Matt Strahm

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Kansas City Royals #2 prospect in 2017
  Strahm went from a little-noticed string bean throwing 82 mph to the ace of the Neosho County (Kan.) CC staff. He spent all of 2013 and much of 2014 recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he moved fast once he was healthy. He made it to the big leagues after less than 250 minor league innings, then struck out 19 of his first 40 big league batters. Strahm's arsenal is that of a starter, but it plays up even more as a reliever. His 90-93 mph fastball (which sits 92-96 mph as a reliever) is a plus pitch with swing-and-miss capabilities thanks to its late-riding life, his mid-80s changeup is an average pitch and his now-harder curveball is also average. He worked in 2016 to stop collapsing his front shoulder in his delivery. That helped him firm up his slurvy curveball (it bumped up from 68-72 mph to 75-78 mph) and gave it more depth and less sweep. It also helped Strahm get more consistently down in the zone----he's always been comfortable elevating his fastball. He has a no-fear mentality and average control. Strahm has starter stuff, but he may fit better on the Royals' 2017 roster as a reliever. A stint as a reliever that eventually morphs into a starting role, a la Danny Duffy, is a likely result. Long-term, he projects as a No. 3 starter.
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  Ranked Kansas City Royals #8 prospect in 2016
  When Strahm arrived at Neosho County (Kan.) CC, he was an 82 mph-throwing lefty out of West Fargo, N.D. As he filled into his 6-foot-4 frame and cleaned up his delivery, he added nearly 10 mph to his fastball and turned into the ace (9-3, 1.91) of the Panthers' staff, leading them to the Junior College World Series. After missing all of 2013 and much of 2014 recovering from Tommy John, the Royals wanted to take it slow with Strahm in 2015, but it started out a little too slow. Although he was stretched out to be ready for 60 pitch outings, Strahm threw seven innings in April. By late June he played his way into the rotation. Strahm's fastball sits at 89-94 mph with an easy, deceptive delivery and average control. He pitch that locks hitters up when he's staying back in his delivery. At other times it becomes a slurvier 78-82 mph offering with a 2-to-8 break with more sweep and less depth than the average slider. Even then he locates it well and it's deadly to lefties. His changeup is a fringy third offering that he doesn't use much yet. The Royals added to Strahm to their 40-man roster this offseason. He'll head to Double-A Northwest Arkansas to start the season. He has a shot at being a No. 3 starter but he should make his debut first as a reliever which could happen in 2016.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #333 prospect in 2012 draft
  Strahm helped pitch Neosho County to its first Junior College World Series since 2003, leading national juco players in strikeouts (124 in 92 innings) and complete games (10) through the regional playoffs. A lanky 6-foot-3, 170-pound lefty with a long wingspan, Strahm is extremely projectable and still growing into his velocity. His fastball sat at 85-88 mph early in the season and registered as high as 92 later in the spring. His slurvy breaking ball and changeup are decent secondary pitches that are showing improvement. The Nebraska recruit has a clean delivery enables him to control all his offerings well.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Texas League #17 prospect in 2016
  Strahm has worked as a starter in the minors, though Royals fans who saw him try to save the big league bullpen in August may believe differently. Working as a lefty reliever for Kansas City, he struck out 30 in 22 innings, but he has the stuff to be a three-pitch mid-rotation starter. Strahm impressed at high Class A Wilmington in 2015, but he made some needed refinements in the TL. He got more direct to the plate, which helped him get down in the strike zone more consistently with his 91-94 mph fastball. Strahm also tightened his curveball, turning it from a slurvier mid-70s sweeper to a more up-and-down high-70s downer. His changeup is an above-average pitch that makes him effective against righthanders.

• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: Strahm went from a little-noticed string bean throwing 82 mph to the ace of the Neosho County (Kan.) CC staff. He spent all of 2013 and much of 2014 recovering from Tommy John surgery, but he moved fast once he was healthy. He made it to the big leagues after less than 250 minor league innings, then struck out 19 of his first 40 big league batters. Scouting Report: Strahm's arsenal is that of a starter, but it plays up even more as a reliever. His 90-93 mph fastball (which sits 92-96 mph as a reliever) is a plus pitch with swing-and-miss capabilities thanks to its late-riding life, his mid-80s changeup is an average pitch and his now-harder curveball is also average. He worked in 2016 to stop collapsing his front shoulder in his delivery. That helped him firm up his slurvy curveball (it bumped up from 68-72 mph to 75-78 mph) and gave it more depth and less sweep. It also helped Strahm get more consistently down in the zone–he's always been comfortable elevating his fastball. He has a no-fear mentality and average control.
  
  The Future: Strahm has starter stuff, but he may fit better on the Royals' 2017 roster as a reliever. A stint as a reliever that eventually morphs into a starting role, a la Danny Duffy, is a likely result. Long-term, he projects as a No. 3 starter.