Justin Armbruester

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #22 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Armbruester was the 2019 Northwest Conference pitcher of the year at Division III Pacific Lutheran and the 2021 Mountain West Conference pitcher of the year at New Mexico. He nearly added that honor to his trophy chest for the Orioles organization in 2022. He followed that up by spending 2023 in the high minors, pitching to contact and missing barrels at Double-A Bowie before a more uneven stint at Triple-A Norfolk, where he ended up behind in counts more and was punished when he returned to the zone.
  
  Scouting Report: Armbruester leaned heavily on his fastball and cutter in 2023--perhaps too much so--but those pitches grade among his best offerings. His low-90s heater works well at the top of the zone due to a deceptive arm action and good plane. His cutter in the 86-88 mph range is Armbruester’s primary weapon to lefties. The pitch has above-average potential, as does his sweepier 81-83 mph slider. Armbruester added a curveball as his fourth pitch as the season progressed and was able to get swinging strikes and ground balls on the offering.
  
  The Future: There’s No. 5 starter potential with Armbruester given his ability to fill up the strike zone and carry his stuff deep into games, but the lack of an elite weapon against lefties may push him to the bullpen. He’ll start 2024 at Triple-A Norfolk with a chance for a major league debut.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 55 | Cutter: 55 | Control: 55
• 
  Ranked Baltimore Orioles #20 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Armbruester has the unique distinction of two different conference pitcher of the year awards on his collegiate resume -- he won that honor in the Northwest Conference for Division III Pacific Lutheran in 2019, then transferred to New Mexico and was the Mountain West's top pitcher in 2021. He began his first full season in High-A Aberdeen and finished at Double-A Bowie, with his success coming from elite zone rates and the ability to miss bats with multiple pitches.
  
  Scouting Report: Most prominent among those is his hoppy low-to-mid 90s fastball that he elevates well at the top of the zone from a deceptive arm slot. He improved the sweep on his low-80s slider to give it plus traits, and added an 88-90 mph cutter during the season as another weapon. The cutter generated his highest swinging strike rate of any pitch during the season, and it showed at least average potential. While he used both pitches effectively to righties and lefties alike, it's more suited for righties at the highest level, and Armbruester's work-in-progress changeup will require improvement to give him a primary weapon against lefties.
  
  The Future: Armbruester's repertoire at present almost assures a major league future as a relief weapon, but his strike-throwing and ability to develop as he climbs the levels leaves a legitimate starter possibility in his future. He'll likely be back at Bowie to begin 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Cutter: 55. Slider: 60. Changeup: 30. Control: 55.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Armbruester has the unique distinction of two different conference pitcher of the year awards on his collegiate resume -- he won that honor in the Northwest Conference for Division III Pacific Lutheran in 2019, then transferred to New Mexico and was the Mountain West's top pitcher in 2021. He began his first full season in High-A Aberdeen and finished at Double-A Bowie, with his success coming from elite zone rates and the ability to miss bats with multiple pitches.
  
  Scouting Report: Most prominent among those is his hoppy low-to-mid 90s fastball that he elevates well at the top of the zone from a deceptive arm slot. He improved the sweep on his low-80s slider to give it plus traits, and added an 88-90 mph cutter during the season as another weapon. The cutter generated his highest swinging strike rate of any pitch during the season, and it showed at least average potential. While he used both pitches effectively to righties and lefties alike, it's more suited for righties at the highest level, and Armbruester's work-in-progress changeup will require improvement to give him a primary weapon against lefties.
  
  The Future: Armbruester's repertoire at present almost assures a major league future as a relief weapon, but his strike-throwing and ability to develop as he climbs the levels leaves a legitimate starter possibility in his future. He'll likely be back at Bowie to begin 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Cutter: 55. Slider: 60. Changeup: 30. Control: 55.
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Armbruester has the unique distinction of two different conference pitcher of the year awards on his collegiate resume -- he won that honor in the Northwest Conference for Division III Pacific Lutheran in 2019, then transferred to New Mexico and was the Mountain West's top pitcher in 2021. He began his first full season in High-A Aberdeen and finished at Double-A Bowie, with his success coming from elite zone rates and the ability to miss bats with multiple pitches.
  
  Scouting Report: Most prominent among those is his hoppy low-to-mid 90s fastball that he elevates well at the top of the zone from a deceptive arm slot. He improved the sweep on his low-80s slider to give it plus traits, and added an 88-90 mph cutter during the season as another weapon. The cutter generated his highest swinging strike rate of any pitch during the season, and it showed at least average potential. While he used both pitches effectively to righties and lefties alike, it's more suited for righties at the highest level, and Armbruester's work-in-progress changeup will require improvement to give him a primary weapon against lefties.
  
  The Future: Armbruester's repertoire at present almost assures a major league future as a relief weapon, but his strike-throwing and ability to develop as he climbs the levels leaves a legitimate starter possibility in his future. He'll likely be back at Bowie to begin 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Cutter: 55. Slider: 60. Changeup: 30. Control: 55.