Syracuse Prospect Expands Arsenal with 97 mph Fastball and Elite Curve

Syracuse Prospect Expands Arsenal with 97 mph Fastball and Elite Curve

A pitcher in Syracuse’s system is continuing to refine his repertoire, leaning on the sinker and sweeper against left-handed hitters while subtly expanding his upstairs look with a high-velocity four-seam fastball. The four-seamer has reached 97.7 mph in the minors, a weapon designed to ride up in the zone and change the overall look for lefties, even though its movement profile isn’t considered a standout feature.

In addition to the four-seam, he mixes in an 88-90 mph cutter that carries a touch of armside movement and a 78-80 mph curveball that remains a core weapon. The curve sits in the low-80s in velocity but compensates with elite spin, routinely surpassing 3,200 rpm and generating roughly 18-19 inches of sweep with about 57 inches of drop. Against lefties, the pitcher has used the two-seam fastball only about one-eighth of the time, relying more on deception and break to keep hitters off balance. In Triple-A, left-handed hitters have chased and whiffed on the curve about 42.9 percent of swings, underscoring the curve’s effectiveness as a put-away pitch.

What this suggests is a pitcher who’s developing a multi-faceted plan to attack both sides of the plate. The four-seam adds a late-life option that could lift him into higher leverage scenarios if the ride can be consistently harnessed, while the curve remains a premium weapon for left-handed hitters. The cutter provides a mid-velocity alternative to diversify his arsenal, and the still-developing two-seamer offers a supplementary look against opposite-handed batters.

Key things to watch going forward include command and consistency with the elevated four-seam, how often he can throw it for strikes in the zone, and whether he can further optimize the pairing between the fastball and curve to maximize whiffs. If he can tighten the four-seam’s location and leverage the curve more effectively against both sides, his upside could broaden, with the curve’s whiff rates indicating potential for continued success against left-handed hitters at higher levels.

Summary-style takeaway: the pitcher is expanding beyond his traditional sinker/sweeper core by adding a high-velocity four-seam to generate ride, while continuing to lean on a devastating curve for left-handed hitters. The current curve performance remains a bright spot, and the overall mix positions him as a dynamic arm to watch as he advances. A positive trajectory on command and consistency could translate into a meaningful step forward in higher levels of play.

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