A.J. Puk
Born:
04/25/1995 (Age: 29)
Bats:
Left
Throws: Left
Arm Slot:
Height: 6'7"
Weight: 220
Primary Position: LHSP
Seconday Position: -
Throws: Left
Arm Slot:
Height: 6'7"
Weight: 220
Primary Position: LHSP
Seconday Position: -
Acquisition Period:
1st Rd., (#6 overall), 2016 MLB First Year Player Draft (OAK)
Entry Point: 4 Yr College
Options Used: N/A
Entry Point: 4 Yr College
Options Used: N/A
Report Info
| Evaluator: | John Eshleman |
| Report Date: | May 19th, 2018 |
| Dates Seen: | 3/9/18 |
| Level: | Triple-A |
| Affiliate: | Stockton Ports |
| MLB Team: |
|
| On 40-Man Roster: | No |
Physical Description
Extremely tall w/ long limbs. T.J. Surgery (April 2018), out for season.
Mechanical Notes
Stiff, semi-windup delivery, partially turned at the top; drop-and-drive style w/ moderate shoulder tilt as he drives. Moderate effort, drifting open at release and has to tilt to clear arm. Long arm circle w/ slight stab; inverted-W strain in the back.
| MLB ETA | Present Role | Future Role | Role Description | Risk | 2018 | 50 | 60 | Mid-Rotation Starter | High |
|---|
| Pitch | Present | Future | Sitting | Range | Comments |
| Fastball Value | |||||
| Overall Fastball Value | 60 | 60 | — | — | Velo, plane, and movement compensate for fringy command. Pitch gets on top of hitters with size and extension. |
| Velo, plane, and movement compensate for fringy command. Pitch gets on top of hitters with size and extension. | |||||
| Fastball Velocity | 60 | 60 | 93-94 | 91-95 | Plus velo for LH starter; sits 93-to-94 mph and reaches back for more when needed. |
| Fastball Velocity | |||||
| Fastball Movement | |||||
| Fastball Movement | 60 | 60 | — | — | Combination of plane and run is plus. Up in the zone, pitch runs harder but does not have the same plane. |
| Combination of plane and run is plus. Up in the zone, pitch runs harder but does not have the same plane. | |||||
| Fastball Command | |||||
| Fastball Command | 45 | 45 | — | — | Command inconsistent. Yanked to glove side, also hit spots inside to RH hitters. Better to arm side. Good enough to get swings and misses even when missing his spot. |
| Command inconsistent. Yanked to glove side, also hit spots inside to RH hitters. Better to arm side. Good enough to get swings and misses even when missing his spot. | |||||
| Curveball | |||||
| Curveball | 45 | 50 | 77-79 | 77-80 | Good depth, moderate sharpness that shows fairly early. Ingredients of future average pitch if he finishes it w/ more consistency. |
| Good depth, moderate sharpness that shows fairly early. Ingredients of future average pitch if he finishes it w/ more consistency. | |||||
| Slider | |||||
| Slider | 45 | 55 | 87 | 84-88 | SL was not as sharp in early-spring look as it has been in the past. Sharp, late action in lower velo band; more cutter-like at 87-to-88 mph. Snapped off a few above-average ones later in the outing that showed potential. Ingredients to be future above-average pitch. |
| SL was not as sharp in early-spring look as it has been in the past. Sharp, late action in lower velo band; more cutter-like at 87-to-88 mph. Snapped off a few above-average ones later in the outing that showed potential. Ingredients to be future above-average pitch. | |||||
| ChangeUp | |||||
| ChangeUp | 55 | 60 | 83 | 82-84 | Best secondary, gets consistent swing/miss at present; shows to both RH/LH bats. Sells w/ FB arm speed and gets separation w/ above-average fade. Will finish a true plus pitch as other secondaries develop. |
| Best secondary, gets consistent swing/miss at present; shows to both RH/LH bats. Sells w/ FB arm speed and gets separation w/ above-average fade. Will finish a true plus pitch as other secondaries develop. | |||||
| Control | |||||
| Control | 40 | 45 | — | — | Inconsistent strikes when he loses release point. Has enough stuff to be effective even w/ fringy future control. Projecting improvements as he settles into XL frame and delivery mechanics w/ more innings. |
| Inconsistent strikes when he loses release point. Has enough stuff to be effective even w/ fringy future control. Projecting improvements as he settles into XL frame and delivery mechanics w/ more innings. | |||||
| Attribute | Present | Future |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery | Average | Average |
| Athleticism | Average | Average |
| Pitchability | Average | Average |
| Mound Presence | Plus | Plus |
Overall Summary
Ceiling of a #3 starter, with inconsistent in-zone location preventing true front-end-of-the rotation grade. Risk to profile given recent injury history, need to see how stuff bounces back after he returns from surgery.
