Tyler Glasnow

Organization Prospect Rankings

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  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #3 prospect in 2017
  Glasnow threw just 83-89 mph in high school with an uncoordinated 6-foot-7 frame, but the Pirates saw potential and drafted him in the fifth round of the 2011 draft. He has added strength to his body and became one of the most dominant pitching prospects in the game as he ascended. His trek culminated in his major league debut in 2016. Glasnow's added strength gave him outstanding raw stuff, topped by a 92-95 mph fastball that hits 99 and a wipeout curveball. He also throws his changeup at 90 mph, and the pitch is showing signs of being a third plus weapon. He has allowed a career .172 opponent average in 500 minor league innings. Walks, however, have been a major problem for the now 6-foot-8 Glasnow, who like many other tall pitchers has problems repeating his mechanics. He also struggles holding runners because of his slow times to the plate and lack of an effective pickoff move. That weakness was exposed at the major league level. While some have questioned his athleticism, Glasnow answered by posting a video on social media of him dunking a basketball after pulling it between his legs. He will get a chance to win a rotation spot in spring training but will likely return to Triple-A Indianapolis. He has the ceiling of a No. 1 starter, but many evaluators outside the organization believe his futures lies as a reliever due to his poor control.
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  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #1 prospect in 2016
  Glasnow was lightly regarded as a lateblooming high school senior despite playing in heavily scouted Southern California. His fastball topped out in the low 90s back then, but he grew a foot during his career at Hart High in Santa Clarita, Calif., which has produced such major league pitchers as Bob Walk, James Shields and Trevor Bauer. The 6-foot-8 Glasnow gained the nickname "Baby Giraffe" because of his awkwardness, but the Pirates were enamored of his projectable body and signed him for an over-slot $600,000 as a fifth-round pick in 2011, thus keeping him away from a scholarship to Portland. Glasnow comes from an athletic family. His mother is a former gymnastics coach at Cal State Northridge and was a college standout at Cal State Fullerton, while his father and brother were both track and field athletes at Notre Dame. Glasnow has risen up the prospect charts and tops the Pirates' list for a second straight year despite missing a month in 2015 with a sprained ankle that he sustained while sliding into second base. He finished the 2015 season by getting his first look at Triple-A Indianapolis, where he allowed one earned run or less in seven of his eight starts in the regular season, followed up by a pair of playoff starts in which he struck out 13 in 12 innings. He ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the high Class A Florida State League following the 2014 season and No. 4 in the Double-A Eastern League in 2015. Glasnow is a power pitcher with a fastball that touches 99 mph and sits in the 94-96 range. He also uses his long arms and legs to get on top of his delivery and drive his fastball down in the strike zone with good sinking action. Because of his long stride and long limbs, his fastball looks much faster as it approaches the batter. Opponents hit just .195 against him in 2015 and connected for just three homers in 109 innings. Glasnow complements his fastball with a power curveball that can be unhittable when he has command of it, though the pitch gets away from him at times. He has worked to develop his changeup, and it is improving, though it grades as a tick below-average at this point. As with all tall pitchers, Glasnow struggles to repeat his mechanics and release point, which costs him control and command at times. One area in which he still requires much work is holding baserunners. He has a slow, mechanical pickoff move to first base and is slow to the plate. As a result, 21 of 24 basestealers were successful against him in 2015. The Pirates consider him to be a quick learner and a hard worker. Glasnow will begin the 2016 season back at Triple-A Indianapolis. The Pirates would like him to continue to work on his secondary pitches, polishing his curveball and getting a better feel for his changeup. Glasnow has command issues to iron out, too, but he's already on the Pirates' 40-man roster and will likely be in a line for a promotion to the big leagues by midseason, or September at the latest. He has the demeanor and stuff--including two plus pitches and an average third--to be a No. 1 starter in the major leagues and should eventually team up with current ace Gerrit Cole to give the Pirates an outstanding duo at the top of their rotation.
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  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #1 prospect in 2015
  Glasnow was literally a late bloomer in high school, growing 11 inches between his freshman and senior years as he grew to 6-foot-7 and separated a growth plate in his right shoulder in the process. He has grown another inch since graduating and added 25 pounds to reach 220. Lightly recruited, he committed to Portland, but the Pirates wooed the 2011 fifth-rounder to pro ball with an over-slot $600,000 bonus. Glasnow played at Hart High, which has produced such big league pitchers as James Shields and Trevor Bauer, but he did not crack the prep rotation until midway through his junior season. He comes from an athletic family. His mother Donna starred in gymnastics at Cal State Fullerton then coached at Cal State Northridge, while his father Ted and brother Ted Jr. were both decathletes at Notre Dame. The junior Ted is a member of the famed Santa Monica Track Club and aspires to make the 2016 U.S. Olympic team. Nicknamed "Baby Giraffe" and the wearer of size-15 spikes, Glasnow had a breakout season in 2013 at low Class A West Virginia when he was named the South Atlantic League pitcher of the year. He followed up by winning the same honor in the Florida State League in 2014 at high Class A Bradenton when he topped the league in ERA (1.74) and the entire minors in opponent average (.174). He was even harder to hit in 2013 with a .140 average. Glasnow has the ability to overpower hitters with a blazing fastball that reaches the high 90s and regularly comes in at 97 mph. His heater has topped out at 99 mph. Glasnow uses his long wingspan to his advantage, getting good extension on his pitches and giving batters the sense that the ball is dropping right down upon them. His 80 mph curveball has good break to it, but Glasnow must learn how to throw it for strikes more often, for too often it's a chase pitch at this point in his career. The same can be said for his changeup, though he has good velocity separation with it in the mid-80s. Glasnow does a good job of repeating his delivery, but with long levers, he is slow to the plate and can be run on. Because of his size, he is also slow getting off the mound, and opponents can take advantage of that by bunting. Glasnow is noted for his work ethic, though, and is willing to spend the time and effort necessary to address his deficiencies. Glasnow is not a finished product, but he has had two consecutive outstanding seasons and will be tested this year when he is assigned to Double-A Altoona. Despite his credentials, Glasnow still is young for his level, and the Pirates rarely push their young players, so they will give him some necessary developmental time. With that in mind, look for him to spend the majority of the season in the Eastern League, with a late promotion to Triple-A Indianapolis possible. Glasnow likely won't see the major leagues until sometime in 2016, but he has the raw ability to eventually join Gerrit Cole at the top of the Pirates' rotation.
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  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #3 prospect in 2014
  The lanky Glasnow was relatively unknown going into his senior year at Hart High, which also produced future big leaguers Bob Walk, James Shields and Trevor Bauer. He comes from an athletic family. His mother was a gymnast while his brother Ted is a track-and-field athlete at Notre Dame. The youngest Glasnow grew a foot in high school, coming on as a senior to earn an over-slot $600,000 bonus from the Pirates. He dominated much of his first full season, leading the low Class A South Atlantic League in strikeouts while allowing only one hit in his final three starts, spanning 14 innings. Exceptionally raw when he signed, Glasnow made significant progress in 2013 harnessing his big, athletic body and delivery. He pitches off a plus fastball that reaches 97-99 mph at times but normally sits in the 93-95 range. When he threw strikes with the heater, he overpowered SAL hitters. He also can induce empty swings with his inconsistent but at times plus curve in the upper 70s, which for now is a chase pitch he throws out of the zone. He made progress finding a comfortable changeup grip as the season progressed and used the pitch more, locating it better than his curve, which he rarely throws for a strike. At his size, Glasnow still has trouble keeping his delivery together and overthrows at times, costing him control. Glasnow will need time to develop, which the Pirates plan to give him. He'll start 2014 at high Class A Bradenton. When his control improves, Glasnow will move quickly.
• 
  Ranked Pittsburgh Pirates #19 prospect in 2013
  Until new draft rules went into effect in 2012, the Pirates' draft approach under GM Neal Huntington was to sign projectable high school pitchers to over-slot bonuses in later rounds. Glasnow was one of the last beneficiaries, getting $600,000 as a fifth-round pick in 2011, with one club official boldly predicting he would be the system's top prospect by the end of 2013. A gangly righthander who wears a size-17 shoe, he's still growing into his body after shooting up eight inches as a sophomore in high school. His fastball velocity is on the rise as well, reaching 96 mph last summer after sitting at 90-93 for most of the spring. His big-breaking curveball shows flashes of becoming a plus pitch, and his changeup is rudimentary at this point. Glasnow has athletic bloodlines, as his father was a decathlete at Notre Dame and his mother was a gymnast. He'll need to lean on his athleticism as he learns to repeat his delivery and improve his command. Glasnow is certainly someone to dream on, a potential frontline starter if things break right. For now, Pittsburgh must decide whether to hold him back in extended spring training or challenge him with a promotion to low Class A.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked International League #12 prospect in 2017
  Few prospects polarize scouts like Glasnow, who has two power weapons to perplex IL competition--he ranked third with 140 strikeouts in just 15 starts--but enough rough edges to run up a 7.45 ERA in 12 big league starts this year before the Pirates demoted him on June 15. Glasnow sits 96-100 mph with his fastball and pairs it with a devastating 80-83 curveball along with a well below-average 90-92 changeup. Despite big stuff, he has been hit hard at the big league level over parts of two seasons because he lacks command. The 6-foot-8 Glasnow struggles to consistently repeat his mechanics, a career-long concern, and if he isn't able to streamline his delivery, he is likely destined for the bullpen.
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  Ranked International League #5 prospect in 2016
  Glasnow turned in another outstanding minor league season and made his big league debut on July 7, scuttling a chance to start the Triple-A all-star game. He fell short of qualifying for the ERA title, but had his 110.2 innings been enough, his 1.87 mark would have been the best in the IL. After his second start for the Pirates, he spent a month on the disabled list with discomfort in his right shoulder. Listed at 6-foot-8, Glasnow has power stuff and uses his size to his advantage. His fastball sits in the mid-90s, and he can run it into the upper 90s with sinking action. He complements his fastball with a power curveball and a hard changeup. His curveball can be a wipeout pitch, but he struggles at times to land it for strikes. His changeup has been clocked up to 89 mph and grades as an average offering. Glasnow, like many tall, young power pitchers, has struggled with his control throughout his career. He walked 5.0 per nine innings at Triple-A this season, and he'll have to throw more strikes to reach his ceiling as a top-of-the-rotation starter.
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  Ranked Eastern League #4 prospect in 2015
  Not many pitching prospects in the game, let alone the EL, can match Glasnow's package of pitches and projection. He starts with a fastball that consistently parks in the mid-90s and can peak even higher, and he couples it with a power curveball that one EL manager called the best he'd seen in the last five years. That one-two punch explains why the league reached Glasnow for just 41 hits in 63 innings--and why his career opponent average is an absurd .171. Because he's a bigger-bodied hurler, Glasnow will need to work hard to repeat his delivery, and command issues have been a bugaboo in the past. He also needs to work hard to control the running game after all 11 runners to attempt steals against him succeeded in the EL.
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  Ranked Florida State League #1 prospect in 2014
  Glasnow built on his breakout 2013, leading the FSL in ERA (1.75), WHIP (1.05) and opponent average (.174). The last mark led the entire minors, as Glasnow has overwhelmed opponents again with a combination of upper-90s velocity and excellent extension in his delivery. Combine that tremendous size with a fastball that regularly reaches 97 mph, and hitters have no chance when he throws strikes with his heater. Working on mental adjustments to go after hitters more at the urging of pitching coach Justin Meccage, Glasnow was in the zone much more in the second half (3.4 walks per nine innings) than he was in the first (5.4). FSL managers and scouts like the sharpness of his upper-70s curveball and depth on his firm 87 mph changeup, but stress that both pitches must be strikes more consistently for Glasnow to achieve his ace potential. He also has rough edges to polish fielding (he made four errors) and holding runners (75 percent stole successfully in 32 attempts). "There are guys you could compare him to," Bradenton manager Tom Prince said, "but he's his own guy . . . His breaking ball can be a wipeout pitch. He's learning the feel for it and developing the mentality for it. Staying healthy all year was a big goal, and he held up very well."
• 
  Ranked South Atlantic League #2 prospect in 2013
  Glasnow?s ceiling nearly matches his 6-foot-7 frame, but as one would expect, his height also means that the teenager can?t always find his delivery?or the strike zone. No matter if he?s hitting his spots or missing them, Glasnow has practically unhittable. His 164 strikeouts led the SAL by 20. His .142 opponent average would have led all minor league starters by more than 30 points, but strict pitch limits meant that he finished two outs shy of qualifying for the ERA title. Glasnow?s 92-97 mph fastball is good enough to stifle low Class A hitters, but when he locates his 60 curveball (on the 20-80 scouting scale), it?s almost unfair. Glasnow also showed significant improvement with his once fringy, now potentially average, changeup, which he?s able to locate more consistently than his breaking ball. ?He?s gotten better each time out from April to now,? a National League scout said. ?That?s what I like to see, you can see he?s learning. He?s progressed with the changeup.? Glasnow has plenty of work to do to improve his control, but his natural athleticism has helped him make strides in repeating his delivery.
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  Ranked Florida Complex League #9 prospect in 2012
  A 2011 fifth-round pick who signed for $600,000, Glasnow didn't make his pro debut until this year. He was one of the youngest players drafted last year, so the Pirates held him back in extended spring training and let him get his feet wet in the GCL. His stuff has started to develop as Pittsburgh had hoped when it bet on his huge, projectable frame. Glasnow's fastball often sat in the mid-80s in high school but zoomed to 91-94 mph with a peak of 96 this summer, with steep downhill angle. His curveball at times gives him a second plus pitch that can miss bats, with hard, sharp break in the upper 70s when he throws it right. His changeup is still is a work in progress, as is his command, and the latter might always be the case given his size.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #23 prospect in 2017
• Ranked Baseball America's #14 prospect in 2016
• Ranked Baseball America's #16 prospect in 2015
• Ranked Baseball America's #46 prospect in 2014

• December, 2016 Scouting Report
  Background: Glasnow threw just 83-89 mph in high school with an uncoordinated 6-foot-7 frame, but the Pirates saw potential and drafted him in the fifth round of the 2011 draft. He has added strength to his body and became one of the most dominant pitching prospects in the game as he ascended. His trek culminated in his major league debut in 2016. Scouting Report: Glasnow's added strength gave him outstanding raw stuff, topped by a 99 mph fastball and a wipeout curveball. He also throws his changeup at 90 mph, and the pitch is showing signs of being a third plus weapon. He has allowed a career .172 opponent average in 500 minor league innings. Walks, however, have been a major problem for the now 6-foot-8 Glasnow, who like many other tall pitchers has problems repeating his mechanics. He also struggles holding runners because of his slow times to the plate and lack of an effective pickoff move. That weakness was exposed at the major league level. While some have questioned his athleticism, Glasnow answered by posting a video on social media of him dunking a basketball after pulling it between his legs.
  
  The Future: Glasnow will get a chance to win a rotation spot in spring training but will likely return to Triple-A Indianapolis. He has the ceiling of a No. 1 starter, but many evaluators outside the organization believe his futures lies as a dominant reliever due to his poor control.