Travis Kuhn

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Seattle Mariners #24 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/High
  
  Track Record: Kuhn walked on at San Diego and redshirted as a freshman before blossoming into one of the Toreros best relievers. The Mariners drafted him in the 19th round and signed him for $85,000. Kuhn's first full season was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, but he emerged as a prospect at the Class A levels in 2021 and finished with a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League. Kuhn continued his rise in 2022 at Double-A Arkansas and led the Travelers bullpen with 71 strikeouts.
  
  Scouting Report: Kuhn is a fearless, aggressive righthander with the stuff and mentality perfectly suited for relief. His fastball sits 95-96 mph with run and sink and gets up to 98-99 mph when he reaches back for more in big spots. His short, mid-80s slider is a plus pitch with late break that ties up hitters and generates awkward, uncomfortable swings. Kuhn keeps the ball on the ground with his fastball and slider and is hard to elevate against. He allowed only three home runs in 59.1 innings in 2022. Kuhn pitches exclusively from the stretch and frequently spins out of his effortful delivery, leading to balls sailing to his armside. He has below-average control and will need to tighten the direction in his delivery. Kuhn is a tough competitor who rarely backs down and is capable of pitching either one or two-inning stints.
  
  The Future: Kuhn has a chance to settle in as a low to mid leverage reliever in the Mariners bullpen. He'll move to Triple-A Tacoma in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Slider: 60. Control: 40

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #484 prospect in 2019 draft
  Kuhn emerged as San Diego's go-to reliever this year and opened eyes with a four inning, 10-strikeout relief appearance against Indiana on March 10. Kuhn has a high-tempo delivery befitting a power reliever. His fastball reaches 94 mph and his slider shows average, giving him the arsenal to project in the role. Kuhn is a good athlete but has well below-average command due to the high pace of his delivery. He went 3-3, 3.54 with 64 strikeouts and 29 walks in 48.1 innings. Evaluators hope he can be smoothed out and that his strikes will improve in pro ball. Kuhn is a redshirt sophomore with the option to return to school.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/High
  
  Track Record: Kuhn walked on at San Diego and redshirted as a freshman before blossoming into one of the Toreros best relievers. The Mariners drafted him in the 19th round and signed him for $85,000. Kuhn's first full season was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, but he emerged as a prospect at the Class A levels in 2021 and finished with a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League. Kuhn continued his rise in 2022 at Double-A Arkansas and led the Travelers bullpen with 71 strikeouts.
  
  Scouting Report: Kuhn is a fearless, aggressive righthander with the stuff and mentality perfectly suited for relief. His fastball sits 95-96 mph with run and sink and gets up to 98-99 mph when he reaches back for more in big spots. His short, mid-80s slider is a plus pitch with late break that ties up hitters and generates awkward, uncomfortable swings. Kuhn keeps the ball on the ground with his fastball and slider and is hard to elevate against. He allowed only three home runs in 59.1 innings in 2022. Kuhn pitches exclusively from the stretch and frequently spins out of his effortful delivery, leading to balls sailing to his armside. He has below-average control and will need to tighten the direction in his delivery. Kuhn is a tough competitor who rarely backs down and is capable of pitching either one or two-inning stints.
  
  The Future: Kuhn has a chance to settle in as a low to mid leverage reliever in the Mariners bullpen. He'll move to Triple-A Tacoma in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Slider: 60. Control: 40
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 40/High
  
  Track Record: Kuhn walked on at San Diego and redshirted as a freshman before blossoming into one of the Toreros best relievers. The Mariners drafted him in the 19th round and signed him for $85,000. Kuhn's first full season was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, but he emerged as a prospect at the Class A levels in 2021 and finished with a strong showing in the Arizona Fall League. Kuhn continued his rise in 2022 at Double-A Arkansas and led the Travelers bullpen with 71 strikeouts.
  
  Scouting Report: Kuhn is a fearless, aggressive righthander with the stuff and mentality perfectly suited for relief. His fastball sits 95-96 mph with run and sink and gets up to 98-99 mph when he reaches back for more in big spots. His short, mid-80s slider is a plus pitch with late break that ties up hitters and generates awkward, uncomfortable swings. Kuhn keeps the ball on the ground with his fastball and slider and is hard to elevate against. He allowed only three home runs in 59.1 innings in 2022. Kuhn pitches exclusively from the stretch and frequently spins out of his effortful delivery, leading to balls sailing to his armside. He has below-average control and will need to tighten the direction in his delivery. Kuhn is a tough competitor who rarely backs down and is capable of pitching either one or two-inning stints.
  
  The Future: Kuhn has a chance to settle in as a low to mid leverage reliever in the Mariners bullpen. He'll move to Triple-A Tacoma in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Slider: 60. Control: 40
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 40/High
  
  Midseason Update: A 19th-round pick out of San Diego in 2019, Kuhn has emerged as one of the best relief prospects in the organization at Double-A. The hard-throwing righthander&#39s fastball is sitting 96-97 mph and his slider has been a wipeout pitch, leading to 42 strikeouts in his first 35 innings.
• December, 2018 Scouting Report
  Kuhn emerged as San Diego's go-to reliever this year and opened eyes with a four inning, 10-strikeout relief appearance against Indiana on March 10. Kuhn has a high-tempo delivery befitting a power reliever. His fastball reaches 94 mph and his slider shows average, giving him the arsenal to project in the role. Kuhn is a good athlete but has well below-average command due to the high pace of his delivery. He went 3-3, 3.54 with 64 strikeouts and 29 walks in 48.1 innings. Evaluators hope he can be smoothed out and that his strikes will improve in pro ball. Kuhn is a redshirt sophomore with the option to return to school.