18. Landen Roupp RHP. DOB: 9/10/1998. 6'2", 205 lbs. Rule 5 Eligible Dec. 2024.
2023(AA): 0-0, 1.74, 31 IP, 12.19 K/9, 2.61 BB/9, GB/FB= 1.58.
Landen Roupp is an unusual pitching prospect in that his top pitch is a curveball which Fangraphs grades as a 70 and which he throws approximately 50% of the time. He also throws a slider which Fangraphs grades as a 50. The FB is a low 90's sinker rated as a 45 but but comes out of the same release point as the curve and gets good run and downward action. The big question for Roupp is can a pitcher who relies that heavily on a curveball, even the grade 70 one, succeed at higher levels or will more advanced hitters be able to recognize it out of his hand? He was a unicorn, but Hey! I remember when Bert Blyleven forged a HOF career with a similar pitch mix. The other concern is he was shut down on July 4 with what BA reports was a back injury, but he was well enough to participate in the fall instructional league. Note that Roupp averaged just 3 IP in 10 starts before his injury so the Giants may be developing him as a middle-inning guy. I would like to see him get a chance as a classic SP and see if he can be the next Bert Blyleven.
Stripling is working on a pitch apparently called a “deathball”. Either our offseason is saved and we can start printing up playoff tickets or we might have a good script for Major League 7
ReplyDeleteYeah, this has more than a little bit of "best shape of his life" feel to it. He description of it on the video was not encouraging.
DeleteReally good conversation about the Giants current state on Mccovey Chronicles
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/YPCg9WSo0NE -
Saw Roup once in Richmond and his Curveball is as advertised...In fact, everything was working that night against the ,ahem, Curve of Altoona. He was basically unhittable.. He's 25, no spring chicken for a prospect, and another player with too many injuries who needs a healthy year and be able to pitch more than 4 innings at a time..Hope this is the year.
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On video it looks like a firm tight curve, almost a slurve, that he can both throw for strikes and get swing throughs with. It also looks like it is harder to pick up out of hand than more classic overhand looper.
DeleteIt seems this regime babies its Ps way too much. Expecting Harrison to be a premium starter, but limiting him to 4 innings per outing? Seems they are doing that with all their Ps. Ridiculous. Let's hope that Bryan Price's desire for more conventional starting pitchers permeates the system.
ReplyDeleteI tend to be of the notion that pitchers only have so many pitches in their arms and if you burn them in the minors there's nothing left for the majors. So I am not that opposed to smaller workloads, especially early in a pro career but yes, they eventually have to stretch them out and be able to get 6-7 innings per start out of them.
DeleteNick Swiney LHP was not in your year end ranking although his 2023 at Sac wasn't bad, and in your Midseason review you had him "Quietly holding his own in AAA Sacramento. Stock up."
ReplyDeleteMaybe I said that and maybe I overlooked Swiney in this list but I don't think he would have made the Top 50 anyway. Probably deserves Honorable Mention. Hope he proves me wrong in 2024.
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