Various tool grades/definitions

[Enscheff]

Based on data from this year, here are some of the scouting grades as they relate to actual measurable numbers (statcast) and the terminology used by the scouting community.

Grade definitions

80 = elite

70 = plus plus

60 = plus

50 = average

40 = below average

30 and below don't really have an accepted adjective, but I call it "unusable".

RHed FA velocity

80 = 99 mph

70 = 97 mph

60 = 95 mph

50 = 93 mph

40 = 91 mph

30 = 89 mph

20 = 87 mph

LHed FA velocity

80 = 98 mph

70 = 96 mph

60 = 94 mph

50 = 92 mph

40 = 90 mph

30 = 88 mph

20 = 86 mph

BB/9 as a proxy for control

80 = 1.5

70 = 2.0

60 = 2.5

50 = 3.0

40 = 4.0

30 = 5.0

20 = 6.0

Sprint Speed

80 = 30 ft/s

70 = 29 ft/s

60 = 28 ft/s

50 = 27 ft/s

40 = 26 ft/s

30 = 25 ft/s

20 = 24 ft/s

 

[Oklahomabrave]

Is the RH and LH a combination of SP and RP's velo?

 

[Enscheff]

Is the RH and LH a combination of SP and RP's velo?

It's MLB pitcher velocity. All pitchers are scouted using the same scale. Just like all runners are graded on the same scale regardless of defensive position.

 

[msstate7]

Meh, thethe will let me know which players are elite

 

[Enscheff]

Meh, thethe will let me know which players are elite

Newcomb at 93.7 is plus.

Gohara at 96.6 is plus plus, and is the hardest throwing LHed SP in the game if he maintains it.

 

[msstate7]

Newcomb at 93.7 is plus.

Gohara at 96.6 is plus plus, and is the hardest throwing LHed SP in the game if he maintains it.

Very impressive for gohara. This is also at the end of his biggest workload of his career. Is there an age when most pitchers peak in velocity?

 

[Enscheff]

Very impressive for gohara. This is also at the end of his biggest workload of his career. Is there an age when most pitchers peak in velocity?

Velocity peaks when they debut and slowly declines from there. The decline in velocity accelerates around age 26.

This chart is the best explanation of pitcher aging around:

Notice pitchers tend to keep their FIP (pink line) flat despite declining velocity (black line) by improving their command (dark blue line) through age 26.

After 26 their decline in velocity is too great for their improved control to overcome, and their FIP starts to increase.

By age 30 their velocity is declining so badly nothing can stop their FIP from climbing even more steadily.

This is why I suggest never guaranteeing money to pitchers in their 30s when the topic of extensions comes up. Teheran is already into his decline phase, and Folty is just entering his.

This chart also backs up the numbers I've shown for Newk...pitchers in their mid-20s do not typically improve their control.