Drake Fellows
Drake Fellows
Position: RHP
Height: 6’5”
Weight: 216 lbs
Bats/Throws: L/R
Born: 03/06/1998
College: Vanderbilt University
Drafted: 6th Round, 173rd Overall, 2020 (Padres)
How Acquired: Trade (from Padres in three-team trade involving Joe Musgrove)
Bonus: $260,000
40-man Roster: No
Rule 5 Eligible: 2023
Minor League Free Agency: 2025
Options Left: 3
Overview
In three years at Vanderbilt, Fellows went 23-9, 3.85, mostly as a starter. He had a 1.23 WHIP, 3.2 BB/9 and 10.1 K/9. He throws a sinking fastball that sits at 89-93 mph, but he doesn’t command it well. He relies a lot on a slider, and also throws a cutter and change. The Padres traded Fellows to the Pirates in the deal for Joe Musgrove before he ever appeared with them. Due to Tommy John surgery in 2021, his career hadn’t really gotten started by the end of 2023.
2020-23
Fellows was drafted during the pandemic season, so he didn’t pitch then and he was hurt at the start of the 2021 season. He went to the FCL at the end of June, pitched reasonably well in three games, then moved up to Bradenton. He made two relief appearances there, with the second one going very badly. He ended up having Tommy John surgery in August. That kept him out all of 2022.
Fellows’ recovery evidently didn’t go smoothly, as he started 2023 on the 60-day injured list. He made it to the GCL for a rehab appearance near the end of July, then moved up to Bradenton. He was on a low pitch limit, apparently 30, so he appeared only in short stints, totaling 11 innings in ten outings. He had a rough time, mainly due to nine walks. He wasn’t especially wild, instead missing by a little most of the time. Hopefully, he’ll finally be fully healthy in 2024.
2024
After throwing only 23.2 career IP prior to 2024, Fellows managed to stay on the field all year and throw 74.2 IP. He saw time with Greensboro, Altoona and Indianapolis, but the bulk of it came with the Curve, where he served in a swing role. Getting most of his time in AA while having almost no prior minor league experience probably reflected Fellows being 26 and needing to establish himself as a prospect, as he’ll be eligible for free agency in one more year. His performance at Altoona was uneven, with a 5.74 ERA and 1.46 WHIP. His walk and K rates were mediocre: 4.4 BB/9 and 8.3 K/9. Fellows’ pitching in four relief appearances in AAA was similar to his AA performance. He had a lot of trouble with left-handed hitters, who put up an .869 OPS against him, compared to .672 by right-handed hitters.
Stats
Transactions
June 11, 2019: Drafted by the San Diego Padres in the 6th round, 173rd overall pick; signed on July 12.
January 19, 2021: Traded by the San Diego Padres with Hudson Head, Omar Cruz and David Bednar to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Joe Musgrove in a three-team deal; Endy Rodriguez sent from the New York Mets to the Pittsburgh Pirates and Joey Lucchesi sent from the San Diego Padres to the New York Mets.