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July 10, 2015

Eyewitness Accounts

July 10, 2015

by Al Skorupa

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Adrian Sampson
Joe Ross
Buck Farmer
Trayce Thompson
Trevor Story
Kyle Holder

Adrian Sampson


	Born: 10/07/1991 (Age: 23)
	Bats: Right	Throws: Right
	Height: 6' 2"	Weight: 205

Low 3/4 right-handed pitcher with above-average arm speed. Side windup; medium pace. Effort in delivery; some stiffness and slingy arm action; finishes on a stiff front leg and loses release point. Deceptive front side and hides ball.

Evaluator	Al Skorupa
Report Date	06/04/2015
Affiliate	Indianapolis Indians (AAA, Pirates)
Dates Seen	05-12-2015
OFP/Risk	50/Low
Realistic	45; No. 5 Starting Pitcher
MLB ETA	2016
Video	No

Pitch Type	Present Grade	Future Grade	Sitting Velocity	Peak Velocity	Report
Fastball	45	55	90-93	94	Tail and sink; average life; more sink when thrown low; sometimes turns over and cuts to glove side. Below-average command; but works in and out; throws to both sides of plate. Fastball most effective down.
Slider	45	50	84-86		10-4 shallow depth; varies between slurve and cutting action. Complements FB well; good for inducing groundballs. Above-average feel and command; pitches with SL.
Changeup	40	45	84-88		Sinking change; firm with below average life. Thrown with good arm speed. Fringe average command; inconsistent feel. Not enough velo separation from FB. Clear third offering.

45; No. 5 Starting Pitcher in sinker/slider mold. Some arm strength and sink, but no out pitch, below average command and his offspeed lags behind other pitches.

Joe Ross


	Born: 05/21/1993 (Age: 22)
	Bats: Right	Throws: Right
	Height: 6' 4"	Weight: 205

3/4 right-hander with plus arm speed; free-and-easy arm action but somewhat compact extension. Sidestep windup. Deceptive front side but flashes ball behind him with hip slap pickup leading to slight stab; small head jerk as he releases; recovers well and repeats relatively well anyway; excellent athlete.

Evaluator	Al Skorupa
Report Date	06/04/2015
Affiliate	Harrisburg Senators (AA, Nationals)
Dates Seen	05-06-2015
OFP/Risk	55/Medium
Realistic	50; No. 4 Starting Pitcher
MLB ETA	Late 2016
Video	No

Pitch Type	Present Grade	Future Grade	Sitting Velocity	Peak Velocity	Report
Fastball	50	60	89-93	94	Two-seam and four-seam. Plus life; sink and tail; misses bats in any quadrant and up. 45 command; sometimes finishes up on a stiff front leg and FB rides up and over the plate. Pitch as raw stuff grades out higher (65+), but plays down because of command and pitchability issues; doesn’t attack hitters. Reluctant to pitch inside; nibbles.
Slider	45	55	80-87		11-5 shallow slurve; inconsistent spin. Plus feel and average command; plays with depth; can shorten up to throw for strikes and also will throw as chase when ahead.
Changeup	45	55	82-86		Circle change; above average life. Average feel and thrown with good arm speed. Not enough separation from FB velo band.

50; No. 4 Starting Pitcher. Three above-average pitches but command, pitchability and consistency limit effectiveness.

Buck Farmer


	Born: 02/20/1991 (Age: 24)
	Bats: Left	Throws: Right
	Height: 6' 4"	Weight: 225

3/4 right-handed pitch, above-average arm speed; somewhat stiff, compact arm action. Uptempo delivery from side windup; high leg lift, slightly hunched torso, hand break at numbers; deceptive front side; flashes ball in back. Throws with effort; releases with head jerk and falls off to first base side. Doesn't repeat delivery well; not athletic; release point drifts up. Big, durable frame and good size, but doesn't keep the ball down or pitch with plane consistently. Doesn't hold runners well.

Evaluator	Al Skorupa
Report Date	06/16/2015
Affiliate	Toledo Mud Hens (AAA, Tigers)
Dates Seen	02-20-1991
OFP/Risk	45/Low
Realistic	40; #5 Starting Pitcher or Middle Reliever
MLB ETA	2015
Video	No

Pitch Type	Present Grade	Future Grade	Sitting Velocity	Peak Velocity	Report
Fastball	45	45	90-93	94	Tail and some sink; fringe-average movement. FB doesn't miss bats consistently, but will induce swings and misses when elevated. Below-average command, misses target regularly; reluctant to pitch inside. FB often straightens out and rides up.
Slider	50	55	80-84		11-5 slurve; fringe-average movement; inconsistent depth and spin. Plus feel; throws for strikes; locates back door to RHH; locates low and away as a chase pitch.
Changeup	60	60	83-86		Big sinking action and some fade; plus action; sometimes too firm but thrown with good arm speed and deception. Plus feel and throws for strikes both behind and ahead in the count. Misses bats. Utilizes against both LHH & RHH. Good complement to FB.

40; #5 Starting Pitcher or Middle Reliever. Farmer is a durable back-end starter with two above-average to plus secondaries. His fastball is thrown with plus velo, but lacks life and is thrown with below average command in large part due to some bullpen mechanical traits. Farmer can be useful in the back of a rotation and can also handle the middle innings as a reliever.

Trayce Thompson


	Born: 03/15/1991 (Age: )
	Bats: Right	Throws: Right
	Height: 6' 3"	Weight: 210
	Primary Position: CF
	Secondary Position: RF

Well-proportioned, athletic frame; high waist and butt; long legs and long arms.

Evaluator	Al Skorupa
Report Date	07/05/2015
Dates Seen	06-08-2015; 06-10-2015
Affiliate	Charlotte Knights (AAA, White Sox)

MLB ETA	Risk Factor	OFP	Realistic Role	Video
2016	Medium	40	40; fourth Outfielder	No

Tool	Future Grade	Report
Hit	30	Above-average bat speed. Leg kick; loads hands tight; long levers; long path to the ball. Slight uppercut; often loopy bat path. Poor idea of the strike zone; expands zone and will chase in all directions. Doesn’t track pitches well. Doesn’t recognize spin or soft stuff. Swing and miss in all quadrants, all offerings. Overly passive approach; will take a walk but no real plan of attack.
Power	45	60 raw; hit tool limits utility of power. Home run power; power best to pull side.
Baserunning/Speed	55	Above-average speed. Speed plays on basepaths; will steal 15-20 bases but will get caught five times. Will take extra base.
Glove	50	Average range; covers ground well. Average reads and jumps with fringe average routes.
Arm	50	Average arm strength. Average accuracy

40; fourth Outfielder. Will not hit for average, but capable of playing all three outfield spots with sporadic power while providing speed and base stealing off the bench.

Trevor Story


	Born: 11/15/1992 (Age: )
	Bats: Right	Throws: Right
	Height: 6' 1"	Weight: 180
	Primary Position: SS
	Secondary Position: 2B

Medium, well-proportioned build. Filled-in; physically mature with solid muscle definition.

Evaluator	Al Skorupa
Report Date	07/05/2015
Dates Seen	05-05-2015; 05-06-2015; 05-15-2015; 06-17-2015; 06
Affiliate	New Britain Rock Cats (AA, Twins)

MLB ETA	Risk Factor	OFP	Realistic Role	Video
2017	Medium	50	50; second-division shortstop	No

Tool	Future Grade	Report
Hit	40	Plus bat speed. Even stance; loads hands deep leading to moderately stiff lead; leg kick, creates good lag with upper body; patient with hands; quick hands explode through the zone but sometimes moves hands back and up slightly after load; minor hitch; correctable. Line drive swing plane; will at times sell out, drop his back side and uppercut. Generally selective hitter but inconsistent approach; will work the count and look for pitches he can drive, goal at the plate is extra base hits. Will hit outside pitches the other way but mostly works to pull side. Will chase in hitter’s counts; doesn’t recognize spin well; vulnerable to soft and spin away when he becomes too pull oriented. Vulnerable to fastballs on his hands. Good amount of swing and miss in the zone because he takes big cuts; two-strike approach lacking.
Power	50	60 raw. Hit tool limits game power. Big home run power to pull side; drives gap straight away and oppo.
Baserunning/Speed	55	Above-average foot speed; better underway; finishes swings with commitment, often slow out of the box. Smart baserunner; will take the extra base consistently. Will steal 15-20 bases.
Glove	45	Plus athlete. Slow first step; below average reactions; fringe-average range. Footwork and actions below average; doesn’t move well to hole side. Average hands.
Arm	50	Average arm strength. Average accuracy. Quick release.

50; second-division shortstop. Story fits the new mold of bat-first shortstops with fringy defense (ie. Jed Lowrie).

Kyle Holder


	Born: 05/25/1994 (Age: 21)
	Bats: Left	Throws: Right
	Height: 6' 1"	Weight: 185
	Primary Position: UT
	Secondary Position: SS

Medium, well-proportioned build. Flat chest; sloped shoulders; average waist and legs. Room for 5-10 pounds of muscle.

Evaluator	Al Skorupa
Report Date	07/07/2015
Dates Seen	06-24-2015; 06-24-2015
Affiliate	Staten Island Yankees (Short Season, Yankees)

MLB ETA	Risk Factor	OFP	Realistic Role	Video
2020	High	40	30; Up/Down/Emergency Utility Infielder	No

Tool	Future Grade	Report
Hit	30	Below-average bat speed. Even stance with wide base; small leg kick. Drifts forward. Loads deep; stiff lead; wraps hands behind him. Flat swing plane; slap hitter; sometimes loopy bat path. Average strike zone discipline; patient approach, but often overly passive; takes pitches early in the count but will expand zone all directions. Well below-average pitch recognition; doesn’t see spin or soft stuff; doesn’t track pitches well; will chase breaking balls in the dirt. Cannot catch up to good velocity; vulnerable to fastballs inside. Doesn’t make in-at-bat adjustments. Poor at-bats against same handed pitching.
Power	20	30 raw. Slap hitter with flat swing plane; does not drive the ball with any consistency. Well below-average strength.
Baserunning/Speed	45	50 speed; slow out of the box. Average baserunner. Will steal 5-7 bases, but basestealing reads and jumps below average.
Glove	55	Plus range; above-average shortstop actions. Below-average mobility, actions and footwork to hole side. Plus hands; quick and loose. Infield clock below average; rushes plays.
Arm	60	Plus arm strength. Plus accuracy. Quick transfer and release.

30; Up/Down/Emergency Utility Infielder. Above-average defensive shortstop but will not hit enough to play every day or help consistently in a big-league role.

Al Skorupa is an author of Baseball Prospectus. Follow @alskor
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Related Content: Trevor Story, Joe Ross, Trayce Thompson, Adrian Sampson, Kyle Holder, Buck Farmer

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