Connor Seabold

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Boston Red Sox #21 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: The Red Sox acquired Seabold and Nick Pivetta from the Phillies in August 2020 in exchange for relievers Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree, an imbalanced trade that could become more lopsided if Seabold emerges as a big league contributor. Though slowed by elbow inflammation to start the year, Seabold—true to the form he’d shown in the Phillies system—displayed a good feel for a four-pitch mix while going 4-3 with a 3.50 ERA, 22.9% strikeout rate and 8.4% walk rate in 54 Triple-A innings. He also made his big league debut (a three-inning start) in September.
  
  Scouting Report: At his best, Seabold features a low-90s fastball that tops out in the mid 90s, but his velocity fluctuated (perhaps a reflection of his elbow issue), as he sometimes pitched closer to 88-91 mph. His changeup has swing-and-miss action though when his velocity is down, it becomes easier to spoil or put in play. Seabold also throws a slider and added a curveball to his mix in 2021. While the changeup shows potential as an above-average offering, his strongest attributes are his feel for sequencing and the ability to command his pitches in the zone. Durability and health are concerns for the slight righthander, who has thrown just over 150 professional innings since the start of 2019.
  
  The Future: Seabold represents big league-ready, optionable depth for the Red Sox entering the 2022 season, with a chance to emerge at some point as a back-of-the-rotation option if healthy.
  
• 
  Ranked Boston Red Sox #11 prospect in 2021
  TRACK RECORD: Seabold came to the Red Sox from the Phillies as a pitcher with a solid three-pitch mix. After Seabold finished 2018 in Double-A, an oblique injury at the start of 2019 limited him to 56.1 innings and prevented him from advancing. Nonetheless, he looked like a potential big league starter at Reading and then in the Arizona Fall League, where he recorded a 1.06 ERA with 22 strikeouts and three walks in 17 innings. That led Boston to target him in an August 2020 trade as part of the return for relievers Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Seabold's three-pitch mix includes a 90-93 mph fastball that sometimes ticks up slightly higher, an excellent changeup with sink and fade and a below-average slider that plays up because of command and deception. Toward the end of his month at the alternate training site, Seabold started to incorporate a fringy curveball. Though Seabold's stuff lacks a wow factor, his feel for pitching, sequencing, strike-throwing and competitiveness gives him a strong chance to emerge as a back-end starter.
  
  THE FUTURE: Seabold will likely open 2021 in Triple-A. He has a chance to serve as a big league depth starter during the year.
• 
  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #30 prospect in 2020
  TRACK RECORD: Cal State Fullerton produces crafty pitchers with impeccable control year after year. Seabold fits the same mold as Dylan Floro and teammate Thomas Eshelman as a pitcher who succeeds with control more than velocity. An oblique injury cost Seabold time early in the season, but he made up for it with a strong four outings in the Arizona Fall League.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Seabold has added a little velocity since college, turning a fringy fastball into an 89-93 mph average pitch. His plus control helps it play up as he does a good job of avoiding hitter's happy zones. Seabold also has improved his above-average changeup–it has drop at the plate to generate poor swings and some whiffs. His fringe-average slider needs to improve as it lacks depth and bite.
  
  THE FUTURE: Seabold is a polished righthander whose control and guile make him a potentially useful MLB starter, but his lack of stuff keeps him from being more than a back-end starter. He heads to Triple-A ready to help if the Phillies need a fill-in start.
• 
  Ranked Philadelphia Phillies #25 prospect in 2019
  Track Record: Seabold was a three-year starter at Fullerton, where he dissected hitters with pinpoint command. Signed for $525,000 as a third-round pick in 2017, Seabold moved through two levels in his first full season, reaching Double-A Reading at the end of June.
  
  Scouting Report: As a junior at Fullerton, Seabold mostly sat 87-88 mph and touched 92 mph. He was up a bit from there in 2018, getting as high as 94, with excellent ability to locate his fastball. His control is a potential 70 on the 20-80 scale. There might not be any more velocity coming for Seabold, so getting more out of his offspeed stuff will be key for him. He doesn't have a true out pitch right now, though his changeup is an average offering and his most advanced secondary weapon. His slurvy curveball is a fringe-average pitch.
  
  The Future: Seabold could have enough in his arsenal to become a back-end starter, though there's risk his stuff might top out beneath that level. If he pitches well in 2019, he's a candidate to make his major league debut by the end of the year, though 2020 seems more likely.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #186 prospect in 2017 draft
  Seabold is the latest in the long line of command-oriented Fullerton righthanders with decorated track records that includes the likes of Dylan Floro and Noe Ramirez. Drafted by the Orioles in the 19th round out of high school, the 6-foot-3, 190-pound Seabold started all three years for the Titans and was their ace as a junior. Seabold's fastball sits 87-88 mph and touches 92. His curveball is fringe-average and he shows feel for an average changeup. Where the 6-foot-2, 185-pound Seabold stands out is his control, which drew an 80 on the 20-to-80 scouting scale from one evaluator and ranks among the best in his draft class. Seabold's poise and control make him a safe bet to reach the majors in the eyes of some evaluators, although many question how effective he will be there with his modest raw stuff. An accomplished collegian with a three-pitch mix and command, Seabold projects to go around the fifth round.

• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 40/Medium
  
  Track Record: The Red Sox acquired Seabold and Nick Pivetta from the Phillies in August 2020 in exchange for relievers Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree, an imbalanced trade that could become more lopsided if Seabold emerges as a big league contributor. Though slowed by elbow inflammation to start the year, Seabold—true to the form he&#39d shown in the Phillies system—displayed a good feel for a four-pitch mix while going 4-3 with a 3.50 ERA, 22.9% strikeout rate and 8.4% walk rate in 54 Triple-A innings. He also made his big league debut (a three-inning start) in September.
  
  Scouting Report: At his best, Seabold features a low-90s fastball that tops out in the mid 90s, but his velocity fluctuated (perhaps a reflection of his elbow issue), as he sometimes pitched closer to 88-91 mph. His changeup has swing-and-miss action though when his velocity is down, it becomes easier to spoil or put in play. Seabold also throws a slider and added a curveball to his mix in 2021. While the changeup shows potential as an above-average offering, his strongest attributes are his feel for sequencing and the ability to command his pitches in the zone. Durability and health are concerns for the slight righthander, who has thrown just over 150 professional innings since the start of 2019.
  
  The Future: Seabold represents big league-ready, optionable depth for the Red Sox entering the 2022 season, with a chance to emerge at some point as a back-of-the-rotation option if healthy.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: The Red Sox acquired Seabold and Nick Pivetta from the Phillies in August 2020 in exchange for relievers Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree, an imbalanced trade that could become more lopsided if Seabold emerges as a big league contributor. Though slowed by elbow inflammation to start the year, Seabold—true to the form he’d shown in the Phillies system—displayed a good feel for a four-pitch mix while going 4-3 with a 3.50 ERA, 22.9% strikeout rate and 8.4% walk rate in 54 Triple-A innings. He also made his big league debut (a three-inning start) in September.
  
  Scouting Report: At his best, Seabold features a low-90s fastball that tops out in the mid 90s, but his velocity fluctuated (perhaps a reflection of his elbow issue), as he sometimes pitched closer to 88-91 mph. His changeup has swing-and-miss action though when his velocity is down, it becomes easier to spoil or put in play. Seabold also throws a slider and added a curveball to his mix in 2021. While the changeup shows potential as an above-average offering, his strongest attributes are his feel for sequencing and the ability to command his pitches in the zone. Durability and health are concerns for the slight righthander, who has thrown just over 150 professional innings since the start of 2019.
  
  The Future: Seabold represents big league-ready, optionable depth for the Red Sox entering the 2022 season, with a chance to emerge at some point as a back-of-the-rotation option if healthy.
  
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Seabold came to the Red Sox from the Phillies as a pitcher with a solid three-pitch mix. After Seabold finished 2018 in Double-A, an oblique injury at the start of 2019 limited him to 56.1 innings and prevented him from advancing. Nonetheless, he looked like a potential big league starter at Reading and then in the Arizona Fall League, where he recorded a 1.06 ERA with 22 strikeouts and three walks in 17 innings. That led Boston to target him in an August 2020 trade as part of the return for relievers Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Seabold's three-pitch mix includes a 90-93 mph fastball that sometimes ticks up slightly higher, an excellent changeup with sink and fade and a below-average slider that plays up because of command and deception. Toward the end of his month at the alternate training site, Seabold started to incorporate a fringy curveball. Though Seabold's stuff lacks a wow factor, his feel for pitching, sequencing, strike-throwing and competitiveness gives him a strong chance to emerge as a back-end starter.
  
  THE FUTURE: Seabold will likely open 2021 in Triple-A. He has a chance to serve as a big league depth starter during the year.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Seabold came to the Red Sox from the Phillies as a pitcher with a solid three-pitch mix. After Seabold finished 2018 in Double-A, an oblique injury at the start of 2019 limited him to 56.1 innings and prevented him from advancing. Nonetheless, he looked like a potential big league starter at Reading and then in the Arizona Fall League, where he recorded a 1.06 ERA with 22 strikeouts and three walks in 17 innings. That led Boston to target him in an August 2020 trade as part of the return for relievers Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Seabold's three-pitch mix includes a 90-93 mph fastball that sometimes ticks up slightly higher, an excellent changeup with sink and fade and a below-average slider that plays up because of command and deception. Toward the end of his month at the alternate training site, Seabold started to incorporate a fringy curveball. Though Seabold's stuff lacks a wow factor, his feel for pitching, sequencing, strike-throwing and competitiveness gives him a strong chance to emerge as a back-end starter.
  
  THE FUTURE: Seabold will likely open 2021 in Triple-A. He has a chance to serve as a big league depth starter during the year.
• December, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Seabold came to the Red Sox from the Phillies as a pitcher with a solid three-pitch mix. After Seabold finished 2018 in Double-A, an oblique injury at the start of 2019 limited him to 56.1 innings and prevented him from advancing. Nonetheless, he looked like a potential big league starter at Reading and then in the Arizona Fall League, where he recorded a 1.06 ERA with 22 strikeouts and three walks in 17 innings. That led Boston to target him in an August 2020 trade as part of the return for relievers Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Seabold's three-pitch mix includes a 90-93 mph fastball that sometimes ticks up slightly higher, an excellent changeup with sink and fade and a below-average slider that plays up because of command and deception. Toward the end of his month at the alternate training site, Seabold started to incorporate a fringy curveball. Though Seabold's stuff lacks a wow factor, his feel for pitching, sequencing, strike-throwing and competitiveness gives him a strong chance to emerge as a back-end starter.
  
  THE FUTURE: Seabold will likely open 2021 in Triple-A. He has a chance to serve as a big league depth starter during the year.
• February, 2020 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Cal State Fullerton produces crafty pitchers with impeccable control year after year. Seabold fits the same mold as Dylan Floro and teammate Thomas Eshelman as a pitcher who succeeds with control more than velocity. An oblique injury cost Seabold time early in the season, but he made up for it with a strong four outings in the Arizona Fall League.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Seabold has added a little velocity since college, turning a fringy fastball into an 89-93 mph average pitch. His plus control helps it play up as he does a good job of avoiding hitter's happy zones. Seabold also has improved his above-average changeup–it has drop at the plate to generate poor swings and some whiffs. His fringe-average slider needs to improve as it lacks depth and bite.
  
  THE FUTURE: Seabold is a polished righthander whose control and guile make him a potentially useful MLB starter, but his lack of stuff keeps him from being more than a back-end starter. He heads to Triple-A ready to help if the Phillies need a fill-in start.