Brief notes on Frisco Roughriders’ pitchers of interest from 5/23 game against Midland Rockhounds. (Notes on Midland pitchers to come.)

LHP Robby Ahlstrom: Skinny lefty reliever with intriguing pitch mix. Plus fastball at 94-97 with big carry from a vertical slot, consistent S/M up in the zone. CB at 79-82 flashed plus with big depth at 2900 RPM, shape plays off his FB but has a tendency to flatten — needs to improve consistency and must locate it down. Worked a gyro SL at 84-86 that lacked bite, offers an important middle velo-band but needs improved quality to play. Also threw at CH at 86-88, but don’t see this as part of his arsenal at the ML level as drops his slot and just looks like a slow FB. Showed playable control in his first inning, but lost it after that. Needs to keep his FB up and breaking balls down and below the zone to have effectiveness. Overall operation creates hesitation that he will, but potency of arsenal will require only general control rather than precise command to play in a relief role.

Chance to be a low-mid leverage ML reliever, but command questions and need for improved secondary consistency lower the probability that he achieves this. Upside for higher leverage if CMD and SL quality excede present projection.

RHP Ben Anderson: Low-octane righty struggling at AA in his age-26 season. Good body but fringe athlete with limited twitch and body control, delivery remains inconsistent and don’t believe command will ever excede below average. Works his FB from a high 3/4 slot at 91-94 with solid life, but lacks ability to locate and is hit hard over the plate. CH flashed solid tumble at 87-89, but frequently flat and drops his slot on the pitch —potential for average value but distance to achieve this this. Cutter at 87-88 with extremely limited break, hard to see ML efficacy. Threw one slider at 82 with 2-plane action but very limited bite. 4-pitch mix, but no out pitches and arsenal was hit hard throughout the outing driven by inability to locate. 

Pure minor-league depth arm given lack of potency, pitch consistency, or command at age 26. Enough to get outs in the upper-minors, but tough to see more than that.