Carson Whisenhunt LHP. DOB: 10/20/2000. 6'3", 209 lbs. Drafted 2022 Round 2 #66 Overall.
2022(Cape Cod League): 1-3, 7.88, 16 IP, 6 BB, 21 K.
2022(ACL): 0-0, 0.00, 3 IP, 0 BB, 7 K's.
2022(A): 0-0, 0.00, 4.2 IP, 1 BB, 7 K's.
2022(AFL): 0-1, 2.84, 6.1 IP, 3 BB, 11 K's.
The Giants went all in for ceiling when they drafted Reggie Crawford in the first round last year. They balanced that out with a lower ceiling/high floor pick in round 2. Whisenhunt probably would have been in the discussion for a mid-late first round pick had he not missed the entire college season on a substance suspension which he says was the result of ingesting a supplement purchased at a national supplement chain. You don't have to look farther than Logan Webb for a comp for that. My advice to young Carson is the same as I gave Webb. Stay away from supplements! They aren't going to help you, they can be toxic and they'll cause trouble like this.
Whisenhunt got off to a great start to his pro career in limited action post-draft. His fastball is low 90's but the changeup is elite. Fangraphs rates it a current 60 with future 70. SI'Marc Delucci sscouted him in San Jose and said the changeup looks like an 11-5 curveball to RH batters. That description brings back memories of Noah Lowry. Delucci went on to say the curveball had good shape but he did not throw any strikes with it in that game.
On video he has a "tall and fall" 3/4 delivery which helps with vertical drop on the offspeed pitches but probably limits velocity on the FB. He's looks wiry strong with some room to fill out the frame.
The Giants will likely limit his innings this season due to the layoff last year but he should move fast after that. The only question in my mind, other than the obligatory injury disclaimer, is whether he has enough fastball to play at the highest level.
Is that cold water for a #4 ranking?
ReplyDelete"Whether he has enough fastball to play at the highest level" suggests that all the pitchers below him are "if not him, who"?
Certainly no one is ever a lock – how many guys ranked #1 have failed? – but aren't pitchers fairly projectable if they stay healthy?
True "can't miss" prospects are rare. Whisenhunt is a classic high floor/low ceiling prospect with the question being is the floor high enough? I'm betting it is but it's not a lock.
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