Justus Sheffield
Born:
05/13/1996 (Age: 27)
Bats:
Left
Throws: Left
Arm Slot:
Height: 6'0''
Weight: 200
Primary Position: LHSP
Seconday Position: -
Throws: Left
Arm Slot:
Height: 6'0''
Weight: 200
Primary Position: LHSP
Seconday Position: -
Acquisition Period:
1st Rd. (#31 overall), 2014 MLB First-Year Player Draft (CLE); Traded to NYY 7/31/2016; Traded to SEA 11/19/2018
Entry Point: High School
Options Used: N/A
Entry Point: High School
Options Used: N/A
Report Info
| Evaluator: | Adam McInturff |
| Report Date: | June 27th, 2018 |
| Dates Seen: | June 27, 2018 |
| Level: | Triple-A |
| Affiliate: | Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders |
| MLB Team: |
|
| On 40-Man Roster: | No |
Physical Description
Short w/ athletic and muscular body. Powerful core and lower half.
Mechanical Notes
Semi-windup; slow tempo through leg kick, then speeds up as he goes forward; strong drop-and-drive push off the rubber, effort in finish that pulls off-line. Fast, strong H3/4 slot w/ recoil after release. Will tone down mechanics as he learns he doesn't have to go 100% on each pitch.
| MLB ETA | Present Role | Future Role | Role Description | Risk | 2019 | 45 | 50 | Mid-Rotation Starter | High |
|---|
| Pitch | Present | Future | Sitting | Range | Comments |
| Fastball Value | |||||
| Overall Fastball Value | 45 | 55 | — | — | LH velo can make FB above-avg pitch if movement and command refine. |
| LH velo can make FB above-avg pitch if movement and command refine. | |||||
| Fastball Velocity | 60 | 60 | 93-94 | 93-97 | Generates plus velo w/ some effort; holds 93-95 deep into outings, touching 96-97 at best. |
| Fastball Velocity | |||||
| Fastball Movement | |||||
| Fastball Movement | 45 | 45 | — | — | Firm life w/ occasional short run, though fairly straight overall and can run into barrels over the plate. |
| Firm life w/ occasional short run, though fairly straight overall and can run into barrels over the plate. | |||||
| Fastball Command | |||||
| Fastball Command | 40 | 50 | — | — | Flashes low strikes, especially gloveside, but fights delivery at times and can lose location within the zone. Command will improve as delivery tones down. |
| Flashes low strikes, especially gloveside, but fights delivery at times and can lose location within the zone. Command will improve as delivery tones down. | |||||
| Curveball | |||||
| Curveball | 40 | 40 | 81 | 81-82 | Wrinkles a true CB for a second look. Surprise pitch, not big part of his arsenal. |
| Wrinkles a true CB for a second look. Surprise pitch, not big part of his arsenal. | |||||
| Slider | |||||
| Slider | 50 | 55 | 87 | 86-88 | Power high-80s slider w/ late sharp action. Will throw to both RHH/LHH, backdoors it to righties w/ feel. Bread-and-butter pitch, separator, big league pitch right now, future above-avg, especially tough to LHH. |
| Power high-80s slider w/ late sharp action. Will throw to both RHH/LHH, backdoors it to righties w/ feel. Bread-and-butter pitch, separator, big league pitch right now, future above-avg, especially tough to LHH. | |||||
| ChangeUp | |||||
| ChangeUp | 40 | 50 | 87-88 | 87-90 | Firm changeup, overthrows and needs to take something off; usually has short, late action and can run into his FB; flashes more tumble and dive at best, hinting pitch could be future average w/ more development. |
| Firm changeup, overthrows and needs to take something off; usually has short, late action and can run into his FB; flashes more tumble and dive at best, hinting pitch could be future average w/ more development. | |||||
| Control | |||||
| Control | 40 | 50 | — | — | Fiery and competitive mound presence. Throws FB and SL for strikes in best sequences, though loses the zone at times and can fall behind in counts. High-character player w/ the makeup and athleticism to keep improving. |
| Fiery and competitive mound presence. Throws FB and SL for strikes in best sequences, though loses the zone at times and can fall behind in counts. High-character player w/ the makeup and athleticism to keep improving. | |||||
| Attribute | Present | Future |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery | Below Average | Average |
| Athleticism | Plus | Plus |
| Pitchability | Average | Average |
| Mound Presence | Plus | Plus |
Overall Summary
Ingredients of mid-rotation lefty SP if mechanics and pitchability refine. FB/SL could play up in short stints, could fall back into a 'pen role if it doesn't click in rotation.
