Matt Esparza
Born:
08/22/1994 (Age: 29)
Bats:
Right
Throws: Right
Arm Slot: High 3/4
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 195
Primary Position: RHSP
Seconday Position: -
Throws: Right
Arm Slot: High 3/4
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 195
Primary Position: RHSP
Seconday Position: -
Acquisition Period:
14th Rd., 2015 MLB First-Year Player Draft (CLE)
Entry Point: 4 Yr College
Entry Point: 4 Yr College
Report Info
| Evaluator: | Dave DeFreitas |
| Report Date: | July 30th, 2016 |
| Dates Seen: | 7/29 |
| Level: | High A |
| Affiliate: | Lynchburg Hillcats |
| MLB Team: |
|
Physical Description
Physical frame; strong, thick lower half. Slightly rolled shoulders, some present upper-body strength.
Mechanical Notes
Medium to compact arm circle; short in back and hides it a bit. Abbreviated windup with medium leg lift; stays tall and drives downhill well. 1.25/1.10 to HP on slide step.
| MLB ETA | Future Floor | Future Ceiling | Realistic Role | Risk | 2018 | 40 | 50 | Role 50: #4 Starter | Moderate |
|---|
| Pitch | Present | Future | Sitting | Max | Comments |
| Fastball | |||||
| Fastball | 55 | 55 | 91-93 | 94 | Gets good angle; turnover sink with some late life down in the zone; gets heavy. Feel to both sides of the plate and will change eye level of hitters. Gets flat up in the zone; has to go up with purpose. |
| Gets good angle; turnover sink with some late life down in the zone; gets heavy. Feel to both sides of the plate and will change eye level of hitters. Gets flat up in the zone; has to go up with purpose. | |||||
| Slider | |||||
| Slider | 45 | 50 | 80-85 | 85 | Has variations. 3/4 depth with tight rotation, good arm action. Has feel to locate down, out of zone; dials up some bite for put away @84-to-85 mph. Will use bigger version early in count, for strikes in 80-to-83 range. Feel to add/subtract, back-door to LHH; got better with both deeper into outing. Two versions can mix together at times, but can see some consistency coming. |
| Has variations. 3/4 depth with tight rotation, good arm action. Has feel to locate down, out of zone; dials up some bite for put away @84-to-85 mph. Will use bigger version early in count, for strikes in 80-to-83 range. Feel to add/subtract, back-door to LHH; got better with both deeper into outing. Two versions can mix together at times, but can see some consistency coming. | |||||
| ChangeUp | |||||
| ChangeUp | 40 | 45 | 83-86 | 86 | Circle action with gradual fade. Third pitch and still a work in progress. Showed several at average, but inconsistent feel. Good ones get firm fade/dive, but has it flatten out, BP-fastball like. Will use to both RHH and LHH. Making attempt to use; athletic delivery, can see it improving. |
| Circle action with gradual fade. Third pitch and still a work in progress. Showed several at average, but inconsistent feel. Good ones get firm fade/dive, but has it flatten out, BP-fastball like. Will use to both RHH and LHH. Making attempt to use; athletic delivery, can see it improving. | |||||
| Overall Command | |||||
| Overall Command | 45 | 50 | |||
| Overall Control | |||||
| Overall Control | 45 | 55 | |||
MiLB Stats
Overall Summary
Athletic RHSP with a compact, repeatable delivery who works quick, throws strikes, doesn't walk many and gets ground balls. No flashy weapons, but will pound an above-average fastball down in the zone with sink. Works to both sides and has feel to change eye level of hitters. Fastball shows some late life; shows some reach-back ability when needed. Feel to change shape with the Slider. Best one shows 3/4 depth, bite and will get some swing and miss. Shows similar velo, but bigger shape early in count. Locate for strikes and will take guys out of the zone. Changeup is third pitch and still developing. Showed average, but inconsistent fade/dive and below-average feel - but athletic kid with good arm action; can see it getting to fringe average. Should eat some innings at the back end of the rotation; can make a case for #4 starter if changeup develops further.
