JP Sears

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked New York Yankees #26 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: The Mariners popped Sears in the 11th round in 2017, then shipped him to New York with righty Juan Then in exchange for reliever Nick Rumbelow. Sears broke out in 2021 and finished No. 3 in strikeouts (136) and strikeout percentage (32.8) in the system.
  
  Scouting Report: Sears works with a three-pitch arsenal of a low-90s fastball, mid-80s changeup and a low-80s slider. His fastball shows well in plenty of analytical characteristics, including horizontal break and vertical approach angle—and was the most effective pitches in his mix despite average velocity and spin rates. Sears’ slider—which has been recently introduced into his mix—is the more effective of the two offspeed pitches, garnering a swing-and-miss rate of nearly 46%. His changeup is a clear third pitch, and scouts believe it could have a ceiling as an average offering. He showed excellent control in 2021, with just 2.7 walks per nine innings and a strikeout-to-walk rate of roughly 4.7 over 106 innings.
  
  The Future: Like fellow breakout reliever Ron Marinaccio, Sears was added to the 40-man roster in November to keep him out of the Rule 5 Draft. He has a future as a multi-inning reliever.
  

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #289 prospect in 2017 draft
  Analytics will push Sears up higher than he might been drafted 10-15 years ago. He's a 5-foot-11, 178-pounder lefty with deception in his delivery who delivers an 87-90 mph fastball and a sharp slider in the upper 70s, and he also throws a changeup for strikes. The slider and changeup are average at best as pro pitches, but he pitches off his fastball, elevating and locating it well and showing the ability to pitch inside. The combination allowed Sears to lead the nation with 142 strikeouts, including 13.4 strikeouts per nine innings, third-best in Division I. He's proved durable in his college career as well.

• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 40/Medium
  
  August Update: Sears was the third piece in the Frankie Montas/Lou Trivino trade.
  
  Track Record: The Mariners popped Sears in the 11th round in 2017, then shipped him to New York with righty Juan Then in exchange for reliever Nick Rumbelow. Sears broke out in 2021 and finished No. 3 in strikeouts (136) and strikeout percentage (32.8) in the system.
  
  Scouting Report: Sears works with a three-pitch arsenal of a low-90s fastball, mid-80s changeup and a low-80s slider. His fastball shows well in plenty of analytical characteristics, including horizontal break and vertical approach angle—and was the most effective pitches in his mix despite average velocity and spin rates. Sears&#39 slider—which has been recently introduced into his mix—is the more effective of the two offspeed pitches, garnering a swing-and-miss rate of nearly 46%. His changeup is a clear third pitch, and scouts believe it could have a ceiling as an average offering. He showed excellent control in 2021, with just 2.7 walks per nine innings and a strikeout-to-walk rate of roughly 4.7 over 106 innings.
  
  The Future: Like fellow breakout reliever Ron Marinaccio, Sears was added to the 40-man roster in November to keep him out of the Rule 5 Draft. He has a future as a multi-inning reliever.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: The Mariners popped Sears in the 11th round in 2017, then shipped him to New York with righty Juan Then in exchange for reliever Nick Rumbelow. Sears broke out in 2021 and finished No. 3 in strikeouts (136) and strikeout percentage (32.8) in the system.
  
  Scouting Report: Sears works with a three-pitch arsenal of a low-90s fastball, mid-80s changeup and a low-80s slider. His fastball shows well in plenty of analytical characteristics, including horizontal break and vertical approach angle—and was the most effective pitches in his mix despite average velocity and spin rates. Sears’ slider—which has been recently introduced into his mix—is the more effective of the two offspeed pitches, garnering a swing-and-miss rate of nearly 46%. His changeup is a clear third pitch, and scouts believe it could have a ceiling as an average offering. He showed excellent control in 2021, with just 2.7 walks per nine innings and a strikeout-to-walk rate of roughly 4.7 over 106 innings.
  
  The Future: Like fellow breakout reliever Ron Marinaccio, Sears was added to the 40-man roster in November to keep him out of the Rule 5 Draft. He has a future as a multi-inning reliever.