Landon Sims

A short righthander out of Georgia with a big fastball, Sims impressed scouts last summer at the East Coast Pro showcase by striking out five batters and showing off a fastball that regularly got into the mid-90s. He’s touched as high as 97 mph in the past, and his big, power fastball is his carrying tool. Scouts like his arm action, but think he’s close to maxed out his frame, which is listed at 6-foot-2 and 215 pounds. He’s flashed an above-average slider in the 75-81 mph range, but scouts wanted to see the pitch at that level more consistently throughout the spring. It has sweeping movement and solid shape that he can finish down to the glove side, but it needs more consistent bite. He’s shown a changeup that needs work as well. Because of his size, big fastball and the occasional slider, there are some comparisons to J.B. Bukauskas coming out of high school and with that come the same reliever risks that Bukauskas faced at the time. Sims’ strike-throwing has been inconsistent, and he’ll need to improve his secondaries to give himself a shot at becoming a starter at the next level. A Mississippi State commit, Sims could be a difficult sign.