August 21, 2013 at 7:30 AM
Scouting Scratch: Teddy Stankiewicz and Daniel McGrath
- 2013 second-round pick Teddy Stankiewicz (pictured) is on a very
structured program with the Lowell Spinners. He is currently only throwing at
most two innings per outing, depending on his pitch count. This schedule
doesn’t provide an ideal look scouting-wise, especially since it limits his use
of secondary pitches and it doesn’t show how his delivery and velocity will
hold up deeper into games. It does, however, provide a good first look and a
starting point of things to watch for going into his full season debut next
season, likely with the Greenville Drive.
I have now had the chance to catch three of Stankiewicz’s
outings and he has shown the makings of a solid four-pitch mix along with a
projectable frame and workable delivery. Stankiewicz has an ideal pitcher’s
build, listed at 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds. Still only 19-years-old, he has room
to fill out, especially in his upper body, as he matures without losing any of
his present athleticism. Stankiewicz has a loose arm and throws from a high three-quarters
slot. His delivery is under control and repeatable, but he drops and drives and
has a slight stab behind his body. In three outings scouted this year, he has
had some trouble holding his arm slot and finding his release point, especially
in the third outing on August 19.
Stankiewicz’s fastball sat 90-93 mph in the first two
outings scouted, but was more 89-92 in the most recent one. He topped out at 94
several times and also sprinkled in a few 88-89 mph offerings on the lower end.
The pitch has some late life, but is relatively straight and hitters seem to
get a good look at it. When he has located the pitch it has missed bats, but he
has been inconsistent from game to game with his command and control. He had
his best fastball in the first of the three outings scouted, recording three
strikeouts with the pitch and throwing quality strikes with it, especially down
in the zone. As he matures, Stankiewicz’s velocity should take a tick up, and
as he gets more consistent with the pitch and improves his command, it has the
makings of a potential plus offering.
Stankiewicz hasn’t thrown many secondary pitches during a
single outing, but the three outings scouted together provide a rudimentary
look at his arsenal. Stankiewicz’s primary secondary pitch thus far has been
his curveball. The pitch has worked 72-76 mph, with 11-5 shape. He has shown
the ability to throw it for strikes, but he doesn’t always finish the pitch. It
has flashed tight rotation, but tended to be more on the loose side.
Stankiewicz also has mixed in a slider between 78-82 mph, but he has only used
it sparingly in the games scouted. The pitch has shown good depth through the
zone and two-plane, 10-4 break. Stankiewicz didn’t feature his changeup in the
first game scouted, but in the last two he has integrated it more. He has
thrown the pitch at 79-83 mph, but mostly in the 81-83 mph range with good arm
speed. The pitch has shown some late drop but he hasn’t thrown it for many
strikes, which is understandable given how little he has had to use it. He has
primarily thrown fastballs in his first forays into organized ball.
- In his first season of professional ball, 19-year-old
lefty Daniel McGrath (pictured) impressed enough in his short stint in the GCL to earn a
promotion to Lowell. Due to rain and unlucky scheduling, he didn’t make his
home debut until recently, where I was able to see him for the first time.
Coming into the game I wasn’t sure what to expect and after watching him I’m
intrigued, but I need to see him a few more times as he seemed to be a little
off in the outing, lasting only four innnings.
McGrath has a good pitcher’s frame, listed at 6-foot-3 and
205 pounds, but the body looked a little soft. He is relatively filled out in his lower half, but his upper body looks less developed with room
to fill out has he matures. McGrath has a controlled but free and easy
delivery. He has a slight pause from the windup during his leg kick and doesn’t
have the quickest arm. From the stretch, he was inconsistent with his delivery
in the outing, but he did show a solid pick-off move to first base as he stays
closed until the last second possible to give him the option to throw over or
go to home.
For a 19-year-old, McGrath showed off a relatively polished
three-pitch mix. His fastball sat 86-88 mph, topping out at 89 during the
outing. He struggled to control the pitch, walking two batters and falling
behind others. He also struggled with his command, leaving the ball up in the
zone, as he seemed to be struggling to finish his delivery. When he left it up
in the zone, the pitch was very hittable and he gave up some loud contact.
McGrath has shown better velocity in other outings, so this may have just been
one of those days; he just couldn’t seem to get in a rhythm, taking a long time
between pitches, and overall looked uncomfortable on the mound.
Because he was struggling with his fastball, McGrath relied
a lot on his secondary pitches. On this day, his changeup showed more potential
than his curveball, showing late sink and fade on occasion. He seemed to have
good feel for the offering and was comfortable throwing it in any count. It
worked anywhere from 77-82 mph, but was primarily thrown between 77-79 mph.
Again, however, he was inconsistent with the pitch, at times slowing his body a
bit and leaving it up where it tended to float to the plate.
McGrath threw his curveball between 70-74 mph and it is more
of a work in progress. The pitch lacked tight rotation for the most part and
tended to roll to the plate. It did show big 12-6 break and when he threw it
for strikes it was effective, recording one swinging strikeout on a 73-mph
curve down and in to the right-handed batter that showed depth in the zone. He
struggled to throw it for strikes, however, and missed down, often in the dirt,
as he was holding on to the ball too long.
Photo Credit: Teddy Stankiewicz by Dave Letizi