November 18, 2015 at 7:00 AM
2015 Top 40 Season in Review: Austin Glorius and Jordan Procyshen
Last week, we recapped the 13 players who were in the top 40 in the SoxProspects.com rankings at some point this season, but no longer are. Monday we began our recap of the players ranked in the site's end-of-season top 40, and today is the second installment. All entries in this year's Top 40 Season in Review series can be found here. Note that because we set the schedule for this feature several weeks ago, we are going to move forward with using the season-end rankings, despite the recent trade.
#38 Austin Glorius, RHP
2015 Teams: Lowell Spinners; Valdosta State
Final Stats: 26 2/3 IP, 2.70 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 36 K, 13 BB (minors); 53 IP, 3.74 ERA, 1.13 WHIP, 60 K, 21 BB (NCAA D-II)
2015 Peak Ranking: 34 (current, post-trade)
Season in Review: Glorius signed with Boston as an undrafted free agent this past August out of Division II Valdosta State University, making his professional debut for Lowell on August 5. He made seven appearances, with five starts, striking out 36 batters while walking 13 over his 26 1/3 strong innings for the Spinners. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound right-hander posted a 2.70 ERA and surrendered just 21 hits. He had a couple hiccups though, giving up three earned runs in one outing and five in another. However, Glorius did not give up any earned runs in his other five appearances, and threw 15 consecutive scoreless innings at one point in August. One final fun fact on Glorius: He tied national records in a high school game with five home runs, including two grand slams, and 17 RBI as part of his team’s 38-0 victory. – Nick Rabasco
Scouting Report and 2016 Outlook: Glorius represents a prime example of the value of scouting because despite the fact that he went undrafted, he has a very intriguing arsenal. Glorious has an athletic pitcher's frame with some projection remaining to go along with a live arm that comes from an over-the-top arm slot and effort in the delivery. His fastball usually sits in the 92-94 mph range, but he did touch up to 97 mph during the season in Lowell. His fastball will show late life and movement and has bat-missing ability. He has a four-pitch arsenal, but all of his secondary offerings are currently raw and inconsistent, though his changeup flashed potential, showing late drop and splitter-like action on occasion at 82-84 mph. Glorius also throws two breaking balls, a 78-80 mph curveball with 11-5 break and a slider at 82-84 mph with short, horizontal break. He needs to make significant improvement with his secondaries and command and control, but a pitcher with his frame and live arm has a chance. Right now, Glorius should be developed as a starter, but it is tough to project him long-term. He has the fastball velocity to play out of the bullpen. Glorius will start next year in Greenville as part of what could be a very intriguing rotation. – Ian Cundall
#37 Jordan Procyshen, C
2015 Teams: Greenville Drive; Salem Red Sox
Final Stats: 354 PA, .253/.336/.315, 2 HR, 34 BB, 54 K
2015 Peak Ranking: 33 (current, post-trade)
Links
Season in Review: Procyshen continued to show strides behind the plate as well as with the bat in 2015, earning himself a trip to the South Atlantic League All-Star game mid-season and a selection to the SoxProspects.com All-Star team at year’s end. He got off to a terrific start with the Drive, batting .285/.356/.363 in 51 games. He cooled off in Salem after being promoted on June 25, batting .209/.309/.248 in 38 games. However, his walk-to- strikeout rate improved with the move to Salem. The 22-year-old, drafted by Boston in the 14th round in 2014 out of Northern Kentucky University, also showed off his defensive skills in 2015, throwing out 40 would-be base stealers in 122 attempts (33%). If there was one downside to Procyshen’s season, it was the lack of power. He hit just two home runs and 13 doubles on the year after belting 25 home runs over 416 collegiate at-bats in 2013 and 2014. – Nick Rabasco
Scouting Report and 2016 Outlook: With a stocky 6-foot, 210-pound frame, Procyshen looks the part of the classic defense-first catcher that he is. The native of Alberta, Canada appears in control of the game at all times behind the dish, projecting confidence while working with pitcher and setting the defense. He moves well behind the plate, but his strongest defensive tool is his arm, which combines with solid footwork to give him great control of the running game. In just limited looks this season, I saw Procyshen back-pick one runner at second base and gun down another runner going from first to second on an attempted sacrifice. At the plate, Procyshen has the ability to put a charge into the ball, but not necessarily the hit tool to do so often. At his best, he will work counts and hit doubles, but he is not likely to hit for a high average or hit many home runs in the big leagues. If all goes well, Procyshen projects to be a big league backup behind the plate who will be able to step in and manage a staff while putting in professional at-bats. Procyshen could start in either Salem or Portland in 2016, and is a certainty to at least end the season at the latter level assuming health. – Chris Hatfield
Photo Credit: Austin Glorius and Jordan Procyshen by Kelly O’Connor