Keegan Akin

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #10 prospect in 2021
  Fastball: 55. Curveball: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 50
  Track Record: From the moment he entered the organization in a pitching-heavy 2016 draft class, Akin’s climb to the big league has been as low key as his personality. He finally arrived in August 2020 and went on to strike out 12.3 batters per nine innings, mostly as a starter, as the Orioles went young in their rotation at the end of the 60-game season.
  
  Scouting Report: Just as it did at every level in the minors, Akin’s “invisiball” fastball was effective in missing bats and getting weak contact in the big leagues. Delivered at mostly 92-95 mph, the pitch has elite vertical movement, jumps on hitters due to Akin’s deceptive delivery, and benefits from the lefty’s ability to throw it inside to hitters on both sides. Akin spent all of 2019 at Triple-A Norfolk working on his slider and changeup, both of which were in the low 80s, but during the shutdown he worked on a slower curveball that was often his primary breaking ball in the majors.
  
  The Future: Akin’s ceiling as a back-end starter didn’t change in his major league cameo. He’ll at least occupy the back of the Orioles’ rotation until the younger wave of starting pitchers are ready to challenge him. He could still provide value as a swingman but will remain in the rotation in 2021.
• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #9 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Rare are the instances when one shares his organization's minor league pitcher of the year award, as Akin did in 2018, and follows it up with a purely developmental year in Triple-A. But that's what Akin did in 2019, when he was named an International League all-star and worked on the Orioles' mandate to get away from his fastball and feature his slider and changeup more heavily. He ended up with a career high strikeout rate (10.5), but also set a career high with 4.9 walks per nine innings.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The owner of an “invisi-ball” 90-94 mph fastball that jumps on hitters to draw late swings, Akin spent most of the season working on his low-80s slider and changeup. Both have the potential to be average to slightly above-average pitches that will play off his deceptive fastball. Akin works quickly with a simple, low-effort delivery, giving the impression his pitches may play up in the bullpen. His control regressed in 2019 as he worked on his secondaries, but he has shown average control in the past. Of greater concern is Akin's husky body, which he will have to watch carefully to maintain balance and durability.
  
  THE FUTURE: Akin will be in major league camp for the first time in 2020. He figures to be a rotation piece for the Orioles through their rebuild as a back-of-the-rotation starter.
• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #6 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Akin is the most advanced arm to develop from the Orioles' increased focus on college pitching that began in the 2016 draft. He battled conditioning and mechanical issues in 2017, but had no such troubles in 2018 as he won the organization's minor league pitcher of the year award.
  
  Scouting Report: In 2017, Akin battled an oblique injury and a dip in his velocity. He saw his fastball velocity creep back up a bit in 2018. He touched 95 mph and held 91-94 deep into outings at Double-A Bowie while keeping the deception that makes the pitch effective. Hitters have trouble picking up his above-average fastball out of his hand and have to honor the fact that Akin is fearless throwing it to either side of the plate. The same goes for his plus low-80s slider, which he throws to both left- and righthanded hitters, as well as his average low-80s changeup.
  
  The Future: The Orioles mulled adding Akin to the major league roster at times in 2018, because his consistent success won over some doubters in the organization. But with so many other players to add to the roster, Akin's arrival was put off until 2019, when he'll likely be a candidate for the rotation in spring training. Even if he doesn't make the Opening Day roster, he will likely pitch in Baltimore in 2019.
• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #11 prospect in 2018
  The Orioles drafted Akin 54th overall in 2016, signed him for $1.177 million and set him on a similar path to Cody Sedlock, his fellow 2016 top pick and teammate for Orleans in the Cape Cod League in the summer of 2015. After he finished strong in short-season ball in his debut, Akin went right to high Class A Frederick, where he struggled early and was skipped a turn in the rotation to work on his lower-half mechanics. Akin returned to post a 2.97 ERA from the beginning of June until Aug. 4, when he was sidelined with an oblique injury. The Orioles were encouraged once Akin regained control of his solid-average 92-93 mph sinker, which he can locate inside to batters on either side of the plate. He also throws a solid-average changeup that's regularly in the 82-85 mph range. There's not much projection in his frame, but Akin holds velocity well and projects as a No. 4 starter if he remains in the rotation, though his stuff would likely play up in relief. Akin was sent to regain some of his lost innings in the Arizona Fall League, but showed enough in Frederick to likely warrant an assignment to Double-A Bowie in 2018.
• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #6 prospect in 2017
  Akin pitched Western Michigan to its first NCAA tournament appearance since 1989, making two starts in the Mid-American Conference tournament. A third-team All-American, Akin set the Broncos' single-season strikeout record (133 in 109 innings) en route to becoming the Orioles' second pick in the 2016 draft. He signed for $1.177 million and finished his pro debut with 20 consecutive scoreless innings at short-season Aberdeen, retiring 22 of his last 23 batters. Akin's fastball sat mostly at 92-93 mph after signing but touched 97 with solid control. His 82-85 mph slider is his best secondary pitch, and he attacks lefties with it and back-foots it to righthanded batters. His changeup lags behind and he seldom threw it in college. Akin shows polish and a clean, repeatable delivery with some deception, and Orioles officials believe he could potentially be the fastest mover from their 2016 draft class. While Akin's stocky body gives some evaluators pause, others see a durable pitcher who in college held velocity deep into games and late into his junior season under a heavy workload. Akin should break camp next April in the rotation at either low Class A Delmarva or high Class A Frederick. If his changeup doesn't come around, he could move quickly as a closer.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #80 prospect in 2016 draft
  Aiken pitched through a nagging lat injury as a sophomore that caused plenty of inconsistency but on the days he could really get loose and air it out, he showed flashes of dominance. Those flashes turned into a season-long run as a junior as Aiken broke Pat Misch's school record for strikeouts in a season. After arriving at Western Michigan as a lefty with a good fastball but little else, Aiken has matured into a potentially prominent draft pick thanks to vastly improved command and secondary offerings. The curveball he had when he joined the Broncos morphed into a cutter and finally into an average slider. He also went from not really throwing a changeup to the point where it flashes above-average. But it's Aiken's fastball that is still his calling card. The short (he's listed at 6-foot-1, 195 pounds) lefty sits 92-94 mph, consistently touches 95 and has rung up some 97s. He is now able to work his fastball in and out to hitters locating to arm side and glove-side, and he does a good job of working below and above their hands. Aiken's lack of size draws pause, but he's proven himself with strong summer stints in the Prospect league (2014) and Cape Cod League (2015).

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked International League #20 prospect in 2019
  Akin has continued to make headway and has been a durable pitcher on the professional level. Even with some late-season control issues, he did enough to warrant a close look going into next season. Evaluators have a wide range of opinions regarding Akin, but he rack ups a good percentage of strikeouts and gets hitters guessing quite a bit. He consistently clocks in the low 90s with his fastball, but he lacks a go-to pitch he can rely on. If he can show the ability to go deep in games, there will be a spot for him on a big league staff.
• 
  Ranked New York-Penn League #12 prospect in 2016
  Though he came to campus with lefthanded velocity, Akin didn't blossom as a pitcher until his junior year at Western Michigan, where he had one of the best seasons in school history. He went 7-4, 1.84 and eclipsed Pat Misch's school record of 99 strikeouts in a season with 133. The season propelled Akin to the second round of the draft, where he went 54th overall to the Orioles. Akin continued to excel with Aberdeen, albeit in shortened three-inning stints. He finished his season with 20 consecutive scoreless innings--a stretch in which he allowed just seven hits and struck out 23. Skeptics point to his stocky build, but Akin has no shortage of velocity. He leverages his thick lower half to touch as high as 97 mph, though he works more in the 92-94 mph range. To stick as a starter, he'll need to continue to refine his command and develop his secondary stuff. His slider could be an average pitch and his changeup has flashed above-average, but he'll need to find consistency with both offerings to reach his ceiling.

• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 55. Curveball: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 50
  Track Record: From the moment he entered the organization in a pitching-heavy 2016 draft class, Akin’s climb to the big league has been as low key as his personality. He finally arrived in August 2020 and went on to strike out 12.3 batters per nine innings, mostly as a starter, as the Orioles went young in their rotation at the end of the 60-game season.
  
  Scouting Report: Just as it did at every level in the minors, Akin’s “invisiball” fastball was effective in missing bats and getting weak contact in the big leagues. Delivered at mostly 92-95 mph, the pitch has elite vertical movement, jumps on hitters due to Akin’s deceptive delivery, and benefits from the lefty’s ability to throw it inside to hitters on both sides. Akin spent all of 2019 at Triple-A Norfolk working on his slider and changeup, both of which were in the low 80s, but during the shutdown he worked on a slower curveball that was often his primary breaking ball in the majors.
  
  The Future: Akin’s ceiling as a back-end starter didn’t change in his major league cameo. He’ll at least occupy the back of the Orioles’ rotation until the younger wave of starting pitchers are ready to challenge him. He could still provide value as a swingman but will remain in the rotation in 2021.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  Fastball: 55. Curveball: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 50
  Track Record: From the moment he entered the organization in a pitching-heavy 2016 draft class, Akin’s climb to the big league has been as low key as his personality. He finally arrived in August 2020 and went on to strike out 12.3 batters per nine innings, mostly as a starter, as the Orioles went young in their rotation at the end of the 60-game season.
  
  Scouting Report: Just as it did at every level in the minors, Akin’s “invisiball” fastball was effective in missing bats and getting weak contact in the big leagues. Delivered at mostly 92-95 mph, the pitch has elite vertical movement, jumps on hitters due to Akin’s deceptive delivery, and benefits from the lefty’s ability to throw it inside to hitters on both sides. Akin spent all of 2019 at Triple-A Norfolk working on his slider and changeup, both of which were in the low 80s, but during the shutdown he worked on a slower curveball that was often his primary breaking ball in the majors.
  
  The Future: Akin’s ceiling as a back-end starter didn’t change in his major league cameo. He’ll at least occupy the back of the Orioles’ rotation until the younger wave of starting pitchers are ready to challenge him. He could still provide value as a swingman but will remain in the rotation in 2021.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Rare are the instances when one shares his organization’s minor league pitcher of the year award, as Akin did in 2018, and follows it up with a purely developmental year in Triple-A. But that’s what Akin did in 2019, when he was named an International League all-star and worked on the Orioles’ mandate to get away from his fastball and feature his slider and changeup more heavily. He ended up with a career high strikeout rate (10.5), but also set a career high with 4.9 walks per nine innings.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The owner of an “invisi-ball” 90-94 mph fastball that jumps on hitters to draw late swings, Akin spent most of the season working on his low-80s slider and changeup. Both have the potential to be average to slightly above-average pitches that will play off his deceptive fastball. Akin works quickly with a simple, low-effort delivery, giving the impression his pitches may play up in the bullpen. His control regressed in 2019 as he worked on his secondaries, but he has shown average control in the past. Of greater concern is Akin’s husky body, which he will have to watch carefully to maintain balance and durability.
  
  THE FUTURE: Akin will be in major league camp for the first time in 2020. He figures to be a rotation piece for the Orioles through their rebuild as a back-of-the-rotation starter.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Rare are the instances when one shares his organization's minor league pitcher of the year award, as Akin did in 2018, and follows it up with a purely developmental year in Triple-A. But that's what Akin did in 2019, when he was named an International League all-star and worked on the Orioles' mandate to get away from his fastball and feature his slider and changeup more heavily. He ended up with a career high strikeout rate (10.5), but also set a career high with 4.9 walks per nine innings.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: The owner of an “invisi-ball” 90-94 mph fastball that jumps on hitters to draw late swings, Akin spent most of the season working on his low-80s slider and changeup. Both have the potential to be average to slightly above-average pitches that will play off his deceptive fastball. Akin works quickly with a simple, low-effort delivery, giving the impression his pitches may play up in the bullpen. His control regressed in 2019 as he worked on his secondaries, but he has shown average control in the past. Of greater concern is Akin's husky body, which he will have to watch carefully to maintain balance and durability.
  
  THE FUTURE: Akin will be in major league camp for the first time in 2020. He figures to be a rotation piece for the Orioles through their rebuild as a back-of-the-rotation starter.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Akin has continued to make headway and has been a durable pitcher on the professional level. Even with some late-season control issues, he did enough to warrant a close look going into next season. Evaluators have a wide range of opinions regarding Akin, but he rack ups a good percentage of strikeouts and gets hitters guessing quite a bit. He consistently clocks in the low 90s with his fastball, but he lacks a go-to pitch he can rely on. If he can show the ability to go deep in games, there will be a spot for him on a big league staff.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Track Record: Akin is the most advanced arm to develop from the Orioles’ increased focus on college pitching that began in the 2016 draft. He battled conditioning and mechanical issues in 2017, but had no such troubles in 2018 as he won the organization’s minor league pitcher of the year award. Scouting Report: Akin saw his fastball velocity creep up a bit this season, touching 95 mph and holding 91-94 deep into outings at Double-A Bowie while keeping the deception that makes the pitch effective. Hitters have trouble picking up his above-average fastball out of his hand and have to honor the fact that Akin is fearless throwing it to either side of the plate. The same goes for his low-80s slider, which he throws to both left- and righthanded hitters, as well as his low-80s changeup. The Future: The Orioles mulled adding Akin to the major league roster at times in 2018, because his consistent success won over some doubters in the organization. But with so many other players to add to the roster, Akin’s arrival was put off until 2019, when he’ll likely be a candidate for the rotation in spring training. Even if he doesn’t make the Opening Day roster, he will likely pitch in Baltimore in 2019.
• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  Akin learned how important maintaining his body and his mechanics were in his first full professional season, and now that he’s doing that, he’s seen his stock in the organization increase dramatically. Akin’s sneaky fastball and command of three pitches have helped him strike out over a batter per inning in the Eastern League through the beginning of July and put him firmly on the radar for a major league rotation spot.
• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: Akin pitched Western Michigan to its first NCAA tournament appearance since 1989, making two starts in the Mid-American Conference tournament to cap a dominant season. A third-team All-American, Akin set the Broncos' single-season strikeout record (133 in 109 innings) en route to becoming the Orioles' second pick in the 2016 draft. He signed for $1.177 million and finished his pro debut with 20 consecutive scoreless innings at short-season Aberdeen, retiring 22 of his last 23 batters. Scouting Report: Akin's fastball sat mostly at 92-93 mph after signing but touched 97 with solid control. His 82-85 mph slider was his best secondary pitch, and he would attack lefties with it and back-foot it to righthanded batters. His changeup lags behind and he seldom threw it in college. Akin showed polish and a clean, repeatable delivery with some deception, and Orioles officials believe he could potentially be the fastest mover from their 2016 draft class. While Akin's stocky body gives some evaluators pause, others see no red flags, just a durable pitcher who in college held velocity deep into games and deep into his junior season under a heavy workload. The Future: Akin should break camp next April in the rotation at either low Class A Delmarva or high Class A Frederick. If his changeup doesn't come around, he could move quickly as a closer.