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/ -
#50 Zach Strickland
RHP Maranatha (CA)
18/years old 6'
2" 180
COMMITTED - UCLA
Scouting grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 55 |
Changeup: 55 | Control: 50 | Overall: 50
Strickland jumped more firmly on the national map as an
underclassman at the 2023 Area Code Games and he continued to build up his
resume as a consistent starter at Marantha High School in Pasadena, California,
and then on the summer showcase circuit, taking the mound at events like
Perfect Game National, PG’s All-American Game, USA Baseball’s 18U National
Training Camp and Area Code Games, putting Strickland in line to become the
first player from Marantha to be drafted since 2017.
At 6-foot-2 and 180 pounds, Strickland ticks off a lot of
boxes as a protypical projectable high school right-hander. With a very fast
arm, he can dial his fastball up to 95-96 mph and usually sits in the 92-94 mph
range with good shape and life, with its ride at the plate leading scouts to
call it an “angry heater.” His upper-70s slider and low-80s changeup are his
best secondary offerings; both have the chance to be at least above-average
pitches in the future. His curve is his fourth pitch, and it’s a little slow in
the 72-73 mph range, but it plays off the heater well.
While there’s more velocity and crisper stuff to project,
Strickland stands out from some prep arms now because he can land all of his
offerings for strikes. The combination of a full repertoire and a feel for how
to use it could help land the UCLA recruit in the first couple of rounds of the
2025 Draft.
2-25-25 - 2025 MLB Draft: A closer look at the top 20 high
school prospects entering the spring
18. Zach Strickland, RHP, Pasadena (California)
Although Strickland gets up to 96 mph on the radar gun, he
also does an amazing job changing speeds, especially with a slow-down
curveball.
https://www.perfectgame.org/Players/Playerprofile.aspx?ID=686568 –
2024 National Showcase
Zach Strickland is a 2025 RHP/OF with a 6-2 190 lb. frame
from Arcadia, CA who attends Maranatha. Strong broad shouldered athletic build.
Has a long and fast arm action. Fastball topped out at 95 mph, throws both a
two and four-seamer, four-seamer gets up to 22" of IVB and gets over
barrels. Threw both a big sweeping slider and a soft downer curveball. Change
up was a quality pitch that was thrown for strikes with big fading life. Has
all the pitches and threw strikes. Excellent student, verbal commitment to
UCLA. Selected to play in the Perfect Game All-American Classic.
No comments:
Post a Comment