Shun Yamaguchi

Born: 07/11/1987 (Age: 36)
Bats: Right
Throws: Right
Arm Slot: High 3/4
Height: 6'2"
Weight: 210
Primary Position: RHRP
Seconday Position: -
Acquisition Period: 1st Rd., 2005 NPB Draft (YOKOHAMA DeNa BayStars)
Entry Point: High School
Report Info
Evaluator:
Report Date: June 29th, 2016
Dates Seen: 6/12
Level: MLB
Affiliate: YOKOHAMA DeNA BayStars - NPB Japan
MLB Team: N/A
Physical Description
Big, thick frame; very strong lower half; broad shoulders.
Mechanical Notes
Smooth, easy actions; loose arm with some whip; medium arm circle. Not a max effort guy; stays online; all stretch. Lands soft, gets good extension.
MLB ETA Future Floor Future Ceiling Realistic Role Risk
2018 45 55 Role 50: 8th-inning relief, top set-up Moderate
Pitch Present Future Sitting Max Comments
Fastball
Fastball 50 60 89-93 94 Easy arm action, gets some life through the zone; flat run/tail to both sides; will get some ride up in the zone.
Easy arm action, gets some life through the zone; flat run/tail to both sides; will get some ride up in the zone.
Curveball
Curveball 50 50 70-77 77 Variations; best one shows 11-to-5 break with average snap. Feel, throws for strikes; works back-door to left-handed hitters. Works in a big, loopy version; get-me-over type.
Variations; best one shows 11-to-5 break with average snap. Feel, throws for strikes; works back-door to left-handed hitters. Works in a big, loopy version; get-me-over type.
Slider
Slider 50 50 79-83 83 3/4 depth with bite; arm works well, out of hand the same as the fastball. Shows average feel; majority glove side; use to RHH.
3/4 depth with bite; arm works well, out of hand the same as the fastball. Shows average feel; majority glove side; use to RHH.
Forkball
Forkball 55 55 82-85 86 Out pitch; has some variations with it; for strikes to both sides; feel to take guys out of zone. Bigger one has tumble; tightens up and gets circle-change bottom for put away.
Out pitch; has some variations with it; for strikes to both sides; feel to take guys out of zone. Bigger one has tumble; tightens up and gets circle-change bottom for put away.
Overall Command
Overall Command 50 50  
Overall Control
Overall Control 50 50  
Overall Summary
Big, thick RHP that fits well in late-inning reliever role and can give multiple innings. Has been a closer in the past, but recently moved to the rotation in 2014. Has been up to 96-97 mph before entering the rotation and see him getting back to plus with the fastball in shorter stints. Pounds down in zone and works in to both righties and lefties. Forkball is his out pitch; above-average feel and will work in variations on the depth; bigger tumble early in count and circle change-type bottom for put-away. Slider used almost exclusively to RHH; for strikes. Variations on the curveball; big shape, hump with occasional snap; 4th pitch, likes to use early in count. Showing average command recently, but will have stretches where he loses the plate. Easy mechanics, does not have to be max effort to generate velocity; little bit of a rep. as a "thrower" in past years, but has made some strides with his command in 2016.