Matt Mercer

Mercer has been a mainstay in the Oregon weekend rotation the last two seasons, compiling a 12-14, 3.55 career record with 155 strikeouts and 72 walks through 200.1 career innings while also impressing in the Cape Cod League last summer. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound righthander has built up velocity through his work with the Driveline Baseball training program. Scouts have had his fastball as high as 98 mph this spring, though he sits more comfortably in the low to mid-90s. Mercer generates that velocity through a violent, high-effort delivery that he sometimes struggles to repeat, which leads some evaluators to believe he'll end up as a reliever long term. He pairs that fastball with a low-80s breaking ball that has flashed plus when he's consistent with his release point. Mercer exhibits confidence in his mid-80s, split-like changeup, which he uses liberally to both lefthanded and righthanded hitters--at times burying it down and in against righties as an out-pitch. That three-pitch mix gives Mercer an appealing starter's arsenal, but he'll need to prove he can repeat his effortful delivery--and stay healthy--to stay out of the bullpen at the next level.