Matt Sauer

On the summer showcase circuit, Sauer pitched mostly at 89-91, touching as high as 93 (at the Area Code Games). He showed potential with his breaking pitches, but was wiry and far from what he'd become the next spring. At MLB's Prospect Development Pipeline event in January, Sauer's fastball touched 95 and he was on his way up draft boards. The righthander has some funkiness to his motion. Sauer hides the ball well as his arm comes through, and has plus arm speed. He finishes across his body and his head whacks after his arm recoils across his torso. Sauer's fastball has reached 97 this spring and he has consistently pitched at 91-94, showing life on the pitch. His low-to-mid-80s slider is his best offspeed pitch with powerful two-plane break. Sauer will sometimes throw the pitch from a slightly lower arm slot and generate more horizontal break on the pitch. He has feel for manipulating the spin on the ball and also throws a curveball with more vertical shape. He rarely throws a changeup and scouts note that it could project as an average offering but that is a far-off projection given Sauer's limited reps with the pitch. Sauer is committed to Arizona but is likely to be selected on the first day of the draft.