Seth Lonsway

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #137 prospect in 2021 draft
  Lonsway showed markedly improved stuff during the shortened 2020 season and ranked as the No. 74 prospect in the class, but questions about his control ultimately made him go undrafted. This spring has been more of the same from the 6-foot-3, 195-pound lefthander, as he’s had no issues striking out batters, with 98 in just 68 innings (13.0 K/9), but those whiffs have come alongside 43 walks (5.7 BB/9). The fact that his walk rate this spring represents a career low tells you what you need to know about Lonsway’s control. However, he can run his fastball up into the mid 90s from the left side and many scouts thought his curveball was one of the better breaking balls in the 2020 class. It’s at least a plus offering and some evaluators have put 70 grades on the pitch, which lands in the upper 70s and low 80s with hard biting action when he stays on top of it—generating ugly swings out of the zone against both righties and lefties. Lonsway also throws a slider that can blend into his curve at its lower velocity, and a changeup in the lower 80s which he rarely uses. While Lonsway has made some progress to improve his strike throwing this spring, he still has well below-average control and struggles to repeat his delivery and stay in sync on the mound. That means he’s most likely destined for the bullpen at the next level, where his velocity could tick up and his curveball should be a reliable weapon.
• Ranked #74 prospect in 2020 draft
  Scouts weren’t sure what to do with Lonsway after a disappointing summer in the Cape Cod League, where he showed inconsistent fastball velocity and extremely spotty control. In 12 innings with Brewster, Lonsway walked 12 batters and struck out 12. He moved significantly up draft boards this spring by showing markedly improved stuff, both in terms of his fastball and his secondary offerings. Lonsway now has a fastball that gets up into the mid-90s from the left side, along with a curveball that has impressive tilt, a slider and changeup. While the pure stuff has been good, Lonsway still has significant control issues to resolve. While he struck out a ridiculous 42 batters in 18 innings (21 strikeouts per nine innings) he also walked 18 batters—a batter an inning. Some scouts have said that it’s only his fastball he struggles to locate. They’ve seen him spot all of his secondary offerings better than the heater, but without improved fastball control it is difficult to envision much success in pro ball. Lonsway has struggled to repeat the timing of his delivery and keep everything in sync, but if a team believes they can help him figure that out, he has some exciting upside with a pair of plus offerings and a 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame. Still, he comes with extreme reliever risk.
• Ranked #127 prospect in 2017 draft
  When the summer showcase circuit ended, Lonsway looked like the kind of pitcher who needed to head to college. The 6-foot-1 Ohio State signee needed to add strength and velocity, even if scouts liked his delivery and his athleticism. But after a solid offseason of conditioning and weight room work, Lonsway looks more pro ready as a senior than was expected. His 88-91 mph fastball now touches 92-93 and he can find that velocity when needed, either early or late in starts. His curveball needs to be more consistent, but it will flash average already. Lonsway doesn't have much more room to get much bigger or stronger, but he''s reasonably polished, athletic and he's a lefty with two pitches in a draft that doesn't have that many quality lefties.