Background
Bywater pitched 68.1 innings across three levels in 2012.
Matt Bywater was the Orioles’ 7th round selection in the 2010 MLB draft. He signed very close to the deadline for $195,000 and made his pro debut in 2011. He most likely would have started his career with Delmarva, but a case of the yips held him in extended spring training and the GCL and prevented him from doing so.
Bywater pitched 68.1 innings across three levels in 2012. He made five spot starts for Frederick but made the rest of his appearances out of the bullpen.
Scouting Report
Bywater throws from a low 3/4 arm slot that gives him lots of movement on his 87-89 mph fastball, which has late tailing action in on right-handed hitters.
He has a short loading phase and solid alignment that gives him the ability to maintain effective control and command of his arsenal. He can get out of synchronization at times where his landing is not in an effective location. He also needs to work on making a repeatable inline downhill throw.
Bywater’s changeup is a plus pitch that has late dip and fade in the zone. It’s his out pitch and is very tough on left-handed hitters.
Future
Bywater’s low arm slot and plus changeup give him very good chances to become at least a LOOGY, but there’s still hope he ends up as a starter.
Crowded minor league rotations will probably force Bywater to pitch out of the bullpen next season, but he should see time in the rotation should someone get injured.
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Career Statistics
| Year | Age | Tm | Lg | Lev | Aff | G | GS | IP | H | R | ER | HR | BB | SO | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 22 | Orioles | GULF | Rk | BAL | 0.59 | 6 | 4 | 15.1 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 17 | 0.913 | 2.9 | 0.0 | 5.3 | 10.0 | 1.89 |
| 2011 | 22 | Delmarva | SALL | A | BAL | 3.77 | 9 | 9 | 45.1 | 38 | 22 | 19 | 3 | 32 | 51 | 1.544 | 7.5 | 0.6 | 6.4 | 10.1 | 1.59 |
| 2012 | 23 | Delmarva | SALL | A | BAL | 1.56 | 8 | 0 | 17.1 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 0.750 | 4.2 | 0.5 | 2.6 | 4.7 | 1.80 |
| 2012 | 23 | Frederick | CARL | A+ | BAL | 5.67 | 19 | 5 | 46.0 | 57 | 32 | 29 | 7 | 14 | 37 | 1.543 | 11.2 | 1.4 | 2.7 | 7.2 | 2.64 |
| 2012 | 23 | Bowie | EL | AA | BAL | 0.00 | 1 | 1 | 5.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0.400 | 3.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 5.4 | |
| 2 Seasons | 3.63 | 43 | 19 | 129.0 | 110 | 60 | 52 | 11 | 60 | 117 | 1.318 | 7.7 | 0.8 | 4.2 | 8.2 | 1.95 | |||||
