1/26/25

2025 Draft Prospect #99 - RHP - Christian Foutch - Arkansas

 


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/ -

#99                 RHP                Christian Foutch

20/yrs old                6' 3"               WT

230

Video scouting report »

Scouting grades: Fastball: 65 | Cutter: 60 | Splitter: 60 | Control: 45 | Overall: 45

Colorado's top prep pitching prospect in 2022, Foutch turned down overtures from pro teams to attend Arkansas. He spent his first two college seasons as a reliever while displaying some of the best stuff on loaded staffs. The Razorbacks' abundance of rotation options likely will keep him in the bullpen this spring, but he could be the first reliever selected in July.

Foutch can make hitters look bad with three different pitches that each grade as well-above-average at their best, beginning with a fastball that parks at 96-98 mph and peaks at 101, though it features lackluster life. After favoring a mid-80s slider in the past, he's now using a low-90s cutter that creates some terrible swings. So does his upper-80s splitter that tumbles at the plate when it's on.

Foutch needs to command his heater better because it gets whacked when he doesn't. He also must improve his strike-throwing with his cutter and splitter because they're unhittable when he lands them in the zone -- but he doesn't do so enough. He operates exclusively out of the stretch and has to prove his durability after missing time in his first two seasons and getting shut down in the Cape Cod League last summer.

 

1-22-25 –

Just Baseball: 2025 MLB Draft – Top 80 College Prospects

https://www.justbaseball.com/college/mlb-draft-top-college-prospects/?s=03

61. Christian Foutch – RHP

HT/WT: 6’3/230 | Bat/Throw: R/R | School: Arkansas | Age: 21.6

Primarily a reliever for Arkansas this spring, Foutch is a massive human being with extremely broad shoulders and strength throughout his frame. There’s a lot to like with his durable frame, delivery, and pure stuff, giving him enough to see a starting role in the near future.

Foutch has an easy and deceptive delivery from the right side, hiding the ball well and putting his body into sound positions down the mound.

As a result, he’s able to throw extremely hard, touching triple digits on several occasions. Foutch relies on the heater heavily, sitting in the upper-90s with a ton of running life and some sink. He has feel to command it upstairs for whiffs, but it’s a pitch designed to create firewood and induce grounders.

Secondary command is a work-in-progress, though both the slider and splitter flash upside. The slider has firm gyro shape in the mid-80s and the splitter dives away from barrels hard with excellent separation off the heat. If the command comes, expect Foutch to go high.


https://arkansasrazorbacks.com/roster/christian-foutch/ -

Sophomore (2024)

» Spring SEC Academic Honor Roll

 

Made 20 relief appearances during sophomore campaign … Posted a 1-0 record with a 0.81 ERA, 20 strikeouts and one save in 22.1 innings of work … Allowed just two runs (both earned) on 19 hits and seven walks all year … In SEC play, logged a 0.75 ERA and one save in 12.0 innings over 10 appearances … Struck out six and allowed just one run on nine hits and three walks in league action … Finished the season with the lowest ERA by a Razorback pitcher to appear in at least 20 percent of the team’s games since RHP Kevin Kopps recorded a 0.90 ERA in 89.2 innings over 33 appearances in 2021 … Following the season, earned an invite to the USA Baseball Collegiate National Team Training Camp.

 

Freshman (2023)

» First-Year SEC Academic Honor Roll

 

Made 14 appearances on the mound as a true freshman … Finished with a 1-0 record, an 8.76 ERA and nine strikeouts in 12.1 innings of work … In SEC play, made seven appearances in relief … Posted a 6.35 ERA with four strikeouts in 5.2 innings … Held conference opponents to a .260 batting average … Made his collegiate debut against Louisiana Tech (March 12), striking out one in a scoreless inning … SEC debut came at #1 LSU (March 25) … Threw a scoreless frame against the Tigers … Went a season-long two innings at Ole Miss (April 7), punching out a season-high two batters … Tossed a scoreless inning with a strikeout against #16 Tennessee (April 16), helping Arkansas secure a series sweep … Matched his season highs in innings pitched (2.0) and strikeouts (2) in a relief appearance against UCA (April 18), earning his first collegiate win in the process.

 

High School

 

Attended Chatfield Senior High School in Littleton, Colo. … Ranked by Perfect Game as the No. 168 overall prospect and the No. 46 right-handed pitcher in the class of 2022 … No. 2 overall prospect and No. 1 right-handed pitcher in the state of Colorado by Perfect Game … Ranked by Prep Baseball Report as the No. 208 overall prospect and the No. 66 right-handed pitcher in the class of 2022 … No. 2 overall prospect and No. 1 right-handed pitcher Colorado by Prep Baseball Report … No. 299 on Perfect Game’s Top 300 2022 MLB Draft Board … 2022 Perfect Game Preseason All-American – West All-Region First Team … 2021 Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American – West All-Region First Team.

 

https://247sports.com/college/arkansas/article/christian-foutch-2024-sophomore-season-results-arkansas-baseball-232968167/ -

Right-handed pitcher Christian Foutch had a dominant sophomore season on the hill for Arkansas out of the bullpen. With freshman righty Gabe Gaeckle, who picked up a team-high seven saves this year, moving into a starting role, Foutch could assume the role as the Razorbacks' closer next season.

Foutch made 20 relief appearances on the mound for the Hogs while posting a 1-0 record with just two runs allowed in 22.1 innings of work for an extremely low ERA of 0.81. He struck out 20 batters and picked up a save on April 27 against Florida.

Foutch recorded the final out of the game against the Gators with runners on first and second to help the Razorbacks secure a 6-5 win. The Littleton (Colo.) native struck out Brody Donay on a full count to end the game and was throwing his fastball in the 100-miles-per-hour range in the series-clinching victory.



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