Foster Griffin
Born:
07/27/1995 (Age: 28)
Bats:
Right
Throws: Left
Arm Slot: 3/4
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 200
Primary Position: LHSP
Seconday Position: -
Throws: Left
Arm Slot: 3/4
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 200
Primary Position: LHSP
Seconday Position: -
Acquisition Period:
1st Rd. (#28 overall), 2014 MLB First-Year Player Draft (KCR)
Entry Point: High School
Entry Point: High School
Report Info
| Evaluator: | CJ Wittmann |
| Report Date: | May 24th, 2016 |
| Dates Seen: | 5/22/2016 |
| Level: | High A |
| Affiliate: | Wilmington Blue Rocks |
| MLB Team: |
|
Physical Description
Tall, broad frame; thick lower half and midsection; athletic for size; build to withstand high innings workload; physically maxed out.
Mechanical Notes
Average athlete for size; drop-and-drive type leg drive; finishes online toward home; small spine tilt at foot strike; 3/4 slot; average arm speed with long arm action; slow tempo with good balance; hips and shoulders rotate in unison; hides ball well in back; struggles to repeat release point; struggles to repeat overall delivery.
| MLB ETA | Future Floor | Future Ceiling | Realistic Role | Risk | N/A | 20 | 30 | Role 20; AA/Organizational Arm | High |
|---|
| Pitch | Present | Future | Sitting | Max | Comments |
| Fastball | |||||
| Fastball | 40 | 40 | 85-88 | 89 | Well below-average command; can get around the pitch and cut it, but not by design; armside run in 85-to-86 mph range; lacks plane and pitch can play true; struggles to set up secondaries with limited fastball command. |
| Well below-average command; can get around the pitch and cut it, but not by design; armside run in 85-to-86 mph range; lacks plane and pitch can play true; struggles to set up secondaries with limited fastball command. | |||||
| Curveball | |||||
| Curveball | 40 | 40 | 72-75 | 76 | Below-average command; 1-to-7 shape; some depth and bite; can break early and lack finish; shows loose wrist and snaps pitch; slows arm speed down for offering; can throw for strike and chase offering; lacks effectiveness due to limited fastball command. |
| Below-average command; 1-to-7 shape; some depth and bite; can break early and lack finish; shows loose wrist and snaps pitch; slows arm speed down for offering; can throw for strike and chase offering; lacks effectiveness due to limited fastball command. | |||||
| ChangeUp | |||||
| ChangeUp | 30 | 40 | 81-83 | 84 | Well below-average command; firm and straight; can flash slight arm-side fade; lacks separation from fastball; releases later in delivery often causing it to bury; cannot throw for strikes presently; struggles to be effective due to limited velocity separation, movement and fastball command; could improve with command within strike zone. |
| Well below-average command; firm and straight; can flash slight arm-side fade; lacks separation from fastball; releases later in delivery often causing it to bury; cannot throw for strikes presently; struggles to be effective due to limited velocity separation, movement and fastball command; could improve with command within strike zone. | |||||
| Overall Command | |||||
| Overall Command | 30 | 40 | |||
| Overall Control | |||||
| Overall Control | 40 | 40 | |||
MiLB Stats
Overall Summary
Griffin is a physically maxed out LHP who was a 2014 first-round pick. He struggles to set up his below-average secondaries due to limited fastball command and ability to repeat his mechanics. Griffin has no projection left and I cannot foresee him adding any fastball velocity or adding effectiveness to his secondaries. His changeup is an inconsistent offering that plays too close to his fastball velocity-wise, and lacks ideal movement. While his curveball will flash quality depth and bite, it struggles to be effective due to him not being able to throw his fastball for consistent strikes. Overall, Griffin presently struggles to command his fastball and secondaries making it difficult to foresee a promotion to Double-A. If he does advance his fastball command though, he could reach the Double-A level but since his secondaries do not project above a 40 grade, Double-A will ultimately be the highest level Griffin will reach.
