Michael McAvene

McAvene had Tommy John surgery as a freshman at Louisville, which cut his season short after just 17 innings. He pitched just 10 innings as a sophomore in 2018, and while he struck out more than 13 batters per nine, he struggled with control (6.1 walks per nine) and posted a 5.23 ERA. He has rebounded nicely, however, posting a 1.98 ERA with 39 strikeouts over his first 27 innings this spring. McAvene shows good arm speed and has been up to 97 mph with his fastball, sitting mostly in the 92-95 mph range out of the bullpen. He has shown an above-average slider and a curveball that grades as a fringe-average offering. After struggling to control the ball pre- and post-injury as a freshman and sophomore, McAvene walked just seven batters through his first 27 innings this spring. His profile stands out as a potential reliever with a solid fastball-breaking ball combo, and while it’s unlikely, some scouts think he has an outside shot to start at the next level.