Nice coverage of Meuth. So many similarities to Ortiz, not in a great way. Tough syncing up his FB delivery and flying open with many uncompetitive pitches to the arm side. Seemed very flat pitch. It'll get hammered in the higher levels. He's young and could slightly change his arm slot to be a bit higher which "should" give him better control and perhaps more movement.
Just for S&G Zander Mueth 2022 Perfect Game National Showcase Report:
"Extra-large, athletic frame with square shoulders and long limbs, lean build with room to fill throughout moving forward. RH Pitcher . . . loose and fast arm action . . . working to a mid/low three quarters release point. Fastball topped out at 95 mph and velocity comes easy, shows hard and late running life . . . best life at lower end of velocity band. Changeup is a true potential swing and miss offering up to 85 mph with low spin and excellent feel . . Slider up to 80 mph, occasionally gets around the pitch from a lower slot but generates late sweeping depth . . Big stuff across the board with projection. Excellent student.
Hard not to like that and that was more than 2 years ago.
I've got a number of photos and I can't tell for certain, but I don't think so. Watching him from behind the plate, I don't think I'd be digging in on the right side, regardless.
He was exceptional at the FCL level last year and struggled in 7 Starts at A; posted an ERA lower than 4, but Walked as many as he K'd. Started last year still a 19 year old in his first exposure to professional baseball and did well. Probably start in A in 2025 and will probably be promoted to A+ by June. Huge, and not filled out last year, and could possibly add a few ticks on his FB in 2025. Certainly somebody to watch as he develops. In fact, that whole group that played in the FCL and then in A last year are very, very strong!
He is going to need a secondary pitch to pair with that fastball just to make a run at a bullpen spot. It takes a special kind of coach / pitcher to develop secondary stuff coming from those low arm angles. It really messes with slider / curveball dynamics.
Pirates re-signed Cristofer Melendez. He pitched just two games in 2023-24. Was on the restricted list all that time. No idea why. His stuff is good enough to be a depth option depending on where he’s at after all this time.
Nice coverage of Meuth. So many similarities to Ortiz, not in a great way. Tough syncing up his FB delivery and flying open with many uncompetitive pitches to the arm side. Seemed very flat pitch. It'll get hammered in the higher levels. He's young and could slightly change his arm slot to be a bit higher which "should" give him better control and perhaps more movement.
Just for S&G Zander Mueth 2022 Perfect Game National Showcase Report:
"Extra-large, athletic frame with square shoulders and long limbs, lean build with room to fill throughout moving forward. RH Pitcher . . . loose and fast arm action . . . working to a mid/low three quarters release point. Fastball topped out at 95 mph and velocity comes easy, shows hard and late running life . . . best life at lower end of velocity band. Changeup is a true potential swing and miss offering up to 85 mph with low spin and excellent feel . . Slider up to 80 mph, occasionally gets around the pitch from a lower slot but generates late sweeping depth . . Big stuff across the board with projection. Excellent student.
Hard not to like that and that was more than 2 years ago.
In other news, MLB announces Luxury Tax facts and figures. Dodgers are going to pay MLB more in Luxury Tax than Nutting will pay his whole team.
Nice economic system MLB.
Awesome piece, BIG Mueth guy here.
Does he set up on the far 3B side of the rubber? Seems like he'd be a terror for RHH if he did.
I've got a number of photos and I can't tell for certain, but I don't think so. Watching him from behind the plate, I don't think I'd be digging in on the right side, regardless.
He was exceptional at the FCL level last year and struggled in 7 Starts at A; posted an ERA lower than 4, but Walked as many as he K'd. Started last year still a 19 year old in his first exposure to professional baseball and did well. Probably start in A in 2025 and will probably be promoted to A+ by June. Huge, and not filled out last year, and could possibly add a few ticks on his FB in 2025. Certainly somebody to watch as he develops. In fact, that whole group that played in the FCL and then in A last year are very, very strong!
Minor news item:
Starting in 2025, the draft will be 2 days: 1-3 on the first, then 4-20. Seems a good idea.
I have my first day picks Rd1) Willits
Rd2) Hartshorn Rd2compB) Jojo Parker
Rd3) Jacob Parker
He is going to need a secondary pitch to pair with that fastball just to make a run at a bullpen spot. It takes a special kind of coach / pitcher to develop secondary stuff coming from those low arm angles. It really messes with slider / curveball dynamics.
good take, big sweeping slider is about all you can get out of him, right?
Changeup, of course, as well.
Yeah... he might be stuck with a sweeper-type slider, which might play well off the arm-side run that he gets from his 2-seamer.
He needs Rich Hill to show him how to throw that looping slider/curve that Hill throws from about that same arm angle.
Pirates re-signed Cristofer Melendez. He pitched just two games in 2023-24. Was on the restricted list all that time. No idea why. His stuff is good enough to be a depth option depending on where he’s at after all this time.
Was not expecting a Melendez reunion lol
Sure like to know what kept him on the restricted list for two years.
That would be nice to know. But doubt we ever do.
Great article. As an aside…how do you pronounce his last name? Rhymes with youth?
Rhymes with Teeth.
‘MEETH’
Oh wow. Did not know.
Damn, I wouldn’t have gotten that right with three tries.
I was on the "Youth" train also - wonder if it's a nationality interpretation/pronunciation?
Decided to Google Surname Mueth and right at the very top were Meath and Meeth. I guess the u is just silent.
Zander Meeth... really?
Yep lol