- Full name Evan Johnson Sperling
- Born 02/12/1997 in Santa Maria, CA
- Profile Ht.: 6'6" / Wt.: 225 / Bats: R / Throws: R
- School Virginia
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A 6-foot-5, 215-pound righthander, Sperling had a strong start to the season in Virginia's starting rotation, with 40 strikeouts to 12 walks through his first five starts and 26.2 innings. That stretch was highlighted by a 12-strikeout game at Duke on March 10. Sperling missed all of April and part of May with a strained forearm and a banged up knee before returning to the mound in relief capacity on May 15. Sperling relies on funk and deception more than overpowering stuff, with below-average fastball that sits in the 85-90 mph range, but he's been up to 92-93 at times. His changeup is ahead of his breaking ball presently, so he'll need to improve that offering to survive in pro ball. -
Throwing from a low three-quarters arm slot, Sperling attacks hitters with an intriguing arsenal. His fastball can reach 94 mph at times, and he sits comfortable in the 88-91 range. He has some feel for spinning a breaking ball, and throws his curveball in the low-to-mid 70s. Some scouts see Sperling eventually developing a slider, as he tends to struggle to stay on top of his curveball from his arm slot. Sperling has shown some feel for a low-80s changeup, though the pitch is far from being an essential part of his arsenal. The key for Sperling going forward will be harnessing both command and control of his stuff. Scouts can dream on his projectable 6-foot-6 frame, though his control is cause for concern. Sperling walked over six batters per nine innings this spring. His ceiling is high, and he could develop into a very solid arm, but it may take some time. Sperling is committed to Virginia, and scouts perceive him as a tough sign.