Tyson Neighbors Stats & Scouting Report

IP	22.2
ERA	1.19
WHIP	0.930
BB/9	3.2
SO/9	15.5

Full name Tyson Neighbors
Born 10/09/2002 in Sulphur Springs, TX
Profile Ht.: 6'1" / Wt.: 220 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School Kansas State
Drafted in the 4th round (118th overall) by the San Diego Padres in 2024 (signed for $600,000).

View Draft Report

School: Kansas State
Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.8
BA Grade: 45/High
Tools: Fastball: 60. Slider: 60. Curveball: 44. Control: 45.

Neighbors is a 6-foot-2, 220-pound righthander who has been one of the best relievers in college baseball over the last three seasons. His 2023 campaign was an exercise in dominance when he posted a 1.85 ERA over 48.2 innings and 25 appearances with a measly .134 opponent average. For his career, Neighbors posted a 3.01 ERA with a 40.2% strikeout rate and 11.4% walk rate. Neighbors’ pitch mix starts and ends with his mid-90s fastball. The pitch averaged 95 mph this spring and has been up to 99 mph and features excellent riding life and high spin rates that make it a swing-and-miss heater at the top of the zone. It’s a definite plus pitch that has averaged more than 20 inches of induced vertical break for multiple seasons. Neighbors also has a mid-80s slider and low-80s curveball that also boast lots of spin, though Neighbors went more frequently to the curveball in 2024 after prioritizing the slider in 2023. The slider is a hard breaking ball that blends into a cutter at its top-end velocities. The curveball is a snappy hammer of a pitch that dives down and out of the zone when he keeps it low. He’s a fringy strike-thrower and clear reliever in pro ball.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 45/High.

Track Record: Neighbors was one of the best relievers in college baseball and earned second-team All-American honors in 2023. The Kansas State righty didn’t quite recapture that form in 2024, missing four weeks with injury, but still managed a 3.96 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 38.2 innings. He was one of the first relievers off the board when the Padres drafted him in the fourth round. He made his pro debut with Low-A Lake Elsinore.

Scouting Report: Neighbors has a physical build at 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds with a strong lower half. He works exclusively out of the stretch and has an explosive, high-effort delivery in which he attacks from a near over-the-top slot with plenty of arm speed. Neighbors’ fastball sits in the mid-to-upper 90s and jumps out of his hand with big-time carrying life through the zone. It averaged an impressive 21.9 inches of ride last spring and is at its best when located at the top of the zone. Neighbors also has a feel to spin the baseball. His low-80s curveball is a high-spin hammer that flashes big-time depth and sharp, downward teeth. He rounds out his arsenal with a mid-80s power slider that will flash sharp two-plane tilt. At times, it looks more like a cutter. Neighbors is a fringy strike-thrower.

The Future: Neighbors’ pure stuff rivals any arm in the Padres system. He’s a no-doubt reliever who could move quickly, and a 2025 big league debut by the end of the season is not out of the question.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60 | Curveball: 60 | Slider: 60 | Control: 45.

Draft Prospects

School: Kansas State Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.8
BA Grade: 45/High
Tools: Fastball: 60. Slider: 60. Curveball: 44. Control: 45.

Neighbors is a 6-foot-2, 220-pound righthander who has been one of the best relievers in college baseball over the last three seasons. His 2023 campaign was an exercise in dominance when he posted a 1.85 ERA over 48.2 innings and 25 appearances with a measly .134 opponent average. For his career, Neighbors posted a 3.01 ERA with a 40.2% strikeout rate and 11.4% walk rate. Neighbors’ pitch mix starts and ends with his mid-90s fastball. The pitch averaged 95 mph this spring and has been up to 99 mph and features excellent riding life and high spin rates that make it a swing-and-miss heater at the top of the zone. It’s a definite plus pitch that has averaged more than 20 inches of induced vertical break for multiple seasons. Neighbors also has a mid-80s slider and low-80s curveball that also boast lots of spin, though Neighbors went more frequently to the curveball in 2024 after prioritizing the slider in 2023. The slider is a hard breaking ball that blends into a cutter at its top-end velocities. The curveball is a snappy hammer of a pitch that dives down and out of the zone when he keeps it low. He’s a fringy strike-thrower and clear reliever in pro ball.

Career Transactions

Chesapeake Baysox activated RHP Tyson Neighbors.
RHP Tyson Neighbors assigned to Chesapeake Baysox.
Baltimore Orioles traded 1B Ryan O'Hearn, RF Ramón Laureano and cash to San Diego Padres for LHP Boston Bateman, RHP Tyson Neighbors, RHP Tanner Smith, SS Brandon Butterworth, SS Cobb Hightower and 1B Victor Figueroa.
RHP Tyson Neighbors assigned to San Antonio Missions from Fort Wayne TinCaps.
RHP Tyson Neighbors assigned to Fort Wayne TinCaps from Lake Elsinore Storm.
RHP Tyson Neighbors assigned to San Diego Padres.
RHP Tyson Neighbors assigned to Lake Elsinore Storm from ACL Padres.
RHP Tyson Neighbors assigned to ACL Padres.
San Diego Padres signed RHP Tyson Neighbors.