CLE
Asa Lacy, P
Edit player ✎
FanGraphs →
MLB →
Scouting report
There are folks in baseball who think Lacy had a strong argument to be the first overall pick in the 2020 draft based on the way his stuff dominated SEC hitters for three years, with their thinking being that Lacy's relief risk was about as scary as Torkelson's need to rake to justify being a 1-1 first baseman. Though he struggled with walks after he moved into the Aggies rotation in 2019, Lacy whiffed 130 hitters in just 88 innings. He was less wild in his brief 2020 four-start jaunt prior to the shutdown, punctuating his pre-draft run with a 13-strikeout game against New Mexico State and fellow top five pick Nick Gonzales. Lacy presents scouts with a non-traditional mechanical look that makes his delivery appear pretty violent around his head and shoulders, even though he has less of a head whack now than he did in high school and as an underclassman. While his delivery creates some perceived relief risk (he'd be one hell of a reliever), there is none regarding the pitch mix. Lacy's arm slot creates backspin on the fastball that enables it to have big carry at the top of the zone, his slider has remarkable length for how hard it is, and when Lacy gets on top of his curveball, it has huge, bat-missing depth. The delivery also disorients hitters who take lots of bad, awkward swings at pitches that live in the middle of the zone. His changeup (which Lacy sets up with a two-seamer) occasionally looks good, and might be a real out pitch if it's re-emphasized in pro ball; I thought it was his most polished secondary weapon when I saw him in high school, though I don't have any delusions about it becoming his best weapon now since his breaking stuff is so good. Kansas City seems to have eyes on competing and they've pushed their college draftees lately, so it's possible Lacy will move very quickly. His first minor league spring training outing, in which he was up to 98 and sitting 94 and above, suggests he's ready for such an ascent. His elite stuff and mediocre command give off a Blake Snell vibe. (Alternate site)