Bobby Wahl

Position: RHRP
Level: MLB
Affiliate: New York Mets
League: MLB
Born: 03/21/1992 (Age: 31)
Height: 6'2''
Weight: 210
B/T: Right / Right
Acquired: 5th Rd., 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft (OAK); Traded to NYM 7/21/2018

Prospect Spotlight

Wahl was outrighted off Oakland’s 40-Man Roster at the Rule V deadline last November. He made a handful of big league appearances with the A’s the season prior, though was unclaimed and pitched all of 2018 at Triple-A before being dealt to the Mets. He’s with the MLB club now, and at 26-years-old, the hard-throwing righty is likely in the big league mix for good.

A broad 6’2’’ and 210 pounds, Wahl is barrel-chested with the core and lower-half strength of a power pitcher. His sizzling fastball ranges from 94-to-98 mph, touching the upper-90s regularly with the late ride to pitch up in the zone. A mid-80s slider is a usable big league pitch right now with average upside, showing enough action for a 45/50 grade. He mixes a changeup at 89-to-91 mph that has tumble and slight cutting action across the zone. It’s a wrinkle pitch, but Wahl is a reliever who has three distinct speeds to show hitters. He has tightened his control in the last year and is around average in that department, though like most flamethrowing relief arms, the effort in his stretch-only delivery detracts from the actual in-zone location.

Wahl could help any team in the big leagues right now as a middle reliever, especially valuable given his lack of service time and remaining options. If he can keep the walk rate close to average and find more consistency on the slider, the ceiling is a legitimate 7th inning setup option. That isn’t the sexiest long-term outlook, but Wahl is a flexible and affordable piece that’s capable of holding down a big league roster spot.