Mason Black Stats & Scouting Report College Baseball, MLB Draft, Prospects

Posted by Zora Stowers on Sunday, May 19, 2024
BA Grade/Risk: 50/High

Track Record: In 2021, the Giants stocked up on pitchers from the Northeast. In addition to nabbing Black in the third round, San Francisco also chose lefties Matt Mikulski (Fordham) and Rohan Handa (Yale) in the second and fifth rounds and righthander Nick Sinacola (Maine) in the seventh round. Before the season, Black looked like a lock to go in the first two rounds, but he sputtered late and the Giants decided to buy low. In his first official pro action, Black looked like a steal. He split his 2022 season between Low-A San Jose and High-A Eugene and was one of four pitchers in the system who threw 100 or more innings and averaged more than 10 strikeouts and fewer than three walks per nine innings.

Scouting Report: Black heads his arsenal with two- and four-seam fastballs in the 93-96 mph range and backs them up with a mid-80s sweeper slider that ranks as one of the best in the system. The sweeping shape is a change from the more traditional movement on the slider he threw in college. The new version worked splendidly, getting whiffs at rate of nearly 39% while generating a little more than a foot of sweep and about 2,650 rpms of spin. Black has a high-80s changeup, but it's a bit of a work in progress and was thrown just 9% of the time during the regular season. He has above-average control and produced a 63% strike rate. Scouts like Black's loose, easy delivery, his competitive demeanor on the mound and the chance to add strength.

The Future: After spending most of the year at High-A, Black is likely to get his first taste of the upper levels in 2023. If he can bring his changeup forward, he has a chance to be an innings-eater at the back of rotation. If not, his fastball and slider could make him a high-leverage reliever.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Slider: 60. Changeup: 40. Control: 55

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