Notes on Midland Rockhounds’ pitchers of interest from 5/23 game against Frisco Roughriders.

RHP Jack Perkins: Very brief look in his first AA outing back from injury. Average athlete, fairly low effort delivery with a short, deceptive arm action into a 3/4 slot. Only observed his FB and SL in this outing, though public reports also indicate a CUT and CH. FB worked at 93-96 with quality carry through the zone, flatter approach angle that should generate S/M up. Worked his SL at 82-86, showed fringe movement profile with limited feel in this outing despite its big spin rate (2800-3000 RPM). Raw ability to generate spin and recent injury drive belief the pitch may have significantly more potential than what was demonstrated here. Below average present control for both his offerings, frequently missing the zone or leaving them in hittable locations.

Tough to evaluate the profile given limited look in the context of initial return from injury. That said, FB quality and innate spin on SL create intrigue despite lack of command or ability to execute the SL in this appearance. Need to see in longer outing further removed from injury, as wide range of potential projections here. 

RHP Gunnar Hoglund: Formerly high-regarded pitching prospect showing decent stuff at AA in his age-24 season. Funky operation with jerky movements, completely turning his back on opposing hitters. Despite this and his long, offline arm swing with some crossfire action on release, he’s able to sync everything up and locate the ball with consistency — indicative of quality body control. 

Worked his FB at 90-93, pitch has relatively high spin rates and shows good life, but fairly pedestrian shape out of his 3/4 slot that combined with its limited velocity will hinder its effectiveness. Throws his CH at 83-85 that at best flashed quality dive that plays well off his FB, tendency to flatten but has the look of an above average offering at peak. Third pitch is his gyro SL at 80-82, up to 2850 RPM in this outing. Two-plane action but showed just average cut and was quite inconsistent — natural ability to generate spin creates some hope for increased quality in an effective player development environment.

Command and solid secondary quality create interest, but lack of FB potency or a true plus pitch hold him back. Median present outcome as a low-mid leverage multi-inning reliever buoyed by increased FB velocity in shorter stints. That said, see numerous opportunities to excede this projection: FB could return to its previous velocity, secondary quality could take a step forward, or present advanced command could achieve plus or better which would augment effectiveness of entire arsenal. If one or more of these occur, chance for back-end starter outcome.

LHP Domingo Robles: Off-season minor league free agent signee struggling in AA in his age-26 season. Mature, muscular build and a below average athlete with limited body control and lack of explosiveness. Some deception to his arm action, but effort to the finish with stiffness on landing that combined with his lack of athleticism hinders his ability to command his arsenal. 

Works his FB at 90-93 with vanilla shape from a 3/4 slot, inability to control the pitch means it is often noncompetitive or hit hard when left over the plate. Most frequently deployed secondary in this outing was a CH at 82-85, showed solid 2-plane action at peak but has poor feel for the pitch and often just a slow FB. Features a pair of decent breaking balls, with a gyro SL in the mid 80s that flashes some bite and 2-plane action with potential for average future value. Second breaker is a slurvy CB in the upper 70s that can flash solid depth, but has a frequent tendency to flatten and will be hit hard if he can’t develop more consistent feel — this seems unlikely. Each of his secondary offerings can flash, but none of them are swing-and-miss even at their best — his lack of hand feel to execute them with consistency only hinders the profile further.

Has decent depth of secondaries with the ability to give some length at the minor-league level. However, not an ML prospect as has no consistency, command, or power to his arsenal.