Taylor Widener
Born:
10/24/1994 (Age: 29)
Bats:
Left
Throws: Right
Arm Slot:
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 195
Primary Position: RHSP
Seconday Position: -
Throws: Right
Arm Slot:
Height: 6'0"
Weight: 195
Primary Position: RHSP
Seconday Position: -
Acquisition Period:
12th Rd., 2016 MLB First-Year Player Draft (NYY)
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: | September 11th, 2018 |
| Dates Seen: | Aug 21, 2018 |
| Level: | Double-A |
| Affiliate: | Jackson Generals |
| MLB Team: |
|
| On 40-Man Roster: | No |
Physical Description
Stocky, physical build with strong lower half. No projection.
Mechanical Notes
SWU from low 3/4 with excellent leg engagement and moderate effort at release. Chest high leg raise, stays tall, 2B turn, shoulder tilt, opens early, keeps posture, gets over front side, slight crossfire to gloveside, moderate head whack. Arm action: Late break, wrap, a little stiff through long circle with quick, slingy arm action to release, limited extension.
| MLB ETA | Present Role | Future Role | Role Description | Risk | 2019 | 50 | 55 | Mid-Rotation Starter | High |
|---|
| Pitch | Present | Future | Sitting | Range | Comments |
| Fastball Value | |||||
| Overall Fastball Value | 50 | 55 | — | — | Best pitch; thrown with purpose and intent to all four quadrants. Movement to miss bats and induce ground balls. Armside action will get swing and miss in on RHs and moving away to LHs. |
| Best pitch; thrown with purpose and intent to all four quadrants. Movement to miss bats and induce ground balls. Armside action will get swing and miss in on RHs and moving away to LHs. | |||||
| Fastball Velocity | 50 | 50 | 92-93 | 90-94 | Plays to 55; gets on hitters w deception from low 3/4s release point, ball hidden behind body until release. |
| Fastball Velocity | |||||
| Fastball Movement | |||||
| Fastball Movement | 60 | 60 | — | — | Hard armside tail to middle of the plate; sink to gloveside. Pitch has movement across zone; average plane down in the zone. |
| Hard armside tail to middle of the plate; sink to gloveside. Pitch has movement across zone; average plane down in the zone. | |||||
| Fastball Command | |||||
| Fastball Command | 50 | 55 | — | — | Solid to armside, both up and down; doesn't miss badly, still finding consistency to hit exact target. Solid to gloveside, but can lose it up or yank with moderate violence on release. Repeats delivery, half-grade to come with more reps. |
| Solid to armside, both up and down; doesn't miss badly, still finding consistency to hit exact target. Solid to gloveside, but can lose it up or yank with moderate violence on release. Repeats delivery, half-grade to come with more reps. | |||||
| Slider | |||||
| Slider | 50 | 55 | 86 | 84-87 | Inconsistent Flashed above-average with some bite in zone for future weak contact, swing and miss off plate. 10-5 shape from his slot, comes around, will get sweepy. With other pitches near ready, dev focus and repetition with his delivery projects for added grade to pitch. |
| Inconsistent Flashed above-average with some bite in zone for future weak contact, swing and miss off plate. 10-5 shape from his slot, comes around, will get sweepy. With other pitches near ready, dev focus and repetition with his delivery projects for added grade to pitch. | |||||
| ChangeUp | |||||
| ChangeUp | 55 | 55 | 83 | 81-84 | Best 2nd. Flashes plus as bat misser to LHs, weak contact to RH w some vulnerability up in zone. Mostly keeps it down with excellent pitch tunnel off FB for deception, similar trajectory w solid separation. |
| Best 2nd. Flashes plus as bat misser to LHs, weak contact to RH w some vulnerability up in zone. Mostly keeps it down with excellent pitch tunnel off FB for deception, similar trajectory w solid separation. | |||||
| Control | |||||
| Control | 45 | 50 | — | — | Can locate fastball and does so to work ahead. Likes to use seconds for chase; neither is go to strike pitch; goes back to FB when needs strike. Will lose FBs up when fatigued. |
| Can locate fastball and does so to work ahead. Likes to use seconds for chase; neither is go to strike pitch; goes back to FB when needs strike. Will lose FBs up when fatigued. | |||||
| Attribute | Present | Future |
|---|---|---|
| Delivery | Average | Average |
| Athleticism | Average | Average |
| Pitchability | Average | Average |
| Mound Presence | Average | Average |
Overall Summary
Could contribute now in back of MLB rotation; half-grade projection remaining on SL and command will get him to a #4 SP role in short order. Attacks hitters with fastball, trusts his stuff in the zone, and has frame to handle 200 innings. Arm action is a little stiff and the delivery not perfect, but he repeats it and has command and control to profile in rotation.
