Josh Hader
Born:
12/07/1994 (Age: 28)
Bats:
Left
Throws: Left
Arm Slot: 3/4
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 160
Primary Position: LHSP
Seconday Position: -
Throws: Left
Arm Slot: 3/4
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 160
Primary Position: LHSP
Seconday Position: -
Acquisition Period:
19th Rd., 2012 MLB First-Year Player Draft (BAL); Acquired in trade for C. Gomez 7/30/15 (MIL)
Entry Point: High School
Entry Point: High School
Report Info
| Evaluator: | Jeff Moore |
| Report Date: | December 8th, 2015 |
| Dates Seen: | 11/2/15, 11/6/15 |
| Level: | Double-A |
| Affiliate: | Surprise Saguaros |
| MLB Team: |
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Mechanical Notes
Plus arm speed, wide 3/4 arm slot; loose arm action, effort in lower half; turns back at top of delivery which hides ball and adds to deception, but affects command.
| MLB ETA | Future Floor | Future Ceiling | Realistic Role | Risk | 2016 | 50 | 60 | Role 50: Potential mid-rotation starter; floor of high-end reliever | High |
|---|
| Pitch | Present | Future | Sitting | Max | Comments |
| Fastball | |||||
| Fastball | 60 | 70 | 95-97 | 97 | Explosive pitch, some offerings featured slight cutting action, 45 present command but should get to major league-average with more experience. |
| Explosive pitch, some offerings featured slight cutting action, 45 present command but should get to major league-average with more experience. | |||||
| Curveball | |||||
| Curveball | 55 | 60 | 76-78 | 79 | Sharp, tight break yet big and sweeping; commands pitch well; plus-plus effectiveness against LHH, above-avarege against RHH |
| Sharp, tight break yet big and sweeping; commands pitch well; plus-plus effectiveness against LHH, above-avarege against RHH | |||||
| ChangeUp | |||||
| ChangeUp | 40 | 50 | 85-86 | 86 | Can get firm, below-avearge movement but deceptive because of quick arm action; will be effective enough if he just throws it for strikes because of quick arm. |
| Can get firm, below-avearge movement but deceptive because of quick arm action; will be effective enough if he just throws it for strikes because of quick arm. | |||||
MiLB Stats
Overall Summary
Hader's raw ability is among the best of any left-handed minor league pitcher, with two plus pitches and a fearless attitude on the mound. There are questions about his ability to be a starter in the big leagues because of his arm slot, the effort in his delivery, and his slender frame, but it's not because of his repertoire. The effort in his delivery is noticeable, but it doesn't affect his velocity in extended outings and while his command is only average, his stuff is potent enough to be effective at that level.
Plus-plus fastball velocity raises his ceiling regardless of role, and his 1-to-7 curveball with sharp break is dominant against lefties and effective against righties. The changeup is clearly a third pitch, but it's a usable pitch that should end up being a major league-average offering. That combination of pitches makes for a solid starting pitcher.
He has most of the physical indicators of a bullpen arm, but he makes them work as a starter and he should be developed as such until he proves he is otherwise incapable of handling the responsibility. If a shift to the bullpen becomes necessary, he'll be a potent high-leverage arm, but until then, he still profiles as a mid-rotation starter who should miss bats.
