Nathan Eovaldi Scouting Report (2011)
Dodgers pitching prospect Nathan Eovaldi entered 2010 with plenty of helium from prospect mavens and proceeded to struggle mightily. In 98 1/3 innings, Eovaldi surrendered 108 hits and managed only a 72/37 K/BB ratio causing those same mavens to simply move onto the next big thing leaving the right-hander somewhat of an afterthought. After scouting Eovaldi in late April, I can comfortably say it's time to start paying attention again.
Through the first half of the Southern League season, Eovaldi has posted a 2.84 ERA (2.47 FIP) in 63 1/3 innings pitched, while allowing only 50 hits. Pair this with a 72/23 K/BB ratio and it appears as if the evaluators buying into Eovaldi were right all along. Sometimes it just takes a pitcher a little longer to put it together. Especially when that pitcher is, and has always been, young for the level of competition. Eovaldi turned 21 in February.
I had the opportunity to scout Eovaldi in a late April doubleheader along with Rubby De La Rosa, Randall Delgado and Brett Oberholtzer. This scouting report on Eovaldi is from that start.
In terms of repertoire and peripherals, a good comp for Eovaldi is Ryan Dempster who has parlayed a fastball/slider heavy arsenal into a long and pretty successful big league career. I could argue Eovaldi's ceiling is even a little higher based on velocity and present command, but Dempster has proven himself as a 200 inning workhorse where Eovaldi has yet to throw 100 innings in a season. To reach his ceiling, Eovaldi needs to prove durable enough to warrant a shot at the rotation. If that does not materialize, then Eovaldi is a late inning reliever with closer possibilities.
Through the first half of the Southern League season, Eovaldi has posted a 2.84 ERA (2.47 FIP) in 63 1/3 innings pitched, while allowing only 50 hits. Pair this with a 72/23 K/BB ratio and it appears as if the evaluators buying into Eovaldi were right all along. Sometimes it just takes a pitcher a little longer to put it together. Especially when that pitcher is, and has always been, young for the level of competition. Eovaldi turned 21 in February.
I had the opportunity to scout Eovaldi in a late April doubleheader along with Rubby De La Rosa, Randall Delgado and Brett Oberholtzer. This scouting report on Eovaldi is from that start.
- Excellent size; Eovaldi looked closer to 210 lbs. than his listed weight of 195
- Well-proportioned frame; Size through the quads and shoulders; Athletic pitcher's frame
- Fluid delivery with good pacing; Generates easy velocity
- High 3/4 arm slot; Limits movement on his fastball
- 94-96 MPH 4-seam fastball
- 4-seamer lacked movement; Worked pitch in-and-out effectively
- Maintained velocity throughout the start; Still touching 95 MPH in the 5th
- 91-92 MPH 2-seam fastball; Some arm side run
- 84 MPH slider; Best breaking ball; Used as out pitch
- Pitch featured late cut; Depth improved throughout the course of the game
- 78 MPH curveball; Threw sparingly; One CB was thrown behind RHH to backstop; Below average offering
- 83-84 MPH Changeup; Threw sparingly; Slowed arm action
In terms of repertoire and peripherals, a good comp for Eovaldi is Ryan Dempster who has parlayed a fastball/slider heavy arsenal into a long and pretty successful big league career. I could argue Eovaldi's ceiling is even a little higher based on velocity and present command, but Dempster has proven himself as a 200 inning workhorse where Eovaldi has yet to throw 100 innings in a season. To reach his ceiling, Eovaldi needs to prove durable enough to warrant a shot at the rotation. If that does not materialize, then Eovaldi is a late inning reliever with closer possibilities.
