- Full name David Shields
- Born 09/09/2006 in
- Profile Ht.: 6'2" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: B / Throws: L
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Drafted in the 2nd round (41st overall) by the Kansas City Royals in 2024 (signed for $2,300,000).
View Draft Report
School: Mt. Lebanon HS, Pittsburgh
Commit/Drafted: Miami
Age At Draft: 17.9
BA Grade: 50/Extreme
Tools: Fastball: 55. Slider: 55. Curveball: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 55.
Shields is a 6-foot-2, 210-pound lefthander and one of the youngest players in the draft after reclassifying from the 2025 class to this year. He’ll be 17 on draft day and also has a background as a multi-sport athlete and talented high school quarterback. That athleticism and youth combine with his loose arm action to prompt scouts to dream of his future projection and upside potential. He mostly pitches in the 89-92 mph range and touches 93, though scouts expect him to take a step forward with his velocity soon. He throws multiple breaking pitches that blended between a slider and curveball at times in the 2023 summer, though scouts saw more distinct sliders and curveballs this spring. Shields has also shown the ability to throw a mid-80s changeup which he delivers with fastball arm speed and solid strikes. While Shields might not have a true plus pitch currently, he consistently fills up the zone with strikes and should have above-average control moving forward. He’s a great mover on the mound who repeats his delivery well and finishes in a balanced position with a steady head and very little recoil or effort. Shields is committed to Miami, but has been scouted enough this spring that a top-three rounds selection would be unsurprising.
Top Rankings
Organization Prospect Rankings
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BA Grade/Risk: 55/Extreme.
Track Record: Pittsburgh area high school lefthander Shields reclassified to skip his senior year and was still just 17 on draft day in 2024. Taken in the second round, Shields signed with the Royals for a $2.3 million dollar bonus. Based on his performance in instructional league games in Arizona, it looks like he and the Royals made the right decisions. The multi-sport athlete and high school quarterback passed on his commitment to Miami. Shields made his unofficial pro debut before his 18th birthday in the backfield games and threw progressively better in each of his five starts.
Scouting Report: Shields’ fastball sits 92-95 mph with clean and easy operation and an angle that creates deception. He complements it with a slider and a curveball, both future above-average pitches. They blend together now, with his curveball at 78 mph and slider at 82. Shields will need to get more separation between the two pitches. Like most high school pitchers, he seldom used a changeup but is already showing the potential to develop an average version of the pitch. He already has feel for the pitch, which he throws at 87-88 mph and delivers enough arm speed to create sink and deception. While Shields might not have a true plus pitch at present, he consistently fills up the zone with strikes and should have above-average control moving forward. He’s a great mover on the mound who repeats his three-quarters arm slot and finishes in a balanced position with a steady head and very little recoil or effort.
The Future: The Royals will be careful to manage Shields’ innings in his first pro year in 2025, but whether they send him to Low-A Columbia to start the season or hold him back in extended spring training is to be determined. He has the upside of a midrotation starter.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Curveball: 55 CH: 50 | Control: 55.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Curveball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 50 | Control: 55.
Draft Prospects
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School: Mt. Lebanon HS, Pittsburgh Commit/Drafted: Miami
Age At Draft: 17.9
BA Grade: 50/Extreme
Tools: Fastball: 55. Slider: 55. Curveball: 55. Changeup: 50. Control: 55.
Shields is a 6-foot-2, 210-pound lefthander and one of the youngest players in the draft after reclassifying from the 2025 class to this year. He’ll be 17 on draft day and also has a background as a multi-sport athlete and talented high school quarterback. That athleticism and youth combine with his loose arm action to prompt scouts to dream of his future projection and upside potential. He mostly pitches in the 89-92 mph range and touches 93, though scouts expect him to take a step forward with his velocity soon. He throws multiple breaking pitches that blended between a slider and curveball at times in the 2023 summer, though scouts saw more distinct sliders and curveballs this spring. Shields has also shown the ability to throw a mid-80s changeup which he delivers with fastball arm speed and solid strikes. While Shields might not have a true plus pitch currently, he consistently fills up the zone with strikes and should have above-average control moving forward. He’s a great mover on the mound who repeats his delivery well and finishes in a balanced position with a steady head and very little recoil or effort. Shields is committed to Miami, but has been scouted enough this spring that a top-three rounds selection would be unsurprising.
Top 100 Rankings
Scouting Reports
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School: Mt. Lebanon HS, Pittsburgh Committed: Miami
Age At Draft: 17.9
Shields is one of the youngest pitchers in the 2024 class and was originally a member of the 2025 class before reclassifying. He’ll be 17 on draft day and features a loose arm from a low three-quarters slot and has a solid pitcher’s frame at 6-foot-2, 210 pounds. Shields pitches in the 89-92 mph range in short stints and mixes in a 78-82 mph breaking ball that has slurve-like shape and average potential, in addition to a low-80s changeup that has typical fading life and is thrown with fastball arm speed. Shields needs to add more power in the future, but has a starter look thanks to his easy operation, advanced strike-throwing ability and solid three-pitch mix. He is committed to Miami.
