Re: Cubs acquire righty from Red Sox

Ken®

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Jan 22, 2020, 6:48 AM

Travis Lakins Scouting Report
Chicago Cubs
Age: 25
Bats/Throws: R/R
6' 1" / 180
Pitcher
Birthdate: 6/29/1994 25 yrs
Drafted: 2015 June Amateur Draft - Round: 6, Pick: 6, Overall: 171, Team: Boston Red Sox
Service Time: 0.054 MiLB Options: 2
Prospects Team Report Rank: 12 Overall Rank: NAReported: 2019 - UpdatedETA: 2019

Physical Description: Undersized for a pitcher, but a plus athlete. On the skinny side at present with room to add strength. Has struggled to stay healthy during his pro career and small frame could be a contributing factor to that, leading to move to bullpen.

Mechanics: Throws from a high three quarters arm slot. Starts on the third base side of the rubber. Repeatable delivery. Glove sets tucked on left side of chest and meets right hand just above the belt as he pivots into delivery. Short arm action in back, hides the ball well. Quick arm. Stays on line to the plate. Medium leg kick.

Fastball: Sits 92-95 mph when loose. Topped out at 96 mph as a starter, but reportedly has hit 98 mph in the bullpen and is now sitting in the mid-90s. Occasional arm-side run when down in the zone. Doesn't have great life. Needs to improve command and control down in the zone. Could add a tick or two to velocity with physical maturity. Potential plus offering, but plays below that due to lack of life and inconsistent movement.

Cutter/Slider: 88-91 mph with varying shape. Looks like a true cutter at higher velocities with short, horizontal break. At lower velocities, shows longer break and more tilt. Potential plus, swing-and-miss offering. Used to throw a true slider, but transitioned the pitch to a cutter in 2017-2018.

Curveball: 80-82 mph with tight rotation and two-plane break. Seems to throw two variations, one at 75-76 mph designed to steal a strike and another at 79-82 mph. Power breaking ball has shown more potential of the two. Tight rotation and hard, 12-to-6 break. Future potential average offering with bat-missing ability when sequenced correctly.

Changeup: 85-89 mph with late dive away from left-handed hitters. Locates well down in the zone and shows some feel. Has used sparingly as cutter has developed.

Career Notes: Recruited by Butler and NC State for basketball. Both 2016 and 2017 seasons ended early due to stress fractures on the tip of his pitching elbow. Upon return in late April 2018, eased back in with three-inning starts until organization decided to move him into a full-time relief role, where stuff has played up.

Summation: Lean, undersized frame profiles best as a reliever. Injury history led to transition into that role in 2018. Potential for two plus pitches in his fastball and cutter, with two additional pitches in his curveball and changeup to keep hitters off-balance. Has room for added strength and could add a little more velocity, although fastball has already played up in shorter stints. Prior to injuries, had a chance to start with a four-pitch mix, but bullpen role will give him a greater chance to stay on the field. Overall consistency of arsenal, fastball command, and control will be keys going forward.

Message was edited by: Ken®

Message was edited by: Ken®

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Cubs acquire righty from Red Sox

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