Jake Bird

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #286 prospect in 2018 draft
  A shoulder injury sank Bird's draft hopes last year, but he returned to UCLA as a senior and became the Bruins' top starter. He went 7-4, 1.99 in a team-high 15 starts during the regular season, carrying the load as expected top starters Kyle Molnar, Justin Hooper and Jon Olsen all went down with elbow injuries. Bird is physically well put together at 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, but he doesn't have blow-away stuff. He pitches to contact with a sinking, 89-93 mph fastball and an above-average, mid-80s slider, inducing a lot of ground balls and letting his defense work. His max-effort, high three-quarters delivery creates some deception but also limits his command. Bird projects as a two-pitch reliever at the next level, with a groundball specialist becoming his most likely outcome. His talent is that of a seventh- to 10th-round pick and he is expected to go in that range as a senior sign.
• Ranked #265 prospect in 2017 draft
  Bird began the year as UCLA's Saturday starter but suffered a shoulder impingement after two starts. He missed nearly three weeks and pitched exclusively in relief after returning. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound Bird is a physical rightander with raw arm strength, but his stuff and mechanics draw uninspired reviews from evaluators. His fastball topped out at 92 mph as a junior after previously reaching 94, and an average slider is his only promising secondary offering. Bird's delivery is max-effort, has a lot of up-and-down movement and is widely thought to have resulted in his shoulder injury. He projects strictly as a middle reliever in pro ball. Though his upside is limited, Bird's present stuff and track record of success likely will get him drafted toward the back of the top 10 rounds.
• Ranked #420 prospect in 2014 draft
  Another member of UCLA's banner recruiting class, Bird is an athletic, projectable 6-foot-4, 190-pound righthander with a live arm. His 88-90 fastball has running, sinking life and can bump 92 at times. He also has the makings of a quality 73-74 mph curveball with good depth, but it rates as below-average currently, and he's still learning to command his repertoire. A former basketball player, Bird's delivery needs refinement and so does his command, but his upside is intriguing. He's a very academic-minded student and is regarded as a tough sign away from UCLA.