Thatcher Hurd Stats & Scouting Report

Full name Thatcher Hurd
Born 12/09/2002 in Berkeley, CA
Profile Ht.: 6'4" / Wt.: 200 / Bats: R / Throws: R
School UCLA
Drafted in the 3rd round (89th overall) by the New York Yankees in 2024 (signed for $836,400).

View Draft Report

School: LSU
Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.6
BA Grade: 50/Extreme
Tools: Fastball: 55. Slider: 60. Curveball: 55. Control: 45.

Hurd was a high-profile pitching prospect out of high school, but made it to campus at UCLA where he had a standout 2022 freshman season with a 1.06 ERA over 34 innings with 48 strikeouts. Hurd then entered the transfer portal and moved to LSU, where he showed flashes of brilliance, but also struggled with consistency, command and ultimately lost his 2024 starter job and was moved to the bullpen. In 2024 Hurd posted a 6.55 ERA over 44 innings, including nine starts and nine relief appearances, with a 16.2% strikeout rate and 11.2% walk rate. Hurd looks the part with a great pitcher’s frame at 6-foot-4, 230 pounds and a relatively clean and easy delivery. He averages 94-95 mph with his fastball and has pushed the pitch up to 97-98 and has a pair of high-spin breaking balls. The slider is his best offering, a mid-80s sweeping breaking ball that features impressive movement and power and has real plus potential. The curveball is about five mph slower at around 80 and features tons of depth and 12-to-6 shape and could give him a second above-average breaking ball with spin rates that push 3,000 rpm. Because of his pure stuff and athleticism many scouts think Hurd will be a better pro pitcher than college pitcher, but he’ll need to refine his command and figure out how to avoid the pileup innings that plagued him in Baton Rouge.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme

Adjusted Grade: 35

Track Record: As an amateur, Hurd spurned pro ball and instead honored his commitment to UCLA. He spent a solid freshman season with the Bruins before hitting the transfer portal and landing with Louisiana State for his next two years. In Baton Rouge, Hurd struggled with control and command but was also the winning pitcher in the final game of the Tigers’ College World Series championship in 2023. Hurd was the first of two LSU products New York drafted in 2024, joining since-traded lefty Griffin Herring. The Yankees selected Hurd in the third round in 2024, but his pro debut stalled before it got started when he had Tommy John surgery in April 2025.

Scouting Report: At his best, Hurd has a mix of three pitches that each grade as potentially above-average or plus. The signature of his repertoire is a powerful sweeper slider in the mid 80s. Its velocity and analytical characteristics gave it a chance to become a true 60-grade weapon on the 20-80 scouting scale. The righthander sandwiches his slider with a mid-90s fastball that has reached 99 mph and a downer curveball in the low 80s. The combination of the three pitches gives Hurd weapons he can use to attack all parts of the strike zone against both lefthanders and righthanders. The next step, once he’s healthy again, will be to improve shaky control that saw him rack up a walk rate of 11.2% of hitters in his last year with LSU.

The Future: Hurd’s recovery from Tommy John surgery will likely delay his 2026 debut past minor league Opening Day. Once healthy, he has the pedigree to spend most of the year at High-A with a chance to reach the upper levels by season’s end, in much the same way 2024 first-rounder Ben Hess did in 2025. He fits the mold of a back-end starter with upside if he improves his control.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 60 | Control: 45.
BA Grade/Risk: 50/Extreme.

Track Record: Hurd was a highly decorated prep player but made it to campus at UCLA and was excellent in a freshman season that included a 1.06 ERA and 46 strikeouts. He transferred to LSU for his sophomore and junior seasons but struggled enough with control and command to warrant a demotion to the bullpen. The Yankees drafted him in the third round and signed him for $836,400. He did not pitch after signing.

Scouting Report: Hurd is a big, physical pitcher with a free and easy delivery and powerful stuff. He works with three pitches—all of which grade as potentially above-average or better. His fastball sits around 94-95 mph and can get all the way up to 99 mph when he reaches back for a little more. Hurd backs the fastball with a pair of high-spin breaking balls. His slider is the better of the two breakers. It’s a sweepy offering in the mid 80s with powerful break. All of its traits allow it the chance to be a true plus pitch. His curveball averages around 80 mph and features huge, deep-breaking action with top-down shape. All together, Hurd’s size, stuff and athleticism give him a very high ceiling. Now, he’ll need to throw more strikes. His final season in Baton Rouge saw him walk 11.2% of hitters.

The Future: Hurd has the frame and stuff of a prototype power pitcher. If he can throw a few more strikes, he’ll leap up the rankings and fit nicely in a big league rotation.

Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 60 | Control: 45.

Draft Prospects

School: LSU Commit/Drafted: Never Drafted
Age At Draft: 21.6
BA Grade: 50/Extreme
Tools: Fastball: 55. Slider: 60. Curveball: 55. Control: 45.

Hurd was a high-profile pitching prospect out of high school, but made it to campus at UCLA where he had a standout 2022 freshman season with a 1.06 ERA over 34 innings with 48 strikeouts. Hurd then entered the transfer portal and moved to LSU, where he showed flashes of brilliance, but also struggled with consistency, command and ultimately lost his 2024 starter job and was moved to the bullpen. In 2024 Hurd posted a 6.55 ERA over 44 innings, including nine starts and nine relief appearances, with a 16.2% strikeout rate and 11.2% walk rate. Hurd looks the part with a great pitcher’s frame at 6-foot-4, 230 pounds and a relatively clean and easy delivery. He averages 94-95 mph with his fastball and has pushed the pitch up to 97-98 and has a pair of high-spin breaking balls. The slider is his best offering, a mid-80s sweeping breaking ball that features impressive movement and power and has real plus potential. The curveball is about five mph slower at around 80 and features tons of depth and 12-to-6 shape and could give him a second above-average breaking ball with spin rates that push 3,000 rpm. Because of his pure stuff and athleticism many scouts think Hurd will be a better pro pitcher than college pitcher, but he’ll need to refine his command and figure out how to avoid the pileup innings that plagued him in Baton Rouge.