Chad Sobotka

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Atlanta Braves #22 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: The Braves showed plenty of patience with Sobotka. They picked him in 2014 despite the fact that he'd missed the entire season with a back injury. Then, when he got back on the mound, he struggled. But after three up-and-down seasons in the minors, Sobotka put it all together in 2018, jumping from Double-A Mississippi to a spot on the Braves' playoff roster.
  
  Scouting Report: Sobotka's delivery is designed to give him the best chance possible to throw strikes. He sets up as far to the first-base side of the rubber as he can to give him a shot to locate his fastball armside as well as gloveside. He also uses a very simple delivery from the stretch at all times. Even with that, Sobotka struggles to throw strikes. When it all works, he can blow hitters away with a lively, 96-99 mph fastball with modest run and a hard, 86-88 plus slider that is short and tight with more depth than sweep. When it doesn't, his well below-average command leads to long counts and walks, although his stuff is still good enough that his problem is more walks than hits--righthanders had just seven extra-base hits against him all season. Sobotka thrived in 2018 despite well below-average control, and his stuff is good enough for him to survive fringe-average control. But he has work to do to get there.
  
  The Future: Sobotka will be part of the Braves' bullpen plans in 2019. His control will determine whether he's a low-leverage arm guy or someone who can eventually be trusted with high-leverage work.
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  Ranked Atlanta Braves #24 prospect in 2015
  Sobotka did not pitch in 2014 after suffering a back injury in February, but the Braves thought enough of the tall righthander's potential to draft him in the fourth round and sign him for $400,000. At his best, Sobotka repeats his delivery well despite his tall, lanky body. His frame projects to add needed size and strength. He throws both a two-seam and four-seam fastball and employs different arm slots. His two-seam heater has plus movement, which leads to command issues. He has shown the potential for a plus slider and will need to develop that pitch as well as a changeup in order to remain a starter at higher levels. Sobotka will enter 2015 having not pitched competitively in more than a year, though he looked good during instructional league while touching 95 mph. Provided he is healthy in spring training, Sobotka should begin his pro career at low Class A Rome. Injured

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #115 prospect in 2014 draft
  Sobotka presents another wild card for this year's draft, as he didn't pitch all season thanks to a back injury in February. He spent his first two seasons at South Carolina-Upstate as a closer, racking up 19 saves and 79 strikeouts in 69 innings while running his fastball up to 96 mph. His command wasn't good enough to start, and he walked 39 in that span, but he showed one of the strongest arms in the Cape Cod League last summer. At 6-foot-6, 195 pounds, Sobotka has a pitcher's frame and could use a bit more strength to repeat his delivery more consistently. He throws both two- and four-seam fastballs, at times from different arm slots, and the life on his two-seamer makes it even harder to throw for strikes. He has flashed a plus slider as well, at times with swing-and-miss action. His back injury kept him from showing the same stuff this spring, though he did touch 91 mph in a bullpen session two weeks before the draft. His secondary stuff also lagged behind. Teams' views of his medical report likely will dictate how high he goes in the draft.

• December, 2014 Scouting Report
  Sobotka did not pitch in 2014 after suffering a back injury in February, but the Braves thought enough of the tall righthander's potential to draft him in the fourth round and sign him for $400,000. At his best, Sobotka repeats his delivery well despite his tall, lanky body. His frame projects to add needed size and strength. He throws both a two-seam and four-seam fastball and employs different arm slots. His two-seam heater has plus movement, which leads to command issues. He has shown the potential for a plus slider and will need to develop that pitch as well as a changeup in order to remain a starter at higher levels. Sobotka will enter 2015 having not pitched competitively in more than a year, though he looked good during instructional league while touching 95 mph. Provided he is healthy in spring training, Sobotka should begin his pro career at low Class A Rome. Injured