Baseball Beginnings

By John Klima
April 13, 2009

Tyler Skaggs
LHP (Santa Monica HS)
6-3, 200
Games seen: 1, Innings: 7

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Tall pitcher with strong lower half and long, loose limbs.

STRENGTHS: Pitches with fastball to both sides. FB 88-90 with life and room for growth. CB 65-68 with soft break today and CH (change-up) better than CB at 84-85. Good leverage and balance, downhill plane on all pitches. Whippy arm speed and arm action, not a max effort guy, produces power, balanced delivery, good body with growth potential, good body control for taller boy, deceptive qualities to wind-up, loose arm and flexible wrist. High front side, good athlete for tall player, and fields position.

WEAKNESSES: Raw, must develop increased command, control and velocity on all three pitches at the next level, must hold runners better, must consistently be on top of the ball. Curveball should be harder for his velocity. Must repeat delivery at advanced levels.

SUMMARY: A raw body to work with here. Loose, lively arm connected to a desirable workhorse frame. Fastball movement is a great asset and could throw a true 12-6 sharp curveball with desirable rotation. Change-up has makings to be additional weapon. Saw on a day when he had to wait for an hour to start game after warming up and was able to stay around strike zone without best touch and maintain composure and stay within skills. Pitcher possesses the potential to become a three-pitch LH starter in major leagues. Build, style, tendencies and stuff similar to LHP Jarrod Washburn.

GRADES (Present/Future):
Fastball             45/55
Curveball         40/55
Change-up       40/50
Delivery           40/50

Overall Future Potential (OFP): 53

Learn More About Tyler Skaggs:
Read Tyler Skaggs Q&A
Read Tyler Skaggs Scouting video
Catching up with Tyler Skaggs
Tyler Skaggs Drafted by the Los Angeles Angels

What the grades mean

Categories: '09 Scouting Reports
Tags: Tyler Skaggs