Who is Kevin Gausman?

[Enscheff]

By now, we all know the Braves completed their sole mission in life by acquiring a controlled MLB SP. They were dead set on getting one for quite some time, and they finally got one in Kevin Gausman.

So who is this guy other than "not as good as Chris Archer"?

In short: 27 year old SP controlled via Arb for 2 more seasons after this year who should be projected for 2-3 wins per season for the duration of his cost controlled years at a total salary of around ~$20M (~$8M in 2019, ~$12M in 2020).

His stuff is declining, as is typical for pitchers in their mid-20s:



His current repertoire is Four-Seamer (FA), Slider (SL), and Splitter (FS), and his stuff grades out as follows...

FA: 93.9 mph (Grade 52.8), 6.7" HMov (Grade 58.8), 7.8" HMov (Grade 39.1)

This is a flat FA with plus arm side run. This is a solid average or slightly better FA. I'll say 50/55.

SL: 81.7 mph (Grade 37.6), 1.0" HMov (Grade 42.3), -0.7" HMov (Grade 60.8)

This is a slow SL with more downward action than glove side run. I would call this a Slurve, and it's an above average pitch. Let's call it a 55.

FS: 10.7 mph delta (Grade 64.4), 8.3" HMov (Grade 54.3), 1.0" VMov (Grade 65.8)

Splitters are hard to grade because there aren't many in MLB, but they act like a CH. It has plus velocity delta from his FA, above average arm side run, and plus or plus-plus sink. This is easily his best pitch, and I would hang an easy 65 on it. This pitch is likely why Gausman has allowed a lower wOBA vs LHH (.315) than vs RHH (.342) in his career.

Command: 2.71 career BB/9 (Grade 55), has flashed as high as Grade 65 in previous seasons. This is plus command.

Overall, we are looking at a 50/55 FA, 55 SL/CU, and a 65 FS with plus command. This is exactly what a role 50/60 SP looks like.

[jpack1]

A very good get for what was given up. 27 is still young enough to “find it”, or develop into more. Great trade

[Jay212033]

Very good analysis!

[Braves1976]

I watched his start vs Philly, it was a bad game he gave up 12 hits and 5 ER IIRC. But he was still hitting 96 mph in the 6th inning, so despite his lower average velocity this year he can still reach back for 96 mph.

[Freshmaker]

A very good get for what was given up. 27 is still young enough to “find it”, or develop into more. Great trade

Yep that's also when the Orioles traded away Arrieta

[rico43]

Was the fourth overall pick in 2012, signed for $4.32 million and at the time was the first No. 1 pick for then-GM Dan Duquette. At the time, it was reported that the Orioles were trying to decide between Gausman, prep pitcher Kyle Zimmer and left Max Fried (who went No. 7). The Orioles' 19th-round pick in that draft was Josh Hader, who was subsequently traded to Houston.

Zimmer went to the Royals at No. 5 and is not pitching in 2018 without ever having reached the majors.

The Braves' top pick that year at No. 21 was Lucas Sims.

[NinersSBChamps]

He’s a mediocre pitcher. Don’t need to seek the approval of the other members here and type some notes on fastball velocity to illustrate just how meh of a pitcher he is.

[Eyeman]

Thanks Enscheff. I liked our moves. Did not want to give up hardly any of our prospects..until I saw Allard. I do not want to see how bad the stats will look on his pitches. I still remember how impressive he seemed early on. I think he struck out 11 of the first 12 batters he faced in the minors.

[Jaw]

He’s a mediocre pitcher. Don’t need to seek the approval of the other members here and type some notes on fastball velocity to illustrate just how meh of a pitcher he is.

Welcome back. I was worried about you when I saw some of your optimistic posts in the trade deadline thread.

[weso1]

His velocity scatter plot this season is a bit odd. The previous years have a neutral to negative trend and this season has a pretty clear positive trend line. Was he hurt at the beginning of the year?

[jcc03004]

By now, we all know the Braves completed their sole mission in life by acquiring a controlled MLB SP. They were dead set on getting one for quite some time, and they finally got one in Kevin Gausman.

So who is this guy other than "not as good as Chris Archer"?

In short: 27 year old SP controlled via Arb for 2 more seasons after this year who should be projected for 2-3 wins per season for the duration of his cost controlled years at a total salary of around ~$20M (~$8M in 2019, ~$12M in 2020).

His stuff is declining, as is typical for pitchers in their mid-20s:



His current repertoire is Four-Seamer (FA), Slider (SL), and Splitter (FS), and his stuff grades out as follows...

FA: 93.9 mph (Grade 52.8), 6.7" HMov (Grade 58.8), 7.8" HMov (Grade 39.1)

This is a flat FA with plus arm side run. This is a solid average or slightly better FA. I'll say 50/55.

SL: 81.7 mph (Grade 37.6), 1.0" HMov (Grade 42.3), -0.7" HMov (Grade 60.8)

This is a slow SL with more downward action than glove side run. I would call this a Slurve, and it's an above average pitch. Let's call it a 55.

FS: 10.7 mph delta (Grade 64.4), 8.3" HMov (Grade 54.3), 1.0" VMov (Grade 65.8)

Splitters are hard to grade because there aren't many in MLB, but they act like a CH. It has plus velocity delta from his FA, above average arm side run, and plus or plus-plus sink. This is easily his best pitch, and I would hang an easy 65 on it. This pitch is likely why Gausman has allowed a lower wOBA vs LHH (.315) than vs RHH (.342) in his career.

Command: 2.71 career BB/9 (Grade 55), has flashed as high as Grade 65 in previous seasons. This is plus command.

Overall, we are looking at a 50/55 FA, 55 SL/CU, and a 65 FS with plus command. This is exactly what a role 50/60 SP looks like.

Off hand is that a #2 grade or #3 in the rotation

[Tapate50]

Yeah but who are his parents , his ancestry, hobbies?


Lots of questions left unanswered. Maybe we can search his Twitter way back when he was a preteen and find out.

[cajunrevenge]

why is Kevin Gausman?

[CyYoung31]

I’m patenting the nickname “The Gaus’ Rifle”.

[Tapate50]

I think GassMan is already booked.

Like Kramer’s license plate from Seinfeld

[Chico]

I’m patenting the nickname “The Gaus’ Rifle”.

If Bobby were still here he'd be Gausy.

[NinersSBChamps]

Welcome back. I was worried about you when I saw some of your optimistic posts in the trade deadline thread.

This isn’t a negative reaction to Gausman. He’s an average starting pitcher and nothing more. If you are considered a nega Brave when you call someone average than this place is even more homerific than I thought.

[Super]

I think GassMan is already booked.

Like Kramer’s license plate from Seinfeld

hey, the GassMan's in town!

[Braves1976]

I saw Sonny Gray gave up 8 ER to a bad O's team today. May have dodged a bullet not trading for him as he we also showed some interest in him.

[nsacpi]

I saw Sonny Gray gave up 8 ER to a bad O's team today. May have dodged a bullet not trading for him as he we also showed some interest in him.

Aaron Boone hinted pretty strongly that Lance Lynn is going to replace him in the rotation.