September 21, 2020 at 4:32 PM
Scouting Report Update: Jacob Wallace
Last Friday, the Red Sox announced they had acquired Jacob Wallace from Colorado as the player to be named later for Kevin Pillar. The deal now stands at Pillar and cash considerations for Wallace and international bonus slot money. Wallace was Colorado's third-round pick in 2019 out of the University of Connecticut and is set to debut in the SoxProspects.com top 20 in the coming days. This makes him the fourth prospect acquired at the trade deadline to debut in the current top 20. Here is Wallace's initial scouting report, compiled from available data and reports, as well as our scouting sources across the game.
Physical Description: Average, proportional frame with minimal remaining projection. Above-average athlete.
Mechanics: Throws from a three-quarters arm slot. High-effort delivery. High leg kick, but gets low coming forward. Long arm action behind before he whips his arm forward.
Fastball: 93-95 mph. Tops out at 97 mph. Pitch shows life and tail. Pitch jumps on hitters. Command and control need refinement. Potential plus offering.
Slider: 84-86 mph. Long, sweeping pitch with above-average depth. True swing-and-miss pitch with major league out pitch potential with development. Potential above-average offering.
Changeup: Third pitch that he will use on occasion with late, arm-side movement. Did not throw the pitch in college and only added it after signing.
Career Notes: Originally from Methuen, Massachusetts, he starred at Methuen High before becoming the closer at UConn. Pitched for Bourne in the 2018 Cape Cod League, where he was named the co-recipient of the John Claffey New England Top Prospect Award and was named a CCBL All-Star.
Summation: Potential relief type. Ceiling of a closer. Fastball/slider combination is very intriguing in a bullpen role. Potential for two above-average pitches at least and a unique delivery that gives hitters a very different look on the mound. Unclear at this point if the Red Sox will try to develop him as a starter, as he does also have a changeup. Command and control need refinement in order to reach his potential. Very intense on the mound, always competes.
Ian Cundall is Director of Scouting for SoxProspects.com. Follow him on Twitter @iancundall.