Kieran Lovegrove

Lovegrove has flashed outstanding stuff over the last two years, but the quality of his stuff can vary from outing to outing, or even from inning to inning. He was electric last summer, tired in the fall, then got off to a good start to the spring. He labored early in a May outing, working in the 86-91 mph range, then ran his heater up to 92-94 mph and flashed a vicious 86 mph slider in his final inning after his team took the lead. Lovegrove has plenty of projection in his lean 6-foot-4 frame, but durability is a concern for scouts. He often pitches around 90-93 and bumps 94, but he needs to prove he can maintain his velocity in order to be a starter. His slider can be a wipeout pitch in the 83-86 mph range, but it can also get slurvy and softer. He also has the makings of a decent changeup. Lovegrove's funky, complicated delivery and short stride probably contribute to his inconsistency, but if the Arizona State signee can iron out his mechanics and add strength, his upside is significant.