Teams evaluating Mayfield have a decision to make. They can pay him now, or they may end up paying him a good bit more in three years. Teams may decide to wait because his velocity is fringy at this point. He sits 88-91 mph right now with a lively fastball, bumping up in shorter stints, but there’s plenty of belief that he’ll end up sitting 92-95 mph by the time he hits his early 20s. Often, teams will wait until the velo jump arrives, but if Mayfield makes it to Texas A&M, he could end up as a rotation stalwart thanks to his athleticism and excellent feel for pitching. His mid-70s curveball has plenty of potential as well, as he shows feel for locating it and picking spots to lock up hitters.
