Nice fangraphs piece on Keegan Akin and his “invisible fastball”

[Frobby]

Interesting piece in fangraphs this morning.     It says that Akin’s velocity is nothing special, none of his secondary pitches are outstanding, nor is command, but his fastball is “invisible.”    Akin says he doesn’t do anything intentionally deceptive but thinks his fastball has more velocity than his arm action suggests to the hitter.    And, he feels he made progress on his slider in fall instructs.

The article covers a couple of other players before you get to Akin.

https://www.fangraphs.com/blogs/sunday-notes-at-21-brady-aiken-is-facing-a-make-or-break-season/

[Il BuonO]

Uh oh, I remember hearing the same thing about OH darling, Steve Johnson and his FB.

[Can_of_corn]

Just now, Il BuonO said:

Uh oh, I remember hearing the same thing about OH darling, Steve Johnson and his FB.

I was thinking the same thing.

[Il BuonO]

Just now, Can_of_corn said:

I was thinking the same thing.

Firestone loved him.

[Frobby]

7 minutes ago, Il BuonO said:

Uh oh, I remember hearing the same thing about OH darling, Steve Johnson and his FB.

 

7 minutes ago, Can_of_corn said:

I was thinking the same thing.

The other pitcher we used to hear this about was David Hernandez.  He did throw a bit harder, though.  

[Il BuonO]

2 minutes ago, Frobby said:

 

The other pitcher we used to hear this about was David Hernandez.  He did throw a bit harder, though.  

I thought they should have kept him.

[ChuckS]

This article is not very encouraging.  Sits 89-92?  I thought he threw a little bit harder than that.  

He doesn't seem to have a whole lot of confidence in his secondaries.  

Seems like he could be a fourth or fifth starter......IF he puts it together. 

[Luke-OH]

3 hours ago, ChuckS said:

This article is not very encouraging.  Sits 89-92?  I thought he threw a little bit harder than that.  

He doesn't seem to have a whole lot of confidence in his secondaries.  

Seems like he could be a fourth or fifth starter......IF he puts it together. 

It's not a scouting report, it shouldn't be encouraging or discouraging.  It's just an interview.  He touches 94-95 at times and he can miss bats with 3 different pitches.  I'm glad he thinks he needs to improve everything, that's a good attitude to have.

[jabba72]

8 hours ago, ChuckS said:

This article is not very encouraging.  Sits 89-92?  I thought he threw a little bit harder than that.  

He doesn't seem to have a whole lot of confidence in his secondaries.  

Seems like he could be a fourth or fifth starter......IF he puts it together. 

Dont think he was ever projected to be anything else. That would be ideal. 

[Luke-OH]

5 minutes ago, jabba72 said:

Dont think he was ever projected to be anything else. That would be ideal. 

Patrick Corbin would be a good outcome, different body types but similar stuff.

[Frobby]

18 hours ago, ChuckS said:

This article is not very encouraging.  Sits 89-92?  I thought he threw a little bit harder than that.  

He doesn't seem to have a whole lot of confidence in his secondaries.  

Seems like he could be a fourth or fifth starter......IF he puts it together. 

 

9 hours ago, jabba72 said:

Dont think he was ever projected to be anything else. That would be ideal. 

Reading the OH scouting report by phillyOs119, it seems he has more upside than a no. 4-5 starter, though that might be a reasonable “mid-case” projection for him.    This year should tell us a lot.

[jabba72]

1 hour ago, Frobby said:

 

Reading the OH scouting report by phillyOs119, it seems he has more upside than a no. 4-5 starter, though that might be a reasonable “mid-case” projection for him.    This year should tell us a lot.

 

Having Akin become a reliable #4 starter would solve alot of problems. I thought his height put him at a disadvantage to stay in the rotation. because other prospects had more velocity, and Akin isnt really a control pitcher. Either way, I want to see a few of these guys step up. 

[Luke-OH]

9 hours ago, Frobby said:

 

Reading the OH scouting report by phillyOs119, it seems he has more upside than a no. 4-5 starter, though that might be a reasonable “mid-case” projection for him.    This year should tell us a lot.

Yeah, 4-5 starter is a reasonable outcome, his ceiling is more of a #3, not a huge ceiling, but decent.  He may be a late inning arm if he doesn't cut it as a starter.  So I'd say set-up man or 4/5 starter is the median projection.  He's better than the 2017 stats show.

 

7 hours ago, jabba72 said:

 

Having Akin become a reliable #4 starter would solve alot of problems. I thought his height put him at a disadvantage to stay in the rotation. because other prospects had more velocity, and Akin isnt really a control pitcher. Either way, I want to see a few of these guys step up. 

He has good velocity for a lefty, not great, but above average.  I think if he can stay consistent with mechanics he can throw strikes, the delivery is simple and he has an easy arm action.

[ChuckS]

On 1/8/2018 at 6:19 PM, phillyOs119 said:

Yeah, 4-5 starter is a reasonable outcome, his ceiling is more of a #3, not a huge ceiling, but decent.  He may be a late inning arm if he doesn't cut it as a starter.  So I'd say set-up man or 4/5 starter is the median projection.  He's better than the 2017 stats show.

 

He has good velocity for a lefty, not great, but above average.  I think if he can stay consistent with mechanics he can throw strikes, the delivery is simple and he has an easy arm action.

So you dispute the report that he sits 89-92?  Because that is not above average.....or even average velocity.  

[Legend_Of_Joey]

Whatever adjustments they had Akin make in the second half last season was the difference maker. At the start of the season, his pitches were like batting practice ones and his command was bad. 

After his "disabled list" stint, it was like night and day.