Brandon Pfaadt

Organization Prospect Rankings

• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #5 prospect in 2023
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/Medium
  
  Track Record: Pfaadt turned in a solid performance in the Cape Cod League the summer before his draft year, then followed that up with an impressive five-start run before the pandemic ended his junior season. It was enough to prompt the D-backs to select him in the fifth round in 2020, making him the highest Bellarmine draft pick since Todd Wellemeyer was a fourth-rounder in 2000. In two seasons, Pfaadt has risen to become the most well-regarded pitcher in the organization. He was the D-backs' pitcher of the year in 2022 and his 218 strikeouts were the most in a minor league season since 2001.
  
  Scouting Report: Pfaadt's fastball averages 93-94 mph and tops out at 96-97. The pitch is unique in that it acts almost like a cut fastball with carry, allowing him to pitch up in the zone. His putaway pitch is his slider, which sits 80-84 mph with heavy sweep, and he made big strides last year with his changeup, which has a different movement profile--running armside--from his other pitches. Pfaadt also has a curveball he uses early in counts. He instinctively pounds the strike zone, attacking hitters even after giving up a home run, but last year improved at working the fringes of the zone, leading to more strikeouts. Pfaadt repeats his delivery well, with every pitch coming out of the same slot. He is a hard worker with an inquisitive nature.
  
  The Future: Pfaadt did enough to earn a callup last year but did not receive one in part because he didn't need to be added to Arizona's 40-man roster until after the season. He projects as a midrotation starter, but his combination of stuff, command, work ethic and pitching acumen has the D-backs hopeful he might become more than that. He is expected to debut in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 45. Slider: 60. Changeup: 55. Control: 60
• 
  Ranked Arizona Diamondbacks #10 prospect in 2022
  Track Record: After splitting time between starting and relieving at Division II Bellarmine (Ky.), Pfaadt had a solid showing in the Cape Cod League after his sophomore season and hasn’t looked back. He posted impressive numbers in five starts in his pandemic-shortened junior year, leading the D-backs to draft him in the fifth round, and he zipped up three levels to Double-A in his first season as a pro in 2021. He logged a 3.21 ERA across 22 starts and finished seventh in the minors with 160 strikeouts.
  
  Scouting Report: Pfaadt is big and physical with a 6-foot-4, 230-pound frame built for logging innings and relentlessly pounds the strike zone with a four-pitch mix. His fastball sits comfortably in the 93-94 mph range, touches 97, and plays up with high spin rates and his aggressiveness using it. It sometimes displays good rise and other times good cutting action. His above-average slider with sharp downward action is his best secondary offering and his average changeup induces ground balls and the occasional swing and miss, although he needs to incorporate the pitch more regularly. Pfaadt throws his fastball for strikes in all for quadrants of the strike zone and commands his secondaries. He works hard, studies the game and is eager to improve.
  
  The Future: Pfaadt quickly has gone from relative unknown to someone many expect to be a major leaguer. His debut may come in 2022 and he has a chance to settle into the middle or back of a rotation.

Draft Prospects

• Ranked #239 prospect in 2020 draft
  Pfaadt pitched mostly out of the bullpen over his first two years at Division II Bellarmine (Ky.), but after a strong summer in the Cape Cod League, he transitioned to a full-time starting role this spring. Over the summer with Wareham, Pfaadt showed solid strike-throwing ability to go along with a plus fastball in the 93-95 mph range. In 32 innings, the 6-foot-4, 220-pound righthander posted a 2.81 ERA while striking out 34 batters and walking eight. Pfaadt also showed the makings of an above-average breaking ball, but the pitch was inconsistent. Pfaadt managed five starts this spring before the coronavirus wiped out the season. He posted a 1.38 ERA in 26 innings with 27 strikeouts and just four walks—good for the best strikeout-to-walk ratio of his career. Scouts note that Pfaadt’s fastball has good sinking action, but they also have seen his velocity tick down into the 88-90 mph range in the middle innings despite a big, strong frame. Because of that he might be better served for a reliever role in pro ball, where he could also focus on refining his curveball into a plus offering.

Minor League Top Prospects

• 
  Ranked Northwest League #4 prospect in 2021
  On a star-studded Hillsboro pitching staff, Pfaadt entered the season with the most anonymity. He finished the year with his name squarely among the best prospects in a pitcher-heavy Arizona system. Pfaadt showed an excellent combination of pitchabilty and stuff, with an arsenal that relied heavily on a fastball which peaked at 95 mph and a potentially plus slider as its complement. Pfaadt has a changeup as well, but it has further to come along. Pfaadt proved adept at studying an opposing lineup, then adhering to his plan all game long. If things went awry, he also showed a strong ability to make adjustments during the game. Pfaadt’s stuff isn’t as explosive as D-backs organization-mates Ryne Nelson, Luis Frias or Drey Jameson, but his pitchability accentuated his arsenal enough that he could rack up 160 strikeouts in 131.2 innings up to Double-A.

Top 100 Rankings

• Ranked Baseball America's #26 prospect in 2023

• February, 2023 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/Medium
  
  Track Record: Pfaadt turned in a solid performance in the Cape Cod League the summer before his draft year, then followed that up with an impressive five-start run before the pandemic ended his junior season. It was enough to prompt the D-backs to select him in the fifth round in 2020, making him the highest Bellarmine draft pick since Todd Wellemeyer was a fourth-rounder in 2000. In two seasons, Pfaadt has risen to become the most well-regarded pitcher in the organization. He was the D-backs' pitcher of the year in 2022 and his 218 strikeouts were the most in a minor league season since 2001.
  
  Scouting Report: Pfaadt's fastball averages 93-94 mph and tops out at 96-97. The pitch is unique in that it acts almost like a cut fastball with carry, allowing him to pitch up in the zone. His putaway pitch is his slider, which sits 80-84 mph with heavy sweep, and he made big strides last year with his changeup, which has a different movement profile--running armside--from his other pitches. Pfaadt also has a curveball he uses early in counts. He instinctively pounds the strike zone, attacking hitters even after giving up a home run, but last year improved at working the fringes of the zone, leading to more strikeouts. Pfaadt repeats his delivery well, with every pitch coming out of the same slot. He is a hard worker with an inquisitive nature.
  
  The Future: Pfaadt did enough to earn a callup last year but did not receive one in part because he didn't need to be added to Arizona's 40-man roster until after the season. He projects as a midrotation starter, but his combination of stuff, command, work ethic and pitching acumen has the D-backs hopeful he might become more than that. He is expected to debut in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 45. Slider: 60. Changeup: 55. Control: 60
• December, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade/Risk: 55/Medium
  
  Track Record: Pfaadt turned in a solid performance in the Cape Cod League the summer before his draft year, then followed that up with an impressive five-start run before the pandemic ended his junior season. It was enough to prompt the D-backs to select him in the fifth round in 2020, making him the highest Bellarmine draft pick since Todd Wellemeyer was a fourth-rounder in 2000. In two seasons, Pfaadt has risen to become the most well-regarded pitcher in the organization. He was the D-backs' pitcher of the year in 2022 and his 218 strikeouts were the most in a minor league season since 2001.
  
  Scouting Report: Pfaadt's fastball averages 93-94 mph and tops out at 96-97. The pitch is unique in that it acts almost like a cut fastball with carry, allowing him to pitch up in the zone. His putaway pitch is his slider, which sits 80-84 mph with heavy sweep, and he made big strides last year with his changeup, which has a different movement profile--running armside--from his other pitches. Pfaadt also has a curveball he uses early in counts. He instinctively pounds the strike zone, attacking hitters even after giving up a home run, but last year improved at working the fringes of the zone, leading to more strikeouts. Pfaadt repeats his delivery well, with every pitch coming out of the same slot. He is a hard worker with an inquisitive nature.
  
  The Future: Pfaadt did enough to earn a callup last year but did not receive one in part because he didn't need to be added to Arizona's 40-man roster until after the season. He projects as a midrotation starter, but his combination of stuff, command, work ethic and pitching acumen has the D-backs hopeful he might become more than that. He is expected to debut in 2023.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 60. Curveball: 45. Slider: 60. Changeup: 55. Control: 60
• April, 2022 Scouting Report
  BA Grade: 55/High
  
  Track Record: After splitting time between starting and relieving at Division II Bellarmine (Ky.), Pfaadt had a solid showing in the Cape Cod League after his sophomore season and hasn&#39t looked back. He posted impressive numbers in five starts in his pandemic-shortened junior year, leading the D-backs to draft him in the fifth round, and he zipped up three levels to Double-A in his first season as a pro in 2021. He logged a 3.21 ERA across 22 starts and finished seventh in the minors with 160 strikeouts.
  
  Scouting Report: Pfaadt is big and physical with a 6-foot-4, 230-pound frame built for logging innings and relentlessly pounds the strike zone with a four-pitch mix. His fastball sits comfortably in the 93-94 mph range, touches 97, and plays up with high spin rates and his aggressiveness using it. It sometimes display good rise and other times good cutting action. His above-average slider with sharp downward action is his best secondary offering and his average changeup induces ground balls and the occasional swing and miss, although he needs to incorporate the pitch more regularly. Pfaadt throws his fastball for strikes in all for quadrants of the strike zone and commands his secondaries. He works hard, studies the game and is eager to improve.
  
  The Future: Pfaadt quickly has gone from relative unknown to someone many expect to be a major leaguer. His debut may come in 2022 and he has a chance to settle into the middle or back of a rotation.
  
  Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55. Slider: 55. Changeup: 50. Curveball: 45. Control: 60.
• December, 2021 Scouting Report
  Track Record: After splitting time between starting and relieving at Division II Bellarmine (Ky.), Pfaadt had a solid showing in the Cape Cod League after his sophomore season and hasn’t looked back. He posted impressive numbers in five starts in his pandemic-shortened junior year, leading the D-backs to draft him in the fifth round, and he zipped up three levels to Double-A in his first season as a pro in 2021. He logged a 3.21 ERA across 22 starts and finished seventh in the minors with 160 strikeouts.
  
  Scouting Report: Pfaadt is big and physical with a 6-foot-4, 230-pound frame built for logging innings and relentlessly pounds the strike zone with a four-pitch mix. His fastball sits comfortably in the 93-94 mph range, touches 97, and plays up with high spin rates and his aggressiveness using it. It sometimes displays good rise and other times good cutting action. His above-average slider with sharp downward action is his best secondary offering and his average changeup induces ground balls and the occasional swing and miss, although he needs to incorporate the pitch more regularly. Pfaadt throws his fastball for strikes in all for quadrants of the strike zone and commands his secondaries. He works hard, studies the game and is eager to improve.
  
  The Future: Pfaadt quickly has gone from relative unknown to someone many expect to be a major leaguer. His debut may come in 2022 and he has a chance to settle into the middle or back of a rotation.
• October, 2021 Scouting Report
  On a star-studded Hillsboro pitching staff, Pfaadt entered the season with the most anonymity. He finished the year with his name squarely among the best prospects in a pitcher-heavy Arizona system. Pfaadt showed an excellent combination of pitchabilty and stuff, with an arsenal that relied heavily on a fastball which peaked at 95 mph and a potentially plus slider as its complement. Pfaadt has a changeup as well, but it has further to come along. Pfaadt proved adept at studying an opposing lineup, then adhering to his plan all game long. If things went awry, he also showed a strong ability to make adjustments during the game. Pfaadt’s stuff isn’t as explosive as D-backs organization-mates Ryne Nelson, Luis Frias or Drey Jameson, but his pitchability accentuated his arsenal enough that he could rack up 160 strikeouts in 131.2 innings up to Double-A.
• July, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Pfaadt became just the ninth player to be drafted out of Division II Bellarmine in Louisville and the highest since Todd Wellemeyer was a fourth-rounder in 2000. Pfaadt is one of four family members to play baseball there; grandfather Bob and older brother Brady preceded him, while his younger brother Brett will be a sophomore this year.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Pfaadt uses an old-school delivery, bringing his hands up over his head, then drives down the mound with a strong, prototypical starter's frame. His fastball sat 94-95 mph in instructional league with a power changeup in the upper 80s and a pair of breaking pitches that blend together and/or pop out of his hand. He throws strikes, but his command could stand to improve. Pfaadt's velocity tended to dip in the middle innings in college, so he will have to prove he can maintain stuff deep into games.
  
  THE FUTURE: Pfaadt is working to incorporate his lower half more in his delivery and needs to make his curveball and slider two distinct pitches, but he has a lot of starter attributes. He will likely open 2021 at one of the organization's Class A affiliates.
• March, 2021 Scouting Report
  TRACK RECORD: Pfaadt became just the ninth player to be drafted out of Division II Bellarmine in Louisville and the highest since Todd Wellemeyer was a fourth-rounder in 2000. Pfaadt is one of four family members to play baseball there; grandfather Bob and older brother Brady preceded him, while his younger brother Brett will be a sophomore this year.
  
  SCOUTING REPORT: Pfaadt uses an old-school delivery, bringing his hands up over his head, then drives down the mound with a strong, prototypical starter's frame. His fastball sat 94-95 mph in instructional league with a power changeup in the upper 80s and a pair of breaking pitches that blend together and/or pop out of his hand. He throws strikes, but his command could stand to improve. Pfaadt's velocity tended to dip in the middle innings in college, so he will have to prove he can maintain stuff deep into games.
  
  THE FUTURE: Pfaadt is working to incorporate his lower half more in his delivery and needs to make his curveball and slider two distinct pitches, but he has a lot of starter attributes. He will likely open 2021 at one of the organization's Class A affiliates.