Parker Messick

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #5 prospect in 2026
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/Mild
  
  Adjusted Grade: 45
  
  Track Record: Messick signed with the Guardians for $1.3 million in the second round of the 2022 draft after a strong career as a starter at Florida State. He logged at least 100 innings in each of his full pro seasons and made his major league debut in 2025. Messick was crucial to Cleveland’s run to the postseason, posting a 2.72 ERA in seven starts in August and September.
  
  Scouting Report: Messick is a 6-foot, 225-pound southpaw with command and deception who largely resembles the pitcher he was expected to be on draft day, though with a few refinements in the right direction. He throws a four-seam fastball in the 92-93 mph range that touches 95-96 from a low release point and with a flat approach that helps the pitch play up. His mid-80s changeup has long been viewed as a plus offering and his best pitch. That remains the case. It’s a weapon versus righties and helped him generate a 45% miss rate in the minors and a 31% miss rate in his MLB stint. Messick improved both his breaking pitches in 2025, though the improvement of his slider is the most obvious. He added three ticks of velocity to it, and the pitch now sits in the 85-87 mph range. His slider is at least an average pitch that gives him a reliable weapon versus lefties. Messick has also incorporated a two-seam fastball that is thrown more frequently versus lefties. He rounds out his arsenal with an upper-70s curveball that missed far more bats in 2025. While Messick might not have the elite command he showed in his major league run, he’s consistently been an above-average strike-thrower of multiple pitch types.
  
  The Future: Other pitchers in Cleveland’s system have more upside, but Messick is a ready-made and reliable No. 4 or 5 starter. He continues to earn rave reviews for his makeup and work ethic and quickly became a clubhouse favorite on the big league club.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 55
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #17 prospect in 2025
  BA Grade/Risk: 45/Medium.
  
  Track Record: Messick was a standout starter with Florida State and signed for $1.3 million as a second-round pick with the Guardians in the 2022 draft. While Messick hasn’t shown the same elite control he had in college, he’s continued to pitch reliably as a starter in pro ball. He posted a 2.83 ERA over 26 starts and 133.2 innings in 2024 between High-A Lake County and Double-A Akron.
  
  Scouting Report: Messick is a stocky, filled-out lefthander with a 6-foot, 225-pound frame and a high-effort delivery that features a deep stabbing arm action and effort in his finish. Despite the moving parts, Messick has impressive feel for a deep mix of pitches. He averaged 92 mph and touched 95-96 with a four-seam fastball that comes from a lower release point with a flat approach angle. Messick’s best pitch has long been a low-80s tumbling changeup, and that remains the case after he generated nearly a 30% swinging strike rate with it in 2024. Messick also throws a mid-to-upper 80s cutter, a slow sweeping curveball in the mid 70s and an in-between slider in the low 80s. None of his breaking balls are above-average, but he can mix, match and change shapes enough to keep hitters off-balance.
  
  The Future: Messick continues to look the part of a reliable, back-end starter and had no issues missing bats in his first test at Double-A in 2024. He should pitch exclusively in the upper minors in 2025 and is nearing a big league opportunity.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 45 | Slider: 45 | Changeup: 55 | Cutter: 50 | Control: 55.
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #27 prospect in 2024
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  Track Record: Messick starred at Florida State, where he was the Seminoles’ ace for two seasons. He was named Atlantic Coast Conference pitcher of the year in 2021 and an All-American in 2022. He didn’t pitch after the Guardians drafted him 54th overall in 2022 and instead made his professional debut in 2023, where he pitched at both Class A levels.
  
  Scouting Report: Listed at 6-foot, 225 pounds, Messick has a short, stocky build which belies his athleticism--he even showed some two-way ability in college--and he repeats his energetic delivery well, which gives him above-average control. His pure stuff is not overpowering, as his fastball sits in the low 90s and touches 95 mph. He throws from a low release point, which helps him get swings and misses on his fastball at the top of the strike zone. His tumbling changeup is his best pitch and gives him a strong weapon against righthanded hitters. He mixes in a sweeping slider, which he’ll need to tighten up to turn it into a more effective pitch. Messick comes right after hitters and his feel for the game helps his entire arsenal play up.
  
  The Future: Messick’s solid but unspectacular stuff makes him a potential back-of-the-rotation starter down the line, but with Cleveland’s developmental track record, an eventual tick up for both his stuff and ceiling would be no surprise. While that breakout didn’t come in 2023, his solid start gives him a good platform as he advances to Double-A Akron in 2024.
  
  Scouting Grades Fastball: 50 | Curveball: 50 | Slider: 50 | Changeup: 55 | Control: 55
• 
  Ranked Cleveland Guardians #19 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Messick starred at Florida State, where he was the Seminoles' ace for two seasons. He was named Atlantic Coast Conference pitcher of the year in 2021 and an All-American in 2022, piling up 270 strikeouts over 188.2 innings. The Guardians made him the 54th overall pick of the draft.
  
  Scouting Report: Listed at 6-foot, 225 pounds, Messick has a short, stocky build. That belies his athleticism--he even showed some two-way ability in college--and he repeats his energetic delivery well, giving him above-average control. His pure stuff is not overpowering, as his fastball sits in the low 90s and touches 95 mph. He throws from a low release point, which helps him get swings and misses on his fastball at the top of the strike zone. His tumbling changeup is his best pitch and gives him a strong weapon against righthanded hitters. He throws two breaking balls, with his short slider ahead of his curveball. He comes right after hitters and his feel for the game helps his entire arsenal play up.
  
  The Future: Messick is advanced enough to make his professional debut in 2023 with high Class A Lake County and be a quick mover. His solid, but unspectacular stuff makes him a potential back-of-the-rotation starter down the line, but with Cleveland's developmental track record, an eventual tick up for both his stuff and ceiling would be no surprise.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Curveball: 50. Slider: 50. Changeup: 55. Control: 55

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #74 prospect in 2022 draft
  School: Florida State Committed/Drafted: Never Drafted
  Age At Draft: 21.7
  BA Grade: 45/High
  Scouting Grades: Hit: | Power: | Run: | Field: | Arm:
  Messick started his career as a reliever with Florida State, but in 2021 made a successful transition to a starting role, where he posted a 3.10 ERA over 90 innings, with 126 strikeouts (32.7 K%) and 23 walks (6.0 BB%). Listed at 6-foot, 225 pounds, Messick has a short and stocky build, and he finds success by hiding the ball well in his delivery and spotting up consistently with a solid, if unspectacular, four-pitch mix. Messick has always missed more bats than scouts expected given his pure stuff. He sits in the 90-92 mph range with his fastball, and will get up to 95 at best, but the pitch gets whiffs at the top of the zone thanks to a lower release height. His best pitch is a low-80s, tumbling changeup that he used 32% of the time this spring and generated whiffs at a 52% clip. Messick also throws a slider around 80 mph and will occasionally mix in a slower, mid-70s curveball. There’s effort to his operation, but Messick has a long track record of throwing strikes and some view him as one of the better command pitchers in the college class.

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Messick starred at Florida State, where he was the Seminoles' ace for two seasons. He was named Atlantic Coast Conference pitcher of the year in 2021 and an All-American in 2022, piling up 270 strikeouts over 188.2 innings. The Guardians made him the 54th overall pick of the draft.
  
  Scouting Report: Listed at 6-foot, 225 pounds, Messick has a short, stocky build. That belies his athleticism--he even showed some two-way ability in college--and he repeats his energetic delivery well, giving him above-average control. His pure stuff is not overpowering, as his fastball sits in the low 90s and touches 95 mph. He throws from a low release point, which helps him get swings and misses on his fastball at the top of the strike zone. His tumbling changeup is his best pitch and gives him a strong weapon against righthanded hitters. He throws two breaking balls, with his short slider ahead of his curveball. He comes right after hitters and his feel for the game helps his entire arsenal play up.
  
  The Future: Messick is advanced enough to make his professional debut in 2023 with high Class A Lake County and be a quick mover. His solid, but unspectacular stuff makes him a potential back-of-the-rotation starter down the line, but with Cleveland's developmental track record, an eventual tick up for both his stuff and ceiling would be no surprise.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Curveball: 50. Slider: 50. Changeup: 55. Control: 55
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 50/High
  
  Track Record: Messick starred at Florida State, where he was the Seminoles' ace for two seasons. He was named Atlantic Coast Conference pitcher of the year in 2021 and an All-American in 2022, piling up 270 strikeouts over 188.2 innings. The Guardians made him the 54th overall pick of the draft.
  
  Scouting Report: Listed at 6-foot, 225 pounds, Messick has a short, stocky build. That belies his athleticism--he even showed some two-way ability in college--and he repeats his energetic delivery well, giving him above-average control. His pure stuff is not overpowering, as his fastball sits in the low 90s and touches 95 mph. He throws from a low release point, which helps him get swings and misses on his fastball at the top of the strike zone. His tumbling changeup is his best pitch and gives him a strong weapon against righthanded hitters. He throws two breaking balls, with his short slider ahead of his curveball. He comes right after hitters and his feel for the game helps his entire arsenal play up.
  
  The Future: Messick is advanced enough to make his professional debut in 2023 with high Class A Lake County and be a quick mover. His solid, but unspectacular stuff makes him a potential back-of-the-rotation starter down the line, but with Cleveland's developmental track record, an eventual tick up for both his stuff and ceiling would be no surprise.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 50. Curveball: 50. Slider: 50. Changeup: 55. Control: 55
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 45/High
  
  August Update: Messick started his career as a reliever with Florida State, but in 2021 made a successful transition to a starting role, where he posted a 3.10 ERA over 90 innings, with 126 strikeouts (32.7 K%) and 23 walks (6.0 BB%). Listed at 6-foot, 225 pounds, Messick has a short and stocky build, and he finds success by hiding the ball well in his delivery and spotting up consistently with a solid, if unspectacular, four-pitch mix. Messick has always missed more bats than scouts expected given his pure stuff. He sits in the 90-92 mph range with his fastball, and will get up to 95 at best, but the pitch gets whiffs at the top of the zone thanks to a lower release height. His best pitch is a low-80s, tumbling changeup that he used 32% of the time this spring and generated whiffs at a 52% clip. Messick also throws a slider around 80 mph and will occasionally mix in a slower, mid-70s curveball. There&#39s effort to his operation, but Messick has a long track record of throwing strikes and some view him as one of the better command pitchers in the college class. Now he gets the benefit of being in Cleveland&#39s excellent pitching development program after being selected in the third round.