Touki Toussaint

Position: RHSP
Level: Double-A
Affiliate: Mississippi Braves
League: Southern League
Born: 06/20/1996 (Age: 27)
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 185
B/T: Right / Right
Acquired: 1st Rd., (#16 overall) 2014 MLB First-Year Player Draft (ARI)

Prospect Spotlight

I previously saw Toussaint in the Florida State League before being promoted to Mississippi AA on July 31st (here is my original spotlight on Toussaint). The young righty continues to be plagued by a lack of control and command this year, and in my viewing August 24, he was no better, walking seven over five innings of work, keeping his control numbers at a well-below-average 3.94 BB/9, which is still an improvement over his previous two years (4.82 in 2016, 4.92 in 2015). It is only slightly offset by his 10.56 SO/9 rate.

Toussaint works from the stretch with a long arm action, and the arm is free and easy. The fastball was above average, sitting 90-to-94 mph and resting at 92, and it could reach plus at maturity with the average movement and projection for some strength in the body. It shows arm-side tail and sink, and he can flash some cut action at times. The curveball was not as firm as prior views, showing a loopier 12-to-6 shape and ¾’s break as compared to the FSL looks I had, but still showed average action. The changeup was a projectable above-average offering with fading action and feel, and with some dive to lefties.

At this stage a move to the pen seems inevitable, where the command/control profile can be hidden in shorter stints, and where the fastball could play up to plus. He has the raw stuff and ability to see a high-risk ceiling of a Role 50 reliever, and a floor of a Role 40, where he could handle the sixth-and-seventh innings, but it’s all predicated on refinement of the command/control profile in the high minors from here.