Scouting Report Updates: Can Feltman Bounce Back After Lackluster 2019?

The latest SoxProspects scouting report update includes new information on a quintet of pitchers (most notably, Durbin Feltman and Hunter Haworth) and a pair of catchers. Feltman was drafted in the third round in 2018 and was thought to be a candidate to be the first player from his draft class to reach the majors. His 2019, however, did not go according to plan, as his report details. Haworth was a late-round pick (22nd) in 2017, but has shown flashes of intrigue that, if sustained more consistently, could help him fill a role at the major league level.

SoxProspects.com scouting reports are written by our scouting report team, led by Director of Scouting Ian Cundall.

Durbin Feltman, Right-handed pitcher

Physical Description: Short, stocky frame. Average build with minimal remaining projection.

Mechanics: Throws from an over-the-top arm slot. Max effort delivery. Starts on the third base side of the rubber and doesn't use a windup. Very quick arm. Short, stiff arm action behind. Hides the ball well.

Fastball: 92-96 mph. Topped out at 99 mph in college. Sat 94-96 mph after signing in 2018, but velo was down in 2019, often sitting 92-94 and only touching 96. Reports from spring training 2020 had his velocity down even more to the low-90s. At its best, the pitch explodes out of his hand and has late life, making it tough to square up. Club had him work on locating the pitch up in the zone early in 2019 after he had focused on locating it down in the zone in college and in 2018 pro debut. After struggling through the adjustment, particularly with his command and with needing to sacrifice velocity to locate the pitch, returned to locating it lower in the zone near the end of the season, with improved statistical results. Command still needs improvement and is inconsistent from outing to outing. Potential plus offering.

Slider: 84-86 mph. True power breaking ball. Pitch shows hard bite and depth though the zone. Gets over it well and finishes the pitch. Able to throw in the zone or get hitters to chase it out of the zone depending on the situation. Lost feel for the pitch early in 2019, causing him to focus on his curveball more often, but returned to the pitch later in the year. Potential plus pitch with the ability to miss bats at the highest level, but inconsistency in 2019 makes it seem much less likely the pitch will consistently grade out that high.

Curveball: Low 80s. Clear third pitch. Has rarely thrown in outings scouted by SoxProspects staff. Reports on pitch differ between describing it as slurvy or having 12-to-6 break. Began relying on the pitch more in early 2019 when he lost feel for his slider, but leaned more on the slider later in the year.

Career Notes: Was TCU’s closer all three years of college, tying the school’s career saves record (32) and setting the school’s single-season mark in 2017. Was ranked a consensus top 100 player in the 2018 draft and was projected by many to be the fastest player in the draft to make the majors, even as fast as in 2018, based on fastball/slider combination. Moved quickly through the low minors after being drafted in 2018, pitching just 23 1/3 innings before beginning 2019 in Portland. Participated in the Fall Instructional League in 2018 and 2019.

Summation: Potential middle reliever with a power fastball/slider combo. Ceiling of a late-inning reliever, but 2019 struggles made it seem less likely he will reach that ceiling. Both fastball and slider show plus potential at their best. Fastball command will be key to development going forward, as well as whether he gets comfortable throwing it up in the zone or not.

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Hunter Haworth, Right-handed pitcher

Physical Description: Strong pitcher’s frame. Minimal remaining projection.

Mechanics: Throws from a three-quarters arm slot. Medium leg kick, some effort in delivery. More comfortable throwing from the windup than from the stretch.

Fastball: 92-94 mph. Tops out at 96 mph. Velocity has ticked up during his time in the minors; sat just 89-91 during spring training in 2018. Tends to overthrow at times, with his command and control suffering as a result.

Splitter: 81-83 mph. When pitch is on, will show late dive with the bottom really falling out. Flashes average potential.

Slider: 83-85 mph. Shows tilt and horizontal break, but can get on the loose side at times.

Curveball: 78-80 mph. Long, vertical break.

Changeup: Sat 81-84 mph, but tended to telegraph the pitch, slowing his arm down. Appears to have scrapped the pitch.

Career Notes: After a strong spring training in 2018, earned assignment to Greenville out of camp, but struggled through his first five appearances and returned to extended spring training before later heading to Lowell. Struggled again in the first half of 2019, striking out 58 hitters but allowing a .291/.378/.439 line in 50 innings through June 16. But after a week off, had great success in his final 53 innings, striking out 66 and allowing just a .191/.262/.284 line in 53 innings.

Summation: Potential organizational swingman type with a chance for more if improvements in the second half of 2019 continue. Has a ways to go developmentally, including the refinement of his arsenal and improved control, but will show flashes of potential. The physical tools are there to develop into an intriguing arm, but need to take a few big steps forward. Needs to develop a pitch to get left-handed hitters out, as he struggled against them in 2019.

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Logan Browning, Left-handed pitcher

Physical Description: Short, undersized, sturdy frame. No physical projection remaining.

Mechanics: Throws from a high three-quarters arm slot. High leg kick, falls off hard. Rhythmic delivery, some deception.

Fastball: 89-91 mph. Tops out at 93 mph. Pitch lacks plane. Straightens out when up in the zone. Fringe-average potential.

Curveball: 76-78 mph. Will show some depth when he gets over it.

Changeup: 84-86 mph. Firm, will show drop on occasion.

Career Notes: Son of 12-year MLB veteran Tom Browning, who played for the Reds and Royals. Attended the University of Florida as a freshman before transferring to Florida Southern for his final three seasons. Played both ways all four years of college, starring as a hitter as well. Excelled in 2019 in Greenville when old for the level.

Summation: Potential relief depth arm. Has the chance to develop into a solid organizational player as he throws strikes and can get lefties out. Will be challenged by more advanced hitters.

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Adam Lau, Right-handed pitcher

Physical Description: Sturdy build with no physical projection remaining. Looks listed height and weight.

Mechanics: Throws from a low three-quarters arm slot. Starts on the third base side of the rubber. Stiff, compact delivery with short arm action and medium leg kick. Vertical finish. Average arm speed. Minimal deception.

Fastball: 91-93 mph. Pitch shows life up in the zone. Command and control still need improvement. Has struggled to throw strikes at times.

Slider: 85-87 mph. Short, horizontal break. Cutter-like at higher velocities. Has shown some bite.

Changeup: 80-82 mph. Straight, shows late drop. Tends to slow arm.

Career Notes: Was a two-way player at UAB, playing outfield as well as relieving, and was named to the John Olerud Two-Way Player of the Year Watch List. Tired of finding places to live at stops up the minor league ladder, purchased an RV with his wife after the 2018 season and lives in it during the season. Pitched final inning of a combined no-hitter on April 25, 2019 for Portland, following Kyle Hart and Daniel McGrath.

Summation: Potential organizational relief arm. Lacks an above-average offering, but fastball/slider combination could allow him to stick around for a while as a useful relief arm. Needs to improve command and develop a true out pitch to have a chance of developing into more than an organizational arm.

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Alan Marrero, Catcher

Scouting Report: Short, stocky build. Filled out throughout, looks like a catcher. Starts square and crouched, with his hands high. Utilizes a big leg lift timing device. Strides closed. Lacks bat speed and strength. Bat drags in swing. Overall below-average hit tool with below-average power. Good hands, has shown solid receiving skills in limited looks. Average arm strength, pop times between 2.0-2.1 seconds. Transfer is slow and arm action is a little long. Signed for slightly below slot value. Participated in the Fall Instructional League in 2016, 2018, and 2019. Missed the last few weeks of the 2019 season with a concussion. Profiles as defensive-minded, low minors depth.

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Naysbel Marcano, Catcher

Scouting Report: Solid catcher's frame. Getting bigger already, but still is athletic. Aggressive at the plate, but has shown some hitting ability and raw power. Needs to develop an approach. Showed intriguing defensive tools in the DSL in 2019, including an above-average arm. Has the potential to become at least an above-average defensive catcher, if not more. Long way to go developmentally, but one to watch for the future.

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Nixson Munoz, Left-handed pitcher

Scouting Report: Small, needs to get stronger and fill out his 5-foot-10, 150-pound frame. Fastball sits 86-88 and has topped out at 90 mph. Could add velocity as he matures. Missed 2018 season for undisclosed reasons. Excelled in the DSL in 2019.

Photo Credit: Durbin Feltman and Logan Browning by Kelly O'Connor
 

Mark Hanoian is the Scouting Report Manager for SoxProspects.com.

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