Justin Campbell

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #28 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 45/Very High
  
  Track Record: Campbell arrived at Oklahoma State as a two-way player and while he made an immediate impact in both roles, he developed into the Cowboys’ ace. He was an All-American in 2021 as a two-way player before focusing solely on pitching in 2022. The Guardians drafted him 37th overall, but he has yet to make his professional debut. He was sidelined in 2023 by an elbow injury and in May had surgery to relieve pressure on the ulnar nerve.
  
  Scouting Report: Listed at 6-foot-7, 219 pounds, Campbell has a long frame and has a loose, easy delivery. When he’s healthy, his fastball sits in the low 90s and reaches 95 mph with life up in the zone. He throws both a curveball and a slider. He can throw the curveball for a strike or as a chase pitch, while his slider works to keep righthanded hitters off-balance. His changeup is perhaps his best pitch, earning plus grades thanks to its life and deception. He pitches with solid control and can throw strikes with all his offerings.
  
  The Future: Coming out of college, Campbell was seen as an advanced player who could move quickly in the minor leagues, but after missing the 2023 season just getting back to full health and on track will be paramount in 2024.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 60 | Control: 55
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #13 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Campbell arrived at Oklahoma State as a two-way player and while he made an immediate impact in both roles, he developed into the Cowboys' ace. He was an All-American in 2021 as a two-way player before focusing solely on pitching in 2022 and ranking seventh nationally in strikeouts (141).
  
  Scouting Report: Listed at 6-foot-7, 219 pounds, Campbell has a long frame and has a loose, easy delivery. His fastball sits in the low 90s and reaches 95 mph with life up in the zone. He throws both a curveball and a slider. He can throw the curveball for a strike or as a chase pitch, while his slider works to keep righthanded hitters off balance. His changeup is perhaps his best pitch, earning plus grades thanks to its life and deception. He pitches with solid control and can throw strikes with all his offerings.
  
  The Future: Campbell did not pitch after signing and is advanced enough to make his professional debut in 2023 with high Class A Lake County. He has the look of a back-of-the-rotation starter for now, but with the Guardians' developmental track record, a tick up in stuff and ceiling could be coming for Campbell.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 50. Slider: 50. Changeup: 60. Control: 55

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #27 prospect in 2022 draft
  School: Oklahoma State Committed/Drafted: Astros ’19 (18)
  Age At Draft: 21.4
  BA Grade: 50/High
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 60 | Cutter: | Control: 55
  The California native burst on the scene as a true freshman for the Cowboys in 2020. With the 2020 season shortened due to Covid, Campbell turned in an impressive sophomore campaign, posting a 2.57 ERA over 84 innings while striking out 102 batters and walking 27. After pitching with USA Baseball’s collegiate national team during the summer, expectations were high for Campbell this spring, pitching on an Oklahoma State team with Omaha potential. Campbell lived up to the hype and then some, topping his numbers from 2021 141 strikeouts in 101.1 innings, with once again a low walk total at just 25.. With his lanky, loose athleticism, Campbell’s delivery will remind some of Orioles Hall of Famer Jim Palmer. Efficient in his motion, the effortless, loose-armed righty releases the ball from a high, three-quarter slot producing life on a 90-93 mph fastball that can touch a 94 or 95 on occasion. The jump out of the hand with his fastball collects its fair share of swing and misses up in the zone and demonstrates late running action when Campbell attacks the outer rail to lefthanded hitters. Complementing Campbell’s fastball is his above average curveball with tight 1-to7 break. Typically in the 75-78 mph range, Campbell’s bender comes at any time in the count, as he can backdoor it as well as bury in the dirt to get the punchout. Campbell will also show the righthanded hitter an 80-82 mph slider, more or less to mess with the opponent to keep them from timing his curve. Topping off Campbell’s repertoire may perhaps be one of the best changeups in this year’s draft. With any plus changeup, Campbell sells it extremely well with fastball arm speed and maintains his slot. The late diving action that occurs prior to a fooled swing is just another element of the pitch that makes it near impossible to square up when executed. His overall command and feel for the craft, mixed in with his high-level competitive nature should move Campbell to the upper minor league levels rather quickly. His ability to adapt and adjust when need be allows him to project as a middle or back of the rotation starter.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Campbell arrived at Oklahoma State as a two-way player and while he made an immediate impact in both roles, he developed into the Cowboys' ace. He was an All-American in 2021 as a two-way player before focusing solely on pitching in 2022 and ranking seventh nationally in strikeouts (141).
  
  Scouting Report: Listed at 6-foot-7, 219 pounds, Campbell has a long frame and has a loose, easy delivery. His fastball sits in the low 90s and reaches 95 mph with life up in the zone. He throws both a curveball and a slider. He can throw the curveball for a strike or as a chase pitch, while his slider works to keep righthanded hitters off balance. His changeup is perhaps his best pitch, earning plus grades thanks to its life and deception. He pitches with solid control and can throw strikes with all his offerings.
  
  The Future: Campbell did not pitch after signing and is advanced enough to make his professional debut in 2023 with high Class A Lake County. He has the look of a back-of-the-rotation starter for now, but with the Guardians' developmental track record, a tick up in stuff and ceiling could be coming for Campbell.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 50. Slider: 50. Changeup: 60. Control: 55
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Campbell arrived at Oklahoma State as a two-way player and while he made an immediate impact in both roles, he developed into the Cowboys' ace. He was an All-American in 2021 as a two-way player before focusing solely on pitching in 2022 and ranking seventh nationally in strikeouts (141).
  
  Scouting Report: Listed at 6-foot-7, 219 pounds, Campbell has a long frame and has a loose, easy delivery. His fastball sits in the low 90s and reaches 95 mph with life up in the zone. He throws both a curveball and a slider. He can throw the curveball for a strike or as a chase pitch, while his slider works to keep righthanded hitters off balance. His changeup is perhaps his best pitch, earning plus grades thanks to its life and deception. He pitches with solid control and can throw strikes with all his offerings.
  
  The Future: Campbell did not pitch after signing and is advanced enough to make his professional debut in 2023 with high Class A Lake County. He has the look of a back-of-the-rotation starter for now, but with the Guardians' developmental track record, a tick up in stuff and ceiling could be coming for Campbell.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Curveball: 50. Slider: 50. Changeup: 60. Control: 55
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 50/High
  
  August Update: Campbell was impressive over three seasons at Oklahoma State, starting with the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and culminating with the junior campaign in 2022 in which he went 9-2, 3.82 with 141 strikeouts in 101.1 innings. Now, he gets to be part of Cleveland&#39s pitching factory. Campbell starts his mix with a mid-90s fastball delivered from a high three-quarters arm slot. The pitch shows late running action and gets plenty of whiffs up in the zone. He backs the fastball with a mid-70s curveball with 1-to-7 break that he can drop in for strikes and bury for chases. He also mixes in a mid-80s slider. His best offspeed pitch, however, is his changeup. The pitch is sold extremely well and dives away from hitters at the last moment, leading to lots futile, flailing hacks. He could end up as a middle-of-the-rotation starter.