Anthony Veneziano Stats & Scouting Report

IP	40.7
ERA	3.98
WHIP	1.550
BB/9	3.5
SO/9	8.9

Full name Anthony James Veneziano
Born 09/01/1997 in Hackettstown, NJ
Profile Ht.: 6'5" / Wt.: 205 / Bats: L / Throws: L
School Coastal Carolina
Debut 09/26/2023
Drafted in the 10th round (289th overall) by the Kansas City Royals in 2019 (signed for $122,500).

View Draft Report

A 6-foot-5, 205-pound lefthander, Veneziano has some upside as an arm strength southpaw who throws in the 88-93 mph range and gets a tick higher at his best. He's tall and lanky with a clean arm action and delivery, but he's extremely raw. Veneziano has struggled with his control in the past and will need to improve his strikethrowing, though he took steps in the right direction this spring with a 3.70 BB/9 over 65.2 innings—a career-low for him.

Top Rankings

Organization Prospect Rankings

BA Grade: 45/Medium

Track Record: Veneziano has had an up-and-down pro career since signing with Royals in 2019 as a 10th-round pick from Coastal Carolina. After a down year in 2022 in his first shot at Double-A, he returned to northwest Arkansas and showed drastically better control. His walk rate dropped from 11.7% to 3%, while his strikeout rate ticked up from 22.8% to 28.4%. The improvement earned him a promotion to Triple-A Omaha before getting to the big leagues late in the season for two short relief appearances.

Scouting Report: The keys to Veneziano’s improvement in 2023 were figuring out his body, gaining confidence and challenging hitters more effectively. His fastball has ticked down a few miles per hour in the last two years, but it’s still an effective pitch when sitting 93-94 mph and touching 97. Against righthanders, he likes to use the pitch up and away. Veneziano’s heater helps his above-average changeup play up. It’s an out pitch for him at 86-88 mph, and he went to it more often in 2023. Veneziano throws his 85-86 mph sweeping slider for strikes, using it as a chase pitch. It’s more of a contact pitch than something to use to put hitters away. Veneziano loses the zone at times when he lowers his arm slot, causing him to miss up and away to his arm side, but he usually has a clean delivery from a three-quarters slot.

The Future: Veneziano can be a solid back-of-the-rotation starter or could thrive as a multi-inning power lefty in the bullpen. Now that he’s on the 40-man roster and has gotten a taste of the big leagues, he’ll head to spring training with a chance to earn a spot on the Royals’ Opening Day pitching staff if he continues throwing consistent strikes.

Scouting Grades Fastball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 55
Track Record: Kansas City’s 10th-round pick in 2019, Veneziano wasn’t on many radars until a heavily scouted appearance late in 2021 minor league spring training, where he flashed a fastball up to 97 mph. The Coastal Carolina product built on his solid spring, enjoying a very good season with High-A Quad Cities, where he struck out 127 batters in 93.2 innings. He was especially tough down the stretch for the eventual High-A Central champions.

Scouting Report: Veneziano attacks hitters with a heavy, bat-missing arsenal out of an easy three-quarters arm slot and repeatable motion. His sinking fastball sits 94-97 mph and plays above his velocity due to his whippy arm motion and good extension. Veneziano needs to become more confident in his secondary offerings to take another step forward. His breaking ball is a slurvy slider that he commands inconsistently. He also throws an average changeup with tumble and fade.

The Future: Veneziano is nowhere near a finished product, but he has the upside of a mid-rotation starter. He should move to Double-A in 2022.

Scouting Reports

Track Record: Kansas City’s 10th-round pick in 2019, Veneziano wasn’t on many radars until a heavily scouted appearance late in 2021 minor league spring training, where he flashed a fastball up to 97 mph. The Coastal Carolina product built on his solid spring, enjoying a very good season with High-A Quad Cities, where he struck out 127 batters in 93.2 innings. He was especially tough down the stretch for the eventual High-A Central champions.

Scouting Report: Veneziano attacks hitters with a heavy, bat-missing arsenal out of an easy three-quarters arm slot and repeatable motion. His sinking fastball sits 94-97 mph and plays above his velocity due to his whippy arm motion and good extension. Veneziano needs to become more confident in his secondary offerings to take another step forward. His breaking ball is a slurvy slider that he commands inconsistently. He also throws an average changeup with tumble and fade.

The Future: Veneziano is nowhere near a finished product, but he has the upside of a mid-rotation starter. He should move to Double-A in 2022.

Career Transactions

Round Rock Express released LHP Anthony Veneziano.
LHP Anthony Veneziano roster status changed by Texas Rangers.
Texas Rangers signed free agent LHP Anthony Veneziano to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training.
LHP Anthony Veneziano assigned to Round Rock Express.
LHP Anthony Veneziano elected free agency.
St. Louis Cardinals sent LHP Anthony Veneziano outright to Memphis Redbirds.
St. Louis Cardinals recalled LHP Anthony Veneziano from Memphis Redbirds.
St. Louis Cardinals optioned LHP Anthony Veneziano to Memphis Redbirds.
St. Louis Cardinals recalled LHP Anthony Veneziano from Memphis Redbirds.
St. Louis Cardinals optioned LHP Anthony Veneziano to Memphis Redbirds.
St. Louis Cardinals claimed LHP Anthony Veneziano off waivers from Miami Marlins.
Memphis Redbirds activated LHP Anthony Veneziano.
Miami Marlins designated LHP Anthony Veneziano for assignment.
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp activated LHP Anthony Veneziano from the 7-day injured list.
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp activated LHP Anthony Veneziano from the 7-day injured list.
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp placed LHP Anthony Veneziano on the 7-day injured list.
Miami Marlins optioned LHP Anthony Veneziano to Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.
Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp activated LHP Anthony Veneziano.
Miami Marlins recalled LHP Anthony Veneziano from Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.
Miami Marlins optioned LHP Anthony Veneziano to Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.
LHP Anthony Veneziano changed number to 59.
LHP Anthony Veneziano changed number to 42.
Miami Marlins activated LHP Anthony Veneziano.
Miami Marlins claimed LHP Anthony Veneziano off waivers from Kansas City Royals.
Kansas City Royals designated LHP Anthony Veneziano for assignment.
Kansas City Royals optioned LHP Anthony Veneziano to Omaha Storm Chasers.
Kansas City Royals recalled LHP Anthony Veneziano from Omaha Storm Chasers.
Omaha Storm Chasers activated LHP Anthony Veneziano.
Kansas City Royals optioned LHP Anthony Veneziano to Omaha Storm Chasers.
Kansas City Royals recalled LHP Anthony Veneziano from Omaha Storm Chasers.
Omaha Storm Chasers activated LHP Anthony Veneziano.
Kansas City Royals optioned LHP Anthony Veneziano to Omaha Storm Chasers.
Kansas City Royals reassigned LHP Anthony Veneziano to the minor leagues.
Kansas City Royals recalled LHP Anthony Veneziano from Omaha Storm Chasers.
Kansas City Royals optioned LHP Anthony Veneziano to Omaha Storm Chasers.
Kansas City Royals selected the contract of LHP Anthony Veneziano from Omaha Storm Chasers.
LHP Anthony Veneziano assigned to Omaha Storm Chasers from Northwest Arkansas Naturals.
LHP Anthony Veneziano assigned to Omaha Storm Chasers from Northwest Arkansas Naturals.
LHP Anthony Veneziano roster status changed by Kansas City Royals.
Northwest Arkansas Naturals activated LHP Anthony Veneziano.
Northwest Arkansas Naturals transferred LHP Anthony Veneziano to the Development List.
LHP Anthony Veneziano assigned to Northwest Arkansas Naturals.
LHP Anthony Veneziano assigned to Quad Cities River Bandits from Royals Organization.
LHP Anthony Veneziano assigned to Royals Organization.
LHP Anthony Veneziano assigned to Royals Organization.
LHP Anthony Veneziano assigned to Idaho Falls Chukars.
LHP Anthony Veneziano assigned to Idaho Falls Chukars.
Kansas City Royals signed LHP Anthony Veneziano.
LHP Anthony Veneziano assigned to Coastal Carolina Chanticleers.