On
12-5-24, MLB.com posted their top 100 prospects in the upcoming draft.
Beginning 2-2-25, we will post it in backward order, ending with the pick for
1.1
https://www.mlb.com/prospects/2025/draft/ -
#94 Jack Lafflam RHP, Brophy Prep (AZ)
18/yrs
old 6' 6" 174
COMMITTED
- Arizona
Scouting
grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 50
| Overall: 45
The best
player to come out of Brophy Prep in Arizona was a tall right-handed pitcher,
Ryan Castellani, a Rockies second-round pick in 2014 who touched the big
leagues in 2020-2022. Lafflam gives the Phoenix area high school another big
righty who could give the program its first draftee since 2016 after he showed
off good stuff, feel and metrics on the summer showcase circuit, pitching at
events like Perfect Game National, PG’s All-American Game, the Area Code Games
and at USA Baseball’s 18U National Team Camp.
With a
long, skinny 6-foot-6 frame, Lafflam gives off a Jack McDowell-like vibe. While
his fastball typically sits at around 90-92 mph, he can dial it up to 95. It
plays up because it has very good life to it, he throws it with good extension
and his cross-fire delivery makes it hard to pick up, so it misses a fair
amount of bats. He has both a slider and a curve, and the former is the better
offering with more consistent shape, and both breakers are typically thrown in
the upper 70s. He has a solid changeup, selling the 78-80 mph cambio well.
Lafflam
tends to be very consistent in finding the strike zone despite his unorthodox
delivery, and teams that value analytics will likely appreciate his high spin
rates, extension and how far down the mound he gets. There might be some
concern about his really narrow frame and if he’ll be able to add strength, but
the starting pitcher kit he has should intrigue teams in considering the
Arizona recruit in the first few rounds.
1-27-25 - Just Baseball –
2025 MLB Draft - Top 80 High School Prospects
https://www.justbaseball.com/college/mlb-draft-top-high-school-prep-prospects/
1-27-25 - Just Baseball –
2025 MLB Draft - Top 80 High School Prospects
https://www.justbaseball.com/college/mlb-draft-top-high-school-prep-prospects/
75. Jack Lafflam – RHP
HT/WT: 6’6/180 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Brophy College
Preparatory (AZ) | Commitment: Arizona | Age: 18.9
Lafflam is one of the most projectable arms in the entire
country. At 6’6, 180 pounds, his body is really skinny and lanky, which reminds
scouts of Triston McKenzie’s current frame.
He’s an uber-athletic specimen on the bump with an
interesting crossfire delivery, though there’s work to be done with his
repetition. This has led to his command being lackluster, but his stuff has
everyone intrigued.
The fastball shape is a bit generic, acting more like a
cutter from a wider release, though Lafflam holds low-90s well and has ventured
into the 95+ MPH bucket on a couple of occasions.
Given the projection, he should be sitting in the mid-90s in due time. Lafflam has two breaking balls in his arsenal, though they can blend together.
The low-80s slider projects better than the upper-70s
curveball, featuring impressive spin rates and tons of sweeping action across
the plate.
His final pitch, a mid-80s cambio, features heavy sink and
run, though he’s still learning the feel of the pitch. As he grows, the
expectation is that Lafflam’s body control and command should take a step
forward.
Lafflam plans on staying in-state and attending Arizona if he
goes unselected.
https://www.perfectgame.org/Players/Playerprofile.aspx?ID=786436
–
2024
National Showcase
Jack
Lafflam is a 2025 RHP/1B with a 6-6 175 lb. frame from Scottsdale, AZ who
attends Brophy College Prep. Long and lean athletic build with huge physical
projection remaining. Full hand over head delivery, loose and athletic actions
in his mechanics, fast and loose arm to a 3/4's arm slot. Fastball topped out
at 95 mph with lots more there, will cut fastball at times. Threw a sweeping
slider as his breaking ball with up to 15" of IHB. Change up had two-seam
action at times with even bigger life at times. Three potential plus pitches
with command and the projection to get better across the board. Very high
ceiling talent. Good student, verbal commitment. to Arizona. Selected to play
in the Perfect Game All-American Classic.
https://www.brophyprep.org/news-detail?pk=1356664
–
Brophy
senior pitcher Jack Lafflam has committed to playing and attending the
University of Arizona in the fall.
“I am
excited about the development side of the program and playing at the next
level,” said Lafflam, who originally made his verbal commitment on Sept. 22,
2022. “Coach Vance and Coach DeRouin have transformed their pitching program.
They are one of three college teams using the new pitching technology. I am
looking forward to it.”
Laffam
will play for Head Coach Chip Hale, an Arizona alum and former Major League
Baseball player and manager with the Diamondbacks.
“The
coaches were the main reason behind my decision,” said Lafflam. “Chip Hale is a
great guy and, talking to the players, they love to play for him. Many of my
family have attended the U of A, and I have always been a fan.”
Lafflam
went 5-0 on the season in 2024 with a 1.50 ERA over nine starts.
“We were
competing,” recalled Lafflam of the team's success last season. “We won a lot,
but they were close games a lot. Competing to the last out with that group was
fun and bonding. We overcame a lot of adversity, but we did it together. It was
a good year.”
He was an
All-Premier first-team selection and AzBCA and AIA 6A Conference second-team
all-state choice.
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