Kyle Zimmer

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Kansas City Royals #30 prospect in 2018
  Zimmer is unquestionably the best pitching prospect in the Royals organization--when he's healthy. The problem is that since being selected as the 5th overall pick in 2012 Zimmer has experienced a litany of injuries (labrum, thoracic outlet syndrome, arm fatigue) that have sapped his arm strength and put his career outlook in a fog as thick as nights in his native San Francisco. Zimmer has pitched 100 innings just once in a season since turning pro and was limited to 36.2 innings in 2017. He worked mostly in a relief role with Triple-A Omaha, mostly to build up his innings. His fastball velocity was down earlier in the season, but later it was back up to 94-97 mph. When right, his fastball has natural sinking action, and he gets good bite and 12-6 movement on a 77 mph curveball that grades as plus. But Zimmer's stuff generally hasn't been the same, and his consistency and ability to bounce back from appearances remains a big question. Expectations for 2018 and beyond are uncertain.
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  Ranked Kansas City Royals #10 prospect in 2017
  At this point, Zimmer seems as much a legend as an actual flesh-and-blood pitcher. He and the Royals hoped a labrum cleanup in 2015 would give him a chance to pitch significant innings in 2016, but he was instead shut down once again. He was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome, a condition that causes numbness and weakness in the shoulder and arm. He had surgery to correct the issue and expects to be ready for spring training. The hope for everyone involved is that the thoracic outlet syndrome explains why Zimmer sometimes felt great with plus stuff and at other times struggled to break 90 mph. Zimmer has not been healthy for a full season at any point since he was the fifth overall pick in 2012, but he can still sit 92-94 mph with a plus fastball that has late life and his curveball that is at least plus. Zimmer has never had trouble generating swings and misses. His slider and changeup have atrophied, but both have been average or better in the past. The successful returns of Dylan Bundy and Jameson Taillon are reminders that pitchers can bounce back from lengthy injury layoffs. If Zimmer is healthy, he still has better stuff than almost anyone in the Royals' system and could pitch in the big leagues in 2017.
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  Ranked Kansas City Royals #2 prospect in 2016
  The older brother of Indians outfield prospect Bradley Zimmer, Kyle Zimmer is a late-bloomer as a pitcher who moved to the mound in college. Since being selected fifth overall in 2012, Zimmer's career has been notable for the injuries. He had hamstring issues and surgery for bone chips in his elbow in 2012, a tight shoulder in 2013 and shoulder problems in 2014 that led to offseason labrum cleanup and a late start to 2015. Zimmer's stuff took a slight step back in 2015, but it's still frontof- the-rotation stuff. He sat 92-94 mph as a starter and could bump up to 96-97 mph. He locates it well both arm-side and glove-side and keeps it down in the zone. His curveball is still a 70 pitch. He showed reduced feel for it this year but it got more consistent as the season progressed. His fringe-average changeup and slider have always been lesser offerings but they took a step back as well in 2015 as he had less need to use them in shorter outings. Both have flashed average in the past. Zimmer hasn't thrown 130 innings in a season, college or pro. If healthy, he should pitch in Kansas City 2016 but he has to prove he can handle the workload.
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  Ranked Kansas City Royals #4 prospect in 2015
  The Royals must be tempted to send Zimmer to the mound covered in bubble wrap. In 2014 he missed time with a biceps injury and followed that with a lat injury that postponed his season debut until Aug. 17. He pitched well in the Triple-A playoffs, made two excellent starts in the Arizona Fall League, then was shut down again with a tight shoulder and a bone bruise. In October, he had exploratory arthroscopic surgery in which doctors performed labrum and rotator-cuff cleanup. Zimmer could be back by May 1, but his timetable has frequently been pushed back in the past. When healthy, Zimmer has shown front-line starter stuff. He has three potentially plus pitches, led by a double-plus 93-97 mph fastball and equally-potent, sharp-breaking curveball. His changeup is at least average as well, and his slider flashes average. Injuries have been the only thing preventing Zimmer from joining the big league team. Doctors haven't been able to find any one underlying issue that ties Zimmer's lengthy list of injuries together, but one of the key attributes of a front-line starter is durability, something he has not achieved. If he can stay healthy, Zimmer is the Royals' most talented pitching prospect.
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  Ranked Kansas City Royals #1 prospect in 2014
  When the University of San Francisco's coaching staff watched Zimmer play third base as a senior at La Jolla (Calif.) High, they noticed his strong arm more than his bat. In fact, his arm impressed them enough that they asked Zimmer to walk on to the club. He moved to the mound as a freshman, joined the Dons rotation as a sophomore and pulled down $3 million as a first-round pick as a junior, going fifth overall to the Royals in the 2012 draft. Zimmer's younger brother Bradley is a junior outfielder for San Francisco, who projects to be a first-round pick in 2014. After a rocky start in 2013--Zimmer logged a 5.98 ERA in 13 first-half starts at high Class A Wilmington--he settled down to dominate over the second half. Shut down right before the season ended with a tight throwing shoulder, he isn't expected to have any long-term problems. Depending on the night, Zimmer can have three above-average pitches, including a fastball that rates near the top of the scale. He sits at 92-96 mph and has touched 100. He'll sometimes start the night throwing 92-94 mph, then steadily add velocity as the game goes along, then add another few ticks on top of that in a key situation. His slider and curveball alternate in effectiveness, with Zimmer often relying more on whichever one he has a better feel for on that night. He's alternated between a conventional and a spike grip on the curveball. Both are above-average at their best, with the slider earning some 70 grades. He showed an improved ability to throw the curve for an early-count strike as the season progressed. Zimmer's changeup is a step behind his breaking pitches. It has some deception because hitters have to gear up for his fastball, but it doesn't have much life. His first-half problems stemmed a bit of bad luck as well as ineffective pitching from the stretch. More than half of all baserunners he allowed scored in his first 14 starts compared to a quarter of baserunners in his final eight starts. A few tweaks to how he broke his hands from the stretch seemed to fix the issue. Even when he was getting knocked out of starts early, scouts pegged Zimmer as one of the best pitching prospects in the minors. He had surgery during the 2012 offseason to remove bone chips in his elbow, so he has some durability questions, but Zimmer has ace potential. He could reach Kansas City at some point in 2014.
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  Ranked Kansas City Royals #1 prospect in 2013
  A high school basketball, water polo and baseball player who originally went to San Francisco as a third baseman, Zimmer pitched only sparingly in high school and just five innings as a freshman. As a sophomore in 2011, he beat UCLA and No. 1 overall pick Gerrit Cole with a shutout in the NCAA regional playoffs, then had a strong summer in the Cape Cod League. Zimmer further established himself as one of the top prospects for the 2012 draft with his first outing as a junior, during which he hit 99 mph and started with 22 consecutive strikes. He overwhelmed scouts with his stuff and his athleticism, which runs in the family. His father Eric pitched at UC San Diego, his mother Cathy ran the hurdles at San Diego State and his younger brother Bradley is a Dons outfielder and a prospect for the 2014 draft. The pressure of the spotlight didn't affect Zimmer, as he posted a 3.90 grade-point average while working toward a degree in business administration. Hamstring woes caused his velocity to fluctuate as the draft approached and a predraft physical detected bone chips in his elbow, but that couldn't stop him from becoming the highest draft pick in San Francisco history. Signed for $3 million, he made nine pro starts before having surgery to remove the bone chips. Post-surgical exams showed a healthy elbow ligament, and Zimmer is expected to be at full speed by spring training. Zimmer is a power pitcher with a nasty mound demeanor to match. He consistently sits at 93-95 mph with his four-seam fastball, reaching the upper 90s on his best nights. His heater also has late life and excellent armside run, generating swings and misses. Hitters have trouble making contact with his hammer curveball as well, and it grades as a 70 pitch on the 20-80 scouting scale at times. He actually has more confidence in his slider, though it's more of an average offering. Zimmer junked a splitter he threw as a freshman and has developed an erratic but promising changeup with late tumble. It needs work because he didn't need to use it much in college, but it shows flashes of becoming a plus pitch. His natural athleticism and strong lower body bode well for his ability to maintain his delivery and his stuff late into games. Because of his athleticism, his command and his feel for his delivery are much more advanced than would be expected for a pitcher with just two years of experience. He pounds the strike zone with all four of his pitches. The former infielder also fields his position with aplomb. Zimmer fits perfectly with the Royals' organizational philosophies on pitching. They favor four-seam fastballs and curveballs, and he doesn't even throw a two-seamer. Kansas City desperately wanted a frontline starter with top-five picks in 2010 and 2011, and it finally got one in Zimmer. He's likely to start his first full pro season at high Class A Wilmington and should pitch his way to Double-A Northwest Arkansas at some point during 2013. The Royals' offseason makeover of their rotation eases some of the pressure to hurry Zimmer to the big leagues, but his potential as a true No. 1 could force the issue before too long. He could arrive at Kauffman Stadium in 2014.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #3 prospect in 2012 draft
  Zimmer was one of the best surprises in this year's draft class. He put his name on the map during last year's regionals by out dueling Gerrit Cole to beat UCLA. He improved his stock over the summer in the Cape Cod League and continued to shine in a year when Northern California was already brimming with talent. The 6-foot-4, 220-pound Zimmer is extremely athletic. Along with baseball, he also played basketball and water polo in high school. His father played baseball at UC San Diego and his mother ran track for San Diego State. Zimmer's little brother, Bradley, is a highly-touted outfielder for the Dons. Kyle was recruited as a position player and only pitched five innings his freshman year before transitioning into the role full-time last year and now he's a candidate to be picked first-overall. Zimmer's fastball typically sits in the 94-96 mph range and gets as high as 99 and his hammer curveball is just as good. His changeup shows flashes, giving him the chance for three future plus pitches and he'll mix in an occasional slider that could be an average offering. Zimmer pounds the strike zone and throws all four pitches for strikes. He has a business-like approach on the mound and pitches with a bit of a mean streak, which scouts love. Zimmer's athleticism also helps him on the mound. He repeats his delivery well and fields his position like an extra infielder.

Minor League Top Prospects

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  Ranked Texas League #15 prospect in 2015
  Zimmer possesses many of the necessities to reach his ceiling: two plus pitches, size and physicality. But he cannot stay healthy. A variety of issues have conspired to thwart Zimmer from fulfilling his potential, including exploratory arthroscopic surgery last fall in which doctors performed labrum and rotator-cuff cleanup on his right shoulder. The Royals protected Zimmer this season, limiting him to a maximum of 84 pitches and placing him in the bullpen to begin the season. He shifted to the rotation in August and his longest outing was six innings. When healthy, Zimmer still touches 97 mph and sits at 93-95 on his best nights, and he pairs that with a sharp-breaking curveball. His changeup is at least average as well, but without overall durability, it's unclear whether Zimmer can start or must relieve full time.
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  Ranked Carolina League #2 prospect in 2013
  One scout dubbed Zimmer the best pitching prospect in baseball and he certainly looked like it before moving up to Double-A in mid-July. His season came to a premature end when the Royals shut him down with shoulder stiffness a month later, but not before he earned raves for a repertoire consisting of four potentially above-average pitches and a strong work ethic. Zimmer?s lively fastball sits in the 93-97 mph range and occasionally reaches triple digits, jumping on hitters when he?s is in sync with his windup. ?His fastball jumps out of his sleeve,? one scout said. CL managers regarded Zimmer?s hard-biting curveball with 12-to-6 action as the league?s best breaking pitch, and his power slider also was difficult for hitters to pick up. He rounds out his repertoire with a split-finger changeup that bottoms out as it crosses the plate. Zimmer still is working on pitching inside to hitters, particularly righthanders, instead of working up in the zone. Even with a strong finish, he ran up a 4.82 ERA in a favorable pitcher?s park, the result of flying open in his delivery and losing his release point for an inning at a time. Zimmer seemed to find his delivery in late June when he reeled off a string of four starts in which he logged a 36-3 K-BB ratio and allowed five runs.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #85 prospect in 2016
• Ranked Baseball America's #75 prospect in 2015
• Ranked Baseball America's #23 prospect in 2014
• Ranked Baseball America's #24 prospect in 2013

• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: At this point, Zimmer seems as much a legend as an actual flesh-and-blood pitcher. He and the Royals hoped a labrum cleanup in 2015 would give him a chance to pitch significant innings in 2016, but he was instead shut down once again. He was diagnosed with thoracic outlet syndrome, a condition that causes numbness and weakness in the shoulder and arm. He had surgery to correct the issue and expects to be ready for spring training. Scouting Report: The hope for everyone involved is that the thoracic outlet syndrome explains why Zimmer sometimes felt great with plus stuff and at other times struggled to break 90 mph. Zimmer has not been healthy for a full season at any point since he was the fifth overall pick in 2012, but he can still sit 92-94 mph with a plus fastball that has late life and his curveball that is at least plus. Zimmer has never had trouble generating swings and misses. His slider and changeup have atrophied, but both have been average or better in the past.
  
  The Future: The successful returns of Dylan Bundy and Jameson Taillon are reminders that pitchers can bounce back from lengthy injury layoffs. If Zimmer is healthy, he still has better stuff than almost anyone in the Royals' system and could pitch in the big leagues in 2017.
• December, 2012 Scouting Report
  Background: Zimmer went to San Francisco as a third baseman, but moved to the mound and developed into a top prospect as a sophomore. He established his credentials by shutting out UCLA and beating No. 1 overall pick Gerrit Cole in a 2011 NCAA regional, setting the stage for going fifth overall in the 2012 draft. A predraft physical revealed bone chips in his elbow, but the Royals still signed him for $3 million. He made nine pro starts before having September surgery to clean out his elbow. Scouting Report: Zimmer consistently sits at 93-95 mph with his four-seam fastball, touching 97-98 at his best. His fastball has enough late life to generate swings and misses, as does his hard-breaking curveball. He actually has more confidence in his slider, though it's more of an average pitch and not as good as his curve. Zimmer has developed an erratic but promising changeup with late tumble. A quality athlete who also played basketball and water polo in high school, he has tremendous command and feel for his delivery for a pitcher with just two years of experience. The Future: The Royals desperately wanted a frontline starter with top-five picks in 2010 and 2011, and they finally got one in Zimmer. He's likely to start the season at high Class A Wilmington, but could pitch his way to Double-A before long.