Nathan Kirby
Born:
11/23/1993 (Age: 30)
Bats:
Left
Throws: Left
Arm Slot:
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 200
Primary Position: LHRP
Seconday Position: -
Throws: Left
Arm Slot:
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 200
Primary Position: LHRP
Seconday Position: -
Acquisition Period:
1st Rd. (CBA, #40 Overall), 2015 MLB First-Year Player Draft (MIL)
Entry Point: 4 Yr College
Options Used: N/A
Entry Point: 4 Yr College
Options Used: N/A
Report Info
| Evaluator: | Adam McInturff |
| Report Date: | May 9th, 2018 |
| Dates Seen: | 4/25/18 |
| Level: | High A |
| Affiliate: | Carolina Mudcats |
| MLB Team: |
|
| On 40-Man Roster: | No |
Physical Description
Average build, narrow and evenly-proportioned frame. Lat injury (2014); T.J. surgery (September 2015); Ulnar nerve transposition surgery (May 2017).
Mechanical Notes
Upbeat, semi-windup delivery; tall leg kick w/ quiet gather over the rubber before starting drive. Lands hard/on his heel, leading to consistent off-line finish. Badly hooked arm circle; high-stress 3/4's slot.
| MLB ETA | Present Role | Future Role | Role Description | Risk | 2020 | P | 45 | Swingman | High |
|---|
| Pitch | Present | Future | Sitting | Range | Comments |
| Fastball Value | |||||
| Overall Fastball Value | 40 | 50 | — | — | Projecting up on the velo and command as he builds back to form after missing two years w/ injuries. Won't ever overpower and will be hit hard when he misses. |
| Projecting up on the velo and command as he builds back to form after missing two years w/ injuries. Won't ever overpower and will be hit hard when he misses. | |||||
| Fastball Velocity | 40 | 45 | 89 | 87-91 | 90-to-91 mph early in outings, thin/narrow frame contributes to lost velo quickly and settled into below-average 88-89 range. Will hold his velo better into games as he builds innings back. |
| Fastball Velocity | |||||
| Fastball Movement | |||||
| Fastball Movement | 45 | 45 | — | — | Moderate armside sink and run to FB; 2sm-type movement. |
| Moderate armside sink and run to FB; 2sm-type movement. | |||||
| Fastball Command | |||||
| Fastball Command | 40 | 50 | — | — | Flashes average command in best sequences/early in starts, tails off as pitch count rises. Future average grade as he builds strength back; works it to both sides of the plate. |
| Flashes average command in best sequences/early in starts, tails off as pitch count rises. Future average grade as he builds strength back; works it to both sides of the plate. | |||||
| Curveball | |||||
| Curveball | 40 | 40 | 78 | 77-79 | Wrinkles in a true CB w/ more depth to left-handed bats. Pitchability guy who shows two looks at his breaking ball. |
| Wrinkles in a true CB w/ more depth to left-handed bats. Pitchability guy who shows two looks at his breaking ball. | |||||
| Slider | |||||
| Slider | 45 | 45 | 82 | 81-84 | Plus feel for changing grips and tilt on slider; can make it longer and horizontal or mix slurvier breakers w/ depth. |
| Plus feel for changing grips and tilt on slider; can make it longer and horizontal or mix slurvier breakers w/ depth. | |||||
| ChangeUp | |||||
| ChangeUp | 45 | 45 | 84 | 83-86 | Able to throw at arm speed; circle change w/ fade to arm side; has a feel for it, but not enough separation off his FB to miss bats. Serviceable third pitch. |
| Able to throw at arm speed; circle change w/ fade to arm side; has a feel for it, but not enough separation off his FB to miss bats. Serviceable third pitch. | |||||
| Control | |||||
| Control | 40 | 50 | — | — | On a pitch limit coming back from injury; has battled sequences of wildness in first few starts, but shows the signs of average control w/ flashes of 3-to-4 pitch mix around the plate. |
| On a pitch limit coming back from injury; has battled sequences of wildness in first few starts, but shows the signs of average control w/ flashes of 3-to-4 pitch mix around the plate. | |||||
| Attribute | Present | Future |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery | Average | Average |
| Athleticism | Average | Average |
| Pitchability | Average | Plus |
| Mound Presence | Average | Average |
Overall Summary
Strike-throwing lefty w/ fringy overall stuff; lacks carry tool to turn ML lineups over as a starter. Profiles in a swingman role, making spot starts while eating mop-up innings. High risk to profile given injury history and the injury flags are still present in mechanics.
