Matt Sauer

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #24 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 40/Medium
  
  Track Record: Sauer raised his stock as a high school senior when his velocity ticked up, leading the Yankees to spend $2.5 million on him with their second-round pick in 2017. He had Tommy John surgery early in 2019, then lost the next year when the minor league season was canceled in the midst of the pandemic. Sauer reached Double-A in 2022 but needed another surgery to clean up elbow and forearm issues. He returned to the level in 2023, then was selected by the Royals in the Rule 5 draft.
  
  Scouting Report: Sauer is a sturdy-bodied righthander who operates with a four-pitch mix dominated by a fastball and slider. His four-seam fastball sat around 94 mph and touched 98, while the slider checked in around 84 mph and peaked at 89. The fastball showed excellent life through the zone and was an effective bat-misser when elevated. Sauer’s slider had plenty of sweeping action and a high spin rate of around 2,600 rpm. Both pitches are above-average and can flash a tick higher. Sauer rounds out his mix with a mid-80s changeup and a low-80s curveball. The changeup flashes fade and drop but is inconsistent, and he can give away the pitch by utilizing a more pronounced glove tap than is seen on his other offerings. He has above-average control.
  
  The Future: If he is to stick in the Royals’ bullpen, Sauer will likely do so as a reliever who relies on his fastball and slider and could see a velocity uptick while pitching in shorter bursts.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 40 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 30 | Control: 55
• 
  Ranked New York Yankees #18 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: The Yankees spent just shy of $2.5 million on Sauer after a big velocity jump in his senior year of high school. He was impressive in his first full year as a pro, then started well in 2019 before a torn ulnar collateral ligament led to Tommy John surgery. He would have been ready toward the middle of the 2020 season, but the shelved minor league season gave him more time.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Before the surgery, Sauer was showing a fastball in the 92-95 mph range. He backed the fastball up with a slider and a changeup that each showed above-average or plus. Scouts outside the org were impressed with the stuff, but wanted to see him utilize it better and get more swings and misses.
  
  THE FUTURE: Because the Yankees didn't hold domestic instructional league, Sauer has not gotten into a game since April 11, 2019. He's likely to head to low Class A, where the season will be of extra emphasis because he'll need to be protected on the 40-man roster after the year.
• 
  Ranked New York Yankees #17 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: After a velocity jump during his senior season in high school led the Yankees to spend a second-round pick and just less than $2.5 million on him, Sauer has moved slowly but surely through the organization. He was impressive in the New York-Penn League in 2018 and started strong in his first test in full-season ball before tearing his ulnar collateral ligament and having Tommy John surgery.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Before the injury, scouts inside and outside the organization were impressed by the progress Sauer had made year over year. His velocity had jumped to the 92-95 mph range and had touched a tick higher, and he was showing a slider and a changeup that each had the potential to be 55- or 60-grade pitches on the 20-to-80 scouting scale. The shape of his slider appeared to improve as well.
  
  THE FUTURE: The surgery will likely cost him most of 2020 as well if he stays on the typical timetable of 12-18 months. Before the injury, he fit in well with the pack of high-upside pitching prospects at Charleston and he had the upside of a rotation piece.
• 
  Ranked New York Yankees #10 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Sauer dedicated himself to a workout plan between his junior and senior years of high school and experienced a jump in velocity as a result, peaking at 97 mph. In turn, his draft stock improved and the Yankees popped him with their second-round pick and signed him just under $2.5 million, nearly double the recommended slot. He spent his first season as a pro in limited action at the Rookie-level Gulf Coast League before moving to short-season Staten Island.
  
  Scouting Report: Sauer shows the potential for three average or better pitches out of a physical, durable frame. He starts his arsenal with a low-90s fastball at 90-94 mph with natural cutting life and occasional sink generated by a three-quarters arm slot. He backs up the fastball with a curveball in the mid-80s and a changeup in the 83-88 mph range that flash average. His curveball is inconsistent with both its power and depth, but it is ahead of his changeup at this point. His changeup comes in firm at times but shows sinking action at its best. To unlock his potential, Sauer needs to better his fringe-average control by improving the consistency of his delivery and direction toward home plate.
  
  The Future: Sauer is likely to move up to low Class A Charleston in 2019, his first test of full-season ball. He has the potential to be a back-end starter if his offspeed pitches and control continue to develop.
• 
  Ranked New York Yankees #11 prospect in 2018
  Many prospects these days have help constructing their offseason workout routines. Whether it's a local strength guru or a personal coach, there's no shortage of instruction available. Sauer, however, designed his own workout regimen and saw enough benefits to boost his fastball and his draft stock high enough after his senior season of high school that the Yankees popped him in the second round and signed him to a bonus of $2,497,500--more than double the slot for the 54th overall pick. Tall, athletic and projectable at 6-foot-4 and 201 pounds, Sauer has already given the Yankees plenty to be excited about. He's shown a fastball between 92-97 mph as well as a pair of breaking balls, though the team was using the instructional league to decide whether his slider or his curveball was a better fit for his delivery, as well as a changeup that he didn't need much in high school. Scouts leading up to the draft also saw a pitcher with a tendency to finish across his body as well as a head whack that could affect his control going forth. Given his size and present stuff, however, Sauer has the upside to pitch in the middle of a rotation when he's fully developed.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #28 prospect in 2017 draft
  On the summer showcase circuit, Sauer pitched mostly at 89-91, touching as high as 93 (at the Area Code Games). He showed potential with his breaking pitches, but was wiry and far from what he'd become the next spring. At MLB's Prospect Development Pipeline event in January, Sauer's fastball touched 95 and he was on his way up draft boards. The righthander has some funkiness to his motion. Sauer hides the ball well as his arm comes through, and has plus arm speed. He finishes across his body and his head whacks after his arm recoils across his torso. Sauer's fastball has reached 97 this spring and he has consistently pitched at 91-94, showing life on the pitch. His low-to-mid-80s slider is his best offspeed pitch with powerful two-plane break. Sauer will sometimes throw the pitch from a slightly lower arm slot and generate more horizontal break on the pitch. He has feel for manipulating the spin on the ball and also throws a curveball with more vertical shape. He rarely throws a changeup and scouts note that it could project as an average offering but that is a far-off projection given Sauer's limited reps with the pitch. Sauer is committed to Arizona but is likely to be selected on the first day of the draft.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked New York-Penn League #13 prospect in 2018
  A highly touted arm out of high school in California, Sauer posted quality numbers for Staten Island spanning across 13 starts. Although he gave up double-digit hits in back-to-back starts at the end of July, the righthander still managed to post a 3.90 ERA in 67 innings. Sauer's fastball sits in the low 90s, but he can dial it up to 97 mph when he needs a little extra. His breaking pitch, a curveball, is currently average but has the potential to be a plus offering in the future. Although he hasn't walked many hitters, scouts peg him as having questionable command in and around the strike zone. While he does feature a good fastball and developing curveball, scouts wonder if he is more of a finished product than many young arms. Sauer has time to hone his command, but the profile reads more as a back-end rotation piece.

• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Yankees spent just shy of $2.5 million on Sauer after a big velocity jump in his senior year of high school. He was impressive in his first full year as a pro, then started well in 2019 before a torn ulnar collateral ligament led to Tommy John surgery. He would have been ready toward the middle of the 2020 season, but the shelved minor league season gave him more time.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Before the surgery, Sauer was showing a fastball in the 92-95 mph range. He backed the fastball up with a slider and a changeup that each showed above-average or plus. Scouts outside the org were impressed with the stuff, but wanted to see him utilize it better and get more swings and misses.
  
  THE FUTURE: Because the Yankees didn't hold domestic instructional league, Sauer has not gotten into a game since April 11, 2019. He's likely to head to low Class A, where the season will be of extra emphasis because he'll need to be protected on the 40-man roster after the year.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: The Yankees spent just shy of $2.5 million on Sauer after a big velocity jump in his senior year of high school. He was impressive in his first full year as a pro, then started well in 2019 before a torn ulnar collateral ligament led to Tommy John surgery. He would have been ready toward the middle of the 2020 season, but the shelved minor league season gave him more time.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Before the surgery, Sauer was showing a fastball in the 92-95 mph range. He backed the fastball up with a slider and a changeup that each showed above-average or plus. Scouts outside the org were impressed with the stuff, but wanted to see him utilize it better and get more swings and misses.
  
  THE FUTURE: Because the Yankees didn't hold domestic instructional league, Sauer has not gotten into a game since April 11, 2019. He's likely to head to low Class A, where the season will be of extra emphasis because he'll need to be protected on the 40-man roster after the year.
• July, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: After a velocity jump during his senior season in high school led the Yankees to spend a second-round pick and just less than $2.5 million on him, Sauer has moved slowly but surely through the organization. He was impressive in the New York-Penn League in 2018 and started strong in his first test in full-season ball before tearing his ulnar collateral ligament and having Tommy John surgery.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Before the injury, scouts inside and outside the organization were impressed by the progress Sauer had made year over year. His velocity had jumped to the 92-95 mph range and had touched a tick higher, and he was showing a slider and a changeup that each had the potential to be 55- or 60-grade pitches on the 20-to-80 scouting scale. The shape of his slider appeared to improve as well.
  
  THE FUTURE: The surgery will likely cost him most of 2020 as well if he stays on the typical timetable of 12-18 months. Before the injury, he fit in well with the pack of high-upside pitching prospects at Charleston and he had the upside of a rotation piece.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: After a velocity jump during his senior season in high school led the Yankees to spend a second-round pick and just less than $2.5 million on him, Sauer has moved slowly but surely through the organization. He was impressive in the New York-Penn League in 2018 and started strong in his first test in full-season ball before tearing his ulnar collateral ligament and having Tommy John surgery.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Before the injury, scouts inside and outside the organization were impressed by the progress Sauer had made year over year. His velocity had jumped to the 92-95 mph range and had touched a tick higher, and he was showing a slider and a changeup that each had the potential to be 55- or 60-grade pitches on the 20-to-80 scouting scale. The shape of his slider appeared to improve as well.
  
  THE FUTURE: The surgery will likely cost him most of 2020 as well if he stays on the typical timetable of 12-18 months. Before the injury, he fit in well with the pack of high-upside pitching prospects at Charleston and he had the upside of a rotation piece.
• July, 2018 Scouting Report
  The Yankees had high hopes for Sauer when they drafted him in the second round in 2017, and he has rewarded their faith this year. Facing older competition in the New York-Penn League, Sauer has been among the league’s best pitchers. His fastball has sat in the low 90s and has touched as high as 96 mph, and he’s shown improvement in both his command and his changeup.
• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  On the summer showcase circuit, Sauer pitched mostly at 89-91, touching as high as 93 (at the Area Code Games). He showed potential with his breaking pitches, but was wiry and far from what he'd become the next spring. At MLB's Prospect Development Pipeline event in January, Sauer's fastball touched 95 and he was on his way up draft boards. The righthander has some funkiness to his motion. Sauer hides the ball well as his arm comes through, and has plus arm speed. He finishes across his body and his head whacks after his arm recoils across his torso. Sauer's fastball has reached 97 this spring and he has consistently pitched at 91-94, showing life on the pitch. His low-to-mid-80s slider is his best offspeed pitch with powerful two-plane break. Sauer will sometimes throw the pitch from a slightly lower arm slot and generate more horizontal break on the pitch. He has feel for manipulating the spin on the ball and also throws a curveball with more vertical shape. He rarely throws a changeup and scouts note that it could project as an average offering but that is a far-off projection given Sauer's limited reps with the pitch. Sauer is committed to Arizona but is likely to be selected on the first day of the draft.