 mph
SL: 85-88 mph (straight up nasty)
CB: 75-78 mph
CH: 83-86 mph

Scott Kazmir (ADP: 656)
FB: 84-87 mph
Looks like he’s ready for NAIA ball.

Luke Sims (ADP: 655)
FB: 90-94 (straight)
CH: 84 mph
CB: 75-78 (slow and loopy)
Nothing to get excited over. Triple-A arm … maybe.

Austin Voth
FB: 91-93 mph, sat in the upper 80’s last year.
CT/SL/SI/FS: 86-87 mph. Late break down. No previous mention of this pitch so not sure about it.
CB: 79-80 mph, announcers called it a slider but looked like a curve.

(Ed. note – aka Sporer: kinda dug Voth coming into last yr, but he was a nightmare in the minors; I’m still keeping an eye on him, especially WAS doesn’t sign one of the remaining big 3 of Arrieta, Lynn, or Cobb)

Max Fried (ADP: 530)
FB: 90-94 mph
CH: 83-86 mph
CB: 73-75 mph
Nothing to get excited over. Sims and he profile similarly.

Ronald Acuna timed at 4.15 seconds to first base (65-grade speed)

Cardinals vs Astros

Miles Mikolas (ADP: 299) thoughts.

Miles Mikolas allowed 7 hits and 6 earned runs over 1 2/3 IP in his return to the American mound. His fastball sat 93-94, topped at 96. He threw four different pitches. He needed 51 total. His mustache, though, wasn't touched at all. Can it be?

— Joe Trezza (@JoeTrezz) February 25, 2018

• Cutter/slider/split pitch is nasty. It comes in hard with late-downward break.
• Control issues extended some at-bats.
• Threw a 12-6 loopy curve.
• Overall, it was a rough outing for him. Nothing was working and hopefully, he can improve.

Marlins vs Mets

Robert Gsellman (ADP: 554)
FB: 90-94 mph, settled in at 93-94 mph
CH: 85 mph
CB: 81-82 mph
He dominated in his two innings mainly throwing his fastball generating two strikeouts, four groundballs, and a fly out. He could be a nice reserve round pick in most leagues.

Royals vs A’s

Dustin Fowler led off for the Athletics

Fastball Velocities: From pitch tracking system installed Salt Rivers (Rockies and D-Backs home park), teams with a broadcast radar (Mets, Nationals, and Yankees home games), and Twitter. Complete spreadsheet.

None not listed above. Brooksbaseball.net has no readings from yesterday.