Price is a fast tracking bullpen arm that will not wow you, but could be a useful 6th or 7th inning arm.
Don’s Thoughts: Matt Price is a fast tracking bullpen arm that will not wow you, but could be a useful 6th or 7th inning arm. He is battle tested and a proven senior.
He has a clear idea of how to set up hitters and works both sides of the plate. He will work 93 mph in relief and has good action on his slider that would be his secondary bread and butter. His change up is effective enough to balance out his other pitches and is in the 79-82 mph range. His command and control will help his pitches play up.
Scouting Report:
normally I start by writing about the fastball, but I really, really like his low-80s SL (82-84) so that gets top billing; also throws a softer CB; 89-92 FB, up to 94 out of bullpen; had strange, brief peak of mid- to upper-90s during brief stretch in 2011, but more of a low-90s guy; solid third pitch in 79-81 CU; experiment as starting pitcher went more or less as expected (i.e. not great), but Price has recaptured his magic in the bullpen; he’s more of an all-time great college pitcher than an exciting pro prospect, but he’s not just a college guy, either – there’s a big league bullpen out there that could surely use a competitor like Price; 6-2, 215 pounds
Average height, well filled out; not projectable
Delivery has some effort but less than I remember; Long arm action with a 3/4 arm slot
Fastball has solid velocity and some late arm side run; velocity was generally 88-90 with a few 91s and 92s strewn in (via TV gun)
Generating swings and misses on fastball
Lower velocity fastballs show some late sink; straightens out at the higher velocities a bit
Tight 11-5 slider with late tilt; depth varies; 79-81 (via TV gun)
Slider has good downward movement that is late and sharp
Change up has mediocre action with some fade and drop; 75 (via TV gun)
Clearly his third pitch and more of a change of show me offering
Showed good command of his fastball; leaned heavily on the pitch and showed ability to paint both corners
long arm action with effort; falls off mound, sometimes hard
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