August 26, 2020 at 12:30 PM
Scouting Report Update: Connor Seabold
Last week, the Red Sox made their first deal of what looks to be a busy 2020 trade deadline season, shipping Brandon Workman, Heath Hembree, cash, and a player to be named later or more cash in exchange for Nick Pivetta and Connor Seabold. While Pivetta represents a high-risk, high-reward return with significant MLB experience, Seabold is a minor leaguer with a lower ceiling, but a high likelihood of being a useful major league pitcher in the near future, perhaps as soon as next year.
For logistical reasons, it may take a few more days to get Pivetta's and Seabold's player pages up, but in the meantime, here is Seabold's initial scouting report, compiled from available data and reports as well as from our scouting sources across the game.
Physical Description: Average, athletic frame. Minimal remaining projection.
Mechanics: Throws from a three-quarters arm slot. Doesn’t use a wind-up. Medium-high leg kick. Controlled, repeatable delivery.
Fastball: 91-93 mph. Tops out at 95 mph. Above-average command and control profile. Around the plate, throws quality strikes. Really knows how to control the zone and gets a surprising number of whiffs with the pitch. Velocity has improved in pro ball. Potential average offering.
Changeup: 80-82 mph. Deceptive, throws with the same arm speed as his fastball and has good velocity separation. Pitch shows late, downward action. Has shown the ability to pull a string and have the pitch fall off the table. True major league-quality out pitch. Potential plus offering.
Slider: 83-85 mph. Has shown bat-missing ability. Potential average offering.
Career Notes: Missed nearly four months of the 2019 season with an oblique injury. Used that time to tinker with his changeup, which greatly improved. Impressed at the 2019 Arizona Fall League.
Summation: Potential back-end starter. Ceiling of a mid-rotation starter. Stuff has improved in professional ball and will now show a plus pitch and two other average ones. Strong pitchability. Throws a lot of strikes. Able to generate whiffs with all his pitches. Consistent command and control will be key to his success at the major league level because his stuff is not overpowering.
Ian Cundall is Director of Scouting for SoxProspects.com. Follow him on Twitter @iancundall.